Faial next
Moorglade's Voyage
Ted Wilson
Wed 3 Jul 2013 14:58
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Our Position is 39:15.044N 30:48.574W
Yesterday was a busy day, the objectives were to
get Jim to the airport at Santa Cruz by 13:00 and to get Moorglade ready to move
on. We also had to check in with the authorities. I stayed with the boat, so I
said good bye to Jim from Moorglade's deck. Of course I said this at the time
but I would like to say here what a big contribution Jim made, both back in
Marion, I'm thinking outboard motor and shopping, and all through the passage
with cooking, log writing and attention to detail. Have a good journey back to
the US Jim and I hope to see you aboard Moorglade in the future.
John and Jim organised a taxi at the local cafe to
take them the few hilly bendy miles to the airport, but as the
taxi had originated in Santa Cruz John had to call for another one to
get back.
Actually there are is no immigration service on
Flores so the duties are shared by the harbour master and the police. Neither
were hard to please, it was very laid back. We have to do it all again though at
Horta.
After getting the shore power sorted, which
required a plug change back to the European one, probably last used in
Guadeloupe, and everything needing a charge connected up, my mission was to buy
engine oil. After a long walk up hill I arrived at the gas station the harbour
master had directed me to. The owner was just closing the door and heading for
his car, he told me it was lunch time and he would be back in an hour. Luckily a
little exploration brought me to a supermacardo that also sold engine oil. With
10 litres of oil and a few groceries and a large loaf of rustic bread my
rucksack was quite heavy. The proprietor took pity on me and gave me a lift back
to the harbour in his little van, so actually the unhelpful garage did me a
favour.
By the time the engine oil and filter were changed,
gearbox oil level checked, and the engine room bilge given a more thorough clean
than was possible at sea, there was just time for a shower and shave before
going over to Richard's Swan 45 with our bottle of red and a jar of nuts for a
get together of, I think, all the cruisers in the harbour. By about 10:30 most
of the group had wandered up to the pizza place. An old local guy was playing a
stringed instrument and singing. The playing was quite good, not so sure about
the singing.
We went to bed late and quite relaxed, but still
committed to setting off to Horta the following morning. We woke late but with
little to do but disconnect the shore power and pay the marina fee we were off
by 10:30.
We have had an easy broad reach in a 10 to 15 knot
breeze on a quite calm sea.
We have about 100 Nm left to run to Horta and
although the wind is predicted to drop quite light we should be there not long
after lunch tomorrow.
We did have broadband on board in Flores, but I
regret no spare time to sort out pictures, so they will have to wait until we
get to Horta.
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