Time to move on.
Mandalay
Robin & Jenny Martin
Mon 27 Sep 2010 07:59
The first five days we were on the pontoon and then we moved onto one of the moorings a short distance away. Being tied up on the pontoon made it easier to get the boat tidied up cleaned down and get the washing done.
The town was a 20 minute walk away and was in the throes of celebrating Columbus week with music, stalls and pageants. All very lively and colourful ending the celebrations with fireworks. Porto Santo is a lovely clean town with a good size Pingo Doce to get all our shopping. Still unable to get our gas bottle filled but told we can get it done in Madeira but would probably take a 3 day turn around.
Now we are starting to meet up with boats planning to cross to the Caribbean with ARC and as many going independently. Leaving our mark on the breakwater wall like many yachts before us was the best way to strike up conversation. Some after arriving we met Lynn & Glenn who invited us to supper aboard their beautiful 50 steel ketch where we met Kevin & Jean. We had a great evening exchanging experiences, giving and receiving advice, swapping books and doing a bit of trading! We are not in the position to give much advice but we could loan out some paint for the wall art. Also Kev was delighted to swap a copy of some tide charts for the second series of Green Wing!
The weather is more refreshing, more cloud and cool nights. We have even seen rain. The afternoon we decided to do the open top bus tour of the island we had quite a shower and the driver had us transferred to a regular bus!
This morning there was great excitement as Catou (the other Malo in the ARC) was due to arrive. Paul and Sylvie with two old friends left Lagos last Wednesday and were on route to Las Palmas.
Robbie was able welcome over the radio as they came through the harbour entrance, once they came close there was a huge shout as Robbie and Terry Ilses recognised one another - they played hockey together for the Navy over 20 years ago - it's a small world. So tonight there will be hockey stories on the menu too as we're all meeting up for supper.
Photos - Robbie's reward for an early start and a steep climb.
Art work
Running repairs
Team Malo
