...I haven't a clue. Usually one has some degree of regimentation in one's life but this trip to Majorca is far from that. I mean....you get into a new port and the capitaneri guy asks which port you have just come from and where you are going next. How the frack do I remember!! In the past few days since leaving Cartagena we have stopped in marinas in Santa Pola and Moraira on the Spanish mainland and anchored in Cala Basa on Ibiza. It was a tough call to make Majorca in 2 weeks and it's been hard work. Thankfully we can have a weeks rest in Majorca and chill out.
The last four days have been a lot of motoring although with some strong winds at times. Usually directly up the backside. We had 35knts as we arrived in Santa Pola which made for interesting berthing. Similar to Cartagena marina with big solid finger berths and the best shower block this side of Scotland (come to think of it, they are probably the best we have seen - ever) including a washing machine. Just over 30 Euros per night and they only wanted 5 Euro deposit for the access cards rather than the 20-25 Euro usually demanded. Good supermarket nearby but expensive restaurants - but that's what we have come to find. Spain is much more expensive than Portugal. I'd give this one 8/10 except it was expensive and 3 of us got mild food poisoning from a rather expensive restaurant ...... oh and no free internet ....so 7/10.
Tuesday we left at 9am to head up for Moraira and another marina, this time along side berths for visitors. We arrived at 7pm and left at 7pm so that was a waste of 33 Euros.... and no internet, no potable water and a toilet block door designed to skin your knuckles. The town was small so not much to see - and the obligatory expensive restaurants. Probably only 5/10 on the strength of the good easy berthing with little swell.
Wednesday was another early start to head offshore over to Ibiza. Lesley and Trevor (on Kishorn) had caught up so we headed for the anchorage in Cala Bala. We were around 10 miles ahead so arrived in time to anchor and have an evening meal before watching Trevor have 3 tries at dropping the hook before he was happy. Nice anchorage, well protected with good holding. While we anchored, we were visited by a couple of gulls who sat patiently off the stern of the boat. Nothing unusual in that then I hear you say .... but these gulls had red beaks. Now I may be wrong but they could have been Audouin's Gull (they are quite rare for those of us not into watching birds) which are found only on Cabrera and a few other places. However the Mediterranean Gull also has a red beak. I got some pics so will check with the Oracle (that's Rob). Audouin's gull though has green legs. How one is meant to spot this is beyond me when they are sitting in the water! Two years ago in Cabrera, a pair of Audouin's came and sat behind the boat just as these did. It must be in the genes.
Today was another early start at 7am for the last leg of the trip from Lagos to Majorca - to get Murray and Alan to the airport for their flight on Sunday and to pick up Rob and Anna for their few days break. As I write we have 15-20 knts behind us so we are making good progress without engine. It's a 65 mile sail so aiming to get in around 7pm. We are heading for Port Adriano near Palma which the pilot book describes as a good marina. I wonder 3/10 or 8/10. Now this ranking system is totally arbitrary and the judges decision is final. We cant have a 10/10 as there is always one better somewhere. 9/10 is pretty difficult to attain as it has to be the "best". Lagos in hindsight was I think an 8/10, let down only on how tight some of the berths were.
......anyway, we have done 650 miles in 2 weeks. That is 1/3rd of the way to Turkey. Overall impressions? It's been expensive! Food, drink and Marinas (except for Gib and Almerimar - both 6 or 7/10 - which were very cheap). It's been cold with a fair degree of clothing required for sailing except for mid late afternoon. Pam is still complaining of the cold. What's new.
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