Susan signs off - for now!
Chiscos - Atlantic Cruise
John Simpson
Mon 29 Aug 2011 17:34
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Thanks to everyone who has sent messages saying
how much they've enjoyed the blog so far. We're amazed at how many people
are following Chiscos on her Atlantic adventure. Sadly this is my last
post on the blog for a while as I fly back to the UK tomorrow to be back at work
on Wednesday.
 It's been a great voyage so far and I'm sure John
and his various crews will continue to have a fantastic time. Julia and
Anne arrive tomorrow (Tuesday) and Elise on Wednesday, so all being well Chiscos
will sail again on Thursday. There may be a delay whilst the effects of
Hurricane Irene on the Atlantic abate, but the weather forecast this morning
looked as though Thursday would be OK to leave. We are nearly on the
border with Portugal at Baiona so whichever port Chiscos arrives at next, it
will not be Spanish.
We've spent the last couple of days getting the
boat ready for the next leg of the journey. We had had problems with the
dinghy (the floor parted company with the inflatable tubes) and the dinghy
engine (fuel starvation), but John has sorted those out whilst we have been in
Baiona. We've tidied, cleaned and laundered, but we're leaving the
provisioning of the boat for Julia as she will be in charge of cooking. John
fears he may finish this voyage larger than he started!
Today we visited the Monte Real Castle, just next
to where we are moored at the Yacht Club. As there was only a 1
Euro entrance fee we weren't expecting much but it was a really interesting
walk. The Spanish Government has converted a number of historic
houses/castles into hotels, called Paradors, and this castle is one of
those. It would be a wonderful hotel to stay in, but for less
than the cost of one night there we will have spent 10 nights in the
marina! The walk around the castle walls took us about 1 1/2 hours, which
gives you an indication of how big the castle must have been. There was no
information available about the history so I will be trying to find out more
about it when I return to the UK as it was a significant size.
 These guns used to keep the British
out!
 Once again we had fantastic views of the bay,
including the pontoon where Chiscos is moored.
 Best wishes to John, Chiscos and all her crew
until I join again in St Lucia - I am now signing off to join the blog-reading
population. Next leg - Baiona to Madeira.
Susan
Email John and crew on chiscos {CHANGE TO AT} mailsail {DOT} com
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