Ria de Vigo and goodbye to John and Chris

Moorglade's Voyage
Ted Wilson
Thu 5 Aug 2010 18:41
Our position is 42:15.63N 08:46.98W
 
Thursday 5 August 2010
 
Tuesday was spent relaxing, doing a bit of work using the club WiFi and shopping. Chris was incited to do more sea swimming, as she had at the previous stop, but declined. The Singletons recommended Ensanada de San Simon as another gem and the pilot book recommended it as a place to relax, so on Wednesday Chris and John departed by bus to catch the train at Pontevedra to go to A Coruna and recover the car and Kay & Ted sailed and motored in alternating no wind and good sailing breezes down Ria de Pontevedra and up Ria de Vigo, under the 38m high Rande bridge, round the many vivieros, to San Adrian de Corbes, where there is a small marina accessible from the road.
Although the place was undeniably attractive unfortunately we were only allowed to tie up on the outside pontoon on the windward side and the wind had got up. This resulted in more movement than was really welcome and a lot of slapping of water against the side of the boat and the pontoon itself. There was a dead pigeon in the water between the boat and the pontoon and the water was also full of what looked like long grass. However just after the boat arrived so did Chris & John in the car. Kay and Chris headed off looking for a supermarket so the boat could be stocked for the trip down the Portuguese coast. What they found claimed to be a supermercado but bore similarities to the shop in League of Gentlemen. However undaunted by this or the lack of anything that Kay actually wanted to buy, shopping was concluded and the crew gathered at the marina restaurant for a last supper. This was delicious and very convivial. Unfortunately Ted sprained his ankle dancing on the wet pontoons - the waves had been breaking over them, while we ate - but everyone retired to a better sleep than might have been anticipated given the conditions!
 
The next morning we bid farewell to Chris & John and sailed back down the ria in search of a calmer berth and a washing machine. We arrived at Cangas in time for a late lunch and sallied forth seeking WiFi and a laundrette. The marina was able to provide the washing machine (slightly antiquated and very slow spin) but WiFi was a step too far. However they directed us to a back street cafe specialising in chocolate drinks - more ways of serving drinking chocolate than you would believe - and for the cost of 2 drinks we were able to WiFi until the laptop batteries went flat and the washing needed to go into the drier.
 
Cangas seems a lot nicer close too (bustling and convenient) than it appeared from a distance (high rise and concrete). 
 
 
Approaching Rande Bridge
 
 
Just before departing San Adrian de Corbes - the metal arches support wires to keep seagulls off the pontoons, widespread in this area of Spain