We are now nearly ready to set sail for the Canaries. Everyone
we have met here in Gibraltar seems to be doing the same! We have set about
working our way down the endless lists of work to be done and we are nearly at
the bottom with most of the jobs ticked off….yippee!! The bottom of the boat
has been checked over, the sails repaired, the window leak we had repaired and
we have managed to source a few spare parts… to name just a few of the jobs
sorted. Marina Bay can hardly be called a quiet marina at the moment with the
runway on one side and some major works going on on the other. They are putting
in extensions to the pontoons in order that a boat hotel… a very large boat
hotel can be moored and we have been woken today to the sound of them pounding
in the piles! However it is a friendly place and our time here has been
productive.
We have also popped over the border to La Linea to source a
new mattress for our bunk and it is sad to see so many empty shops and
buildings due to Spain’s current economic problems. It took a long while to
find the shop but we refused to be beaten asking in various shops in a good
version of Spanglish for its location and finally coming up trumps in a
hardware store where the proprietor pointed to a garage about 4 shops down! John
went back to collect the mattress the following week armed with a couple of
ropes to make it easier to transport. He then made his way back to Gibraltar
doing an admiral impression of Sherpa Tensing. The journey back was
particularly testing when he came to cross the runway after trying to explain
to Gibraltar customs exactly what he was carrying. The wind got up on the
runway and…. he very nearly took off!!
We have also had an excursion to Algerceras to see our good
friend Peter who we met the very first time we came to Gibraltar. Peter is
currently doing major works to his yacht in preparation for a trip to Brazil.
We took the bus which was very good value and having arrived at the bus station
John was gagging for a pint. It was a hot day. He strode into a café not able
to hear me say as I looked round ‘ don’t think you’ll get one here’. There was
a look of surprise on his face when he realised that the majority of café’s
were run by Moslems so no alcohol there!! However we did manage to eventually
find one where we could get a beer so panic over!
