42:39.00N 08:49.40W Passage details from 5-8 August
Gaudeo
John and Prue Quayle / John Quayle
Wed 8 Aug 2007 22:56
5th to 8th August: Two and a half days in Ria de
Muros lazing about and only moving to find better shelter from the
occasionally strong Nly breeze, and for warmer bathing. Ours is usually the only
yacht at anchor off these beaches at night and during the day there are only a
few others which seems extraordinary given that it is height of the summer
holiday season. On the beaches however, activity is more
gregarious though usually not until late afternoon /early evening.
There`s a great deal of strutting about in skimpy apparel - women out
number men almost 3:1 - and not much interest in bathing. Here
Britannia, well 2 old Shropshire fogies anyway, definitely rules the
waves.
Adjustment to Spanish hours has taken its toll on
the retired (jubilados) Ingles. To be turned away from restaurants when
digestive juices are overflowing only to learn that service will commence after
normal bed time would challenge even those of more regular
habit.
7th August - From Ria de Muros to Ria de Arousa:
only 7 miles as the crow flies; thus an expected gentle trip, perhaps with
a lunch stop and bathe en route, and in time for early evening drinkie
poos on anchor at the head of the Ria. Not quite; instead, 49 blustery
miles via the "scenic" route outside of all charted hazards; two reefs upwind
and downwind; anchor drags before any thought of bathing or gin &
tonic; and it`s 7.45pm before reaching a better anchorage - off a beach
near Rianxo at the head of Ria de Arousa.
Although the anchorage was otherwise deserted
overnight, all around us became a hive of noisy activity the following morning
as we were surrounded by over 30 small motor boats and energetic cockle
fishermen. It seems that everyone in coastal Spain has a boat and fishing gear.
Rianxo was little more than a sleepy small fishing
harbour and village when we were here 7 years ago but is now being vigorously
overbuilt into a tourist resort - a large new marina is nearing completion
- though retaining much of its previous best in contrast with much
elsewhere along this coast.It seems that the whole of Galicia has
become a gigantic building site; lets hope it doesn`t end up like
Mediterranean Spain.
We are excitedly awaiting tomorrow`s arrival of
crew reinforcements with midshipmen (grandchildren) Bea and Arthur
together with their parents. Sandcastles at last -
serious seafaring.
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