Sri Lanka
|
Position 06:01.80N 080:13.36E We moored up in Early evening we had a glass of wine on Blue Magic with the
other two boats that had arrived, Jackobelle and Tallismano before setting off
for dinner at a local hotel and then crashing into bed for a blissful 9hrs
sleep. Isobelle from Jacckobelle had promised to bake us a cake
when we arrived in port and we were delighted and surprised when she presented
us with a fruit cake, still warm from the oven – it is nice to have friends
! Mum & Dad are further North in Most of the remaining rally boats arrived today and so it
has been a flurry of activity. We moved berths so that we could plug into the
electric and also top up with fuel. We are stern to against a big concrete wall with the anchor
out to hold the bow in place. It is a bit tricky getting ashore, we have to get
in the dinghy and pull ourselves along the back of the boats to a vertical
ladder where we climb up the wall to the quayside. Memories of Raratonga, when Malc & Sandie were with us,
where we had the same style of mooring. Because of the trouble with the Tamil Tigers some years ago
we have security passes for access to the harbour and we have to be checked in
and out of the harbour every time. There is a big Naval presence here with
several ships which pipe up the ensign each morning and also pipe aboard their
officers. Just outside the gates to the harbour the Tuc Tuc drivers
are waiting to pounce ! This morning they took my laundry and drove us around town,
stopping to top up our local phone, visit the ATM and get some groceries. We were then taken to the ‘bosses’ home where they
served us tea and we negotiated a car and driver to do some touring next week. This afternoon we are back on Blue Magic trying to clean (no
water supply here) and Mark needs to go up the mast as we have several lights
not working. A fairly simple list of maintenance thank goodness ! |