Quick Update 30 May 11

Tashi Delek
Mike & Carol Kefford
Mon 30 May 2011 14:51

39:56.769N 09:42.08E

 

Arbatax Marina, Sardinia, east side, about half way up.

 

A rather industrial setting with a dry dock, at least six tower cranes and a paper factory in sight so we expected this to be another over priced marina with no facilities.  Two friendly guys from the staff helped us berth, including leaping aboard so I didn’t have to do any strenuous rope pulling.  We were then shown round, including an excursion into the ladies and gents showers so we could see how they worked.  This included a quick diversion by our guide to assist a lady who was drying her hair on a towel  - he wanted to show her how to turn the hand dryers upside down so they became hair dryers then back to us to show us the laundry.  We had a full briefing on the varying weights of washing that each machine could take, the exact order of operation (critical to put the token in at the end of the process for the washer and the beginning for the dryer), an introduction to Paolo the man who may be able to fix our outboard and a guided tour of the rubbish bins.  All for 14 Euros, water, showers and electricity included.  Having paid 50 Euros just to tie up in Sicily we were stunned, and delighted.

 

Back to the broken outboard.  We noticed two days ago that it had started to leak what we think is gear box oil.  We have read the service manual and outboard book and can make no sense of it so time to call in an ‘expert’.  We can already hear the Euros clamouring to get out of our purse and into his pocket.

 

Hopefully there will be a shop or market nearby otherwise we will be living on tinned tomatoes for a few days.

 

All for now; there’s five loads of washing to get on with.