Monday 12th July (Lini’s Journal)
Brindabella's Web Diary
Simon Williams
Sun 25 Jul 2010 23:30
end of childhood summer holidays; a sense of unfinished business; a
year that has passed too quickly; my usual anxiety about bad weather
at sea and now Simon’s health which is worse today. I felt quite
emotional as we walked into town for the last fresh provisions trying
desperately to focus on the positives; we will soon be able to hug our
children, see missed family and friends and also see the many places
in old Blighty we’ve yet to discover. Si hit the supermarket and
bakery and I did well at the market, at last finding a local pineapple
and beautiful green beans that an old guy went to great lengths to
show just how fresh they were. He jabbered away; he kissed finger tips
which burst into a fountain of remembered meals; he snapped one or two
in half imitating the noise with clicking fingers then thumbs up and
Cheshire cat grin; I thought he might burst into song! I bought some
and would have done so even if we hadn’t needed them, purely for his
entertaining efforts. The bright skies turned to grey drizzle as I
walked back which echoed my mood.
It was nice not to have a departure time. The skies cleared for a
last lunch on deck looking up at the town. Just when we were leaving
‘Rapau’ berthed just along from us and we were able to have a brief
chat before Keith helped us with our lines. Far from the forecast dead
calm it was blowing a hooly when we tied up on the fuel dock. Si
filled another spare can just in case the winds are as light as
predicted. Could it have been lifting and stowing that heavy container
or perhaps that jolt from the bull that brought on his back pain?
Either way I was not happy about leaving with him unwell never mind
back pain as well.
The gusty winds lasted until we were a couple of miles along the
coast then on went the engine in the calm that saw us round the island
but let us relax and watch the multicoloured cliff faces and bright
green patchwork farmland slip by. We lost count of the number of
natural swimming pools along the coast with paved areas between the
black lava rock for sunbathers and lifeguards watching over the
salt-spray filled pools. We hoist sails in unexpected fine winds as
our course led us north away from land. When I came on my first night
watch Terceira was merely a smudge of lights on the horizon.