Position 36 41.8N 002 47.5W

Sorry it’s taken so long to add the next bit.

Bernie flew home for a few days, to see people and collect the post, leaving John to sort stuff out and tidy up! I arrived back to find bits done but still loads to do.  Chris and Becky joined us in Cartagena, still sorting stuff but . we eventually left on Monday 15^th October, sailing overnight in rain, thunder and lightning to arrive here.

This is a big marina, lots of English people and a great place to get stuff done, as we have found out. The Duogen is now up and fitted, will have chance to try it tomorrow, the engine has had a good service, the liferaft has had a beautiful wooden cradle made to fit and we’re beginning to get tidy.

Although we only intended to stay 2 days, firstly the chance to get stuff done and then the weather (absolutely pouring for 36 hours, unable to do anything really yesterday) have kept us here. Also, it’s very friendly with a radio web every day which resulted in a very helpful session on another boat, at the end of which we could all communicate via SSB. Ok, it was only just around the marina, but at least we have one piece of kit not completely destroyed by the Maltese. We could have left this afternoon, but there was a rugby match on, so we’ve stayed until tomorrow .

Next stop is La Linea, just outside Gibraltar, or at least that’s the plan, to collect a spinnaker pole sent from England. It didn’t quite make it with the sails and the rest of the stuff. Getting stuff out to us does seem quite difficult, partly because we’re not sure where we will be but also there do seem built-in problems and delays, with parcels following us round the country.  Still, there’s nothing which cannot be brought out by people now, as far as I can see.

Looking forward to La Linea, or more importantly, chance of a visit to Gibraltar, for Tesco and M&S, to buy Gold Blend coffee and teabags! (Also Robinson’s lemon barley water!) Only slight problem, some discussion as to whether there is anywhere to tie up or whether we’ll be floating the pole out, attached to a dinghy!

Hopefully we’ll get some more photos soon, and will update as we can.