Y viva Espangna – April 8^th to June 15^th 2010 -

38:59.0N, 001:32.400E    Well as you can see from the above, Adams muse has deserted him and he has been neglecting sorrowfully his blogging. The past couple of months have seen us living the Spanish life, enforced on us by the mishap at Cabo de Gata. We had intended to miss out most of main land Spain and spend only a short time in the Balearics before moving onto Sardinia, Sicily and onto Greece and Turkey. However the vagaries of insurance negotiations (excellently dealt with by our insurers) and delivery of replacement parts (completely balls up by TNT and Fed Ex, who couldn’t find the only marina in Guardamar!) have kept us in Spanish waters. Not that we have much to complain about, the weather took a change for the better as we landed in san jose and it has been hot and sunny ever since , give or take a few thunderstorms and one hailstorm! I have been swimming in the sea most days and since we left Guardamar on 23^rd May, we have been anchoring off various islands and jumping from the boat and swimming to shore. Sunbathing on sandy beaches and watching the beautiful people of Ibiza swan around on luxury yachts and in exclusive beach clubs. It’s been a bit like a holiday really!

Anchoring is a completely different lifestyle to being in marinas. You have to conserve electricity and water, so video nights, uninterrupted computer use and daily showers are out and family board games, reading out loud, and showers on the beach are the order of the day. Since leaving Guardamar we have read through the last four Harry Potters avidly, each of us taking turns to read out loud. It is really nice being read to and it reminds me of listening to Jackanory when I was a child.

Cluedo has become a favourite game, which Hannah invariably wins and both Hannah and Gabe have picked up chess.

We have anchored off a small island just off Alicante called Tabarca for two nights which was our first experience of real anchoring, where it is so hot that you have to jump off the boat just to keep cool. Since then we have spent a couple of nights in Formentara (a bit flat and windy and very expensive – small beer in beach bar £5.00) a few days in cala yondal, Ibiza ( very swish beach clubs for exhausted clubbers – beautiful bay but not a great beach),then Cala Talamanca, Ibiza town’s beach for a few days when the wind changed, a chance to visit the town and see some sights. When the wind changed again we went back round the coast to Cala Vadella, perhaps the most beautiful and relaxing small bay where we picked up a mooring bouy and really relaxed for a few days, snorkelling around and learning how to deal with jelly fish stings! Vinegar and bicarbonate of soda paste if you’re interested. We returned to Talamanca where Tan joined us on the 10^th June and via Cala Llonga (a touristy version of Calla Vadella), where we watched englands opening match of the world cup ( less said the better),we have now moved to Saint Eulia and have spent the night in the marina to stock up on food and electricity, ready for our long trek to sicily ( 5 days sail).

Next blog Sicily we hope!