After five very enjoyable weeks in Bonaire, we said our goodbyes to cruising friends and set off for the next of the ABC Islands, Curacao, some 30 miles away.  We considered anchoring overnight at Klein Curacao, but conditions weren’t too favourable, so we continued on to the main island and navigated our way through the narrow entrance of the protected Spanish Waters and over to the Seru Boca marina, which is part of the upmarket Santa Barbara Resort.  The marina is well protected and security is excellent, so this was an ideal place to leave Macushla whilst we had a short trip back to the UK.  We spent a hectic couple of days preparing the boat, taking off the canvas work and headsail etc. and then on our last evening before flying out, met up with Larry, Sue’s dive instructor from Bonaire, who was overnighting on the island on his way back home to the U.S., for an excellent curry at Tandoori Heights in Curacao.

Santa Barbara Resort:

Our trip back home flashed by and it was great to see some of the family and friends again, albeit we unfortunately weren’t able to see everyone this time. 

Our flight from Curacao took us in to Amsterdam and from there we had a connection to Leeds-Bradford Airport and within minutes of arriving in North Yorkshire we saw evidence of the Tour de France.  This year the county was host to Le Grand Départ and what an amazing legacy remains. The streets were adorned with Yorkshire bunting (small hand-knitted jumpers, a tribute to the county’s historic woollen industry) and bicycles painted yellow could be seen everywhere.  We can only imagine what it must have been like to have been in Knaresborough and Harrogate on the day of the race.  Here are some of the photos of the tributes we saw: