Penguin
Tue 20 Sep 2005 20:28
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September 12 to 20 2005
 Her ladyship on the helm and enjoying life. Out of
the Bay of Biscay at last.
Left Santander on Thursday morning and set off for
an overnight trip to Ria de Ribadeo. Again head winds plagued us and
but this time not enough. Got to within 5 miles of our
destination and was hit by a squall.
Arrived with great haste surfing in under a high road bridge hung a hard left
and dropped anchor, not one not two but three to hold us in a narrow
channel. At low tide you could nearly step ashore. Walked around the
very small village of Figueras and had a few beers in the local watering
hole. Rob took off in the dinghy to go snorkelling to bring home supper,
his fishing ability 'under water' was as good as the 'on water'
ie beans again, however there are no seagulls
underwater.
Off again the next day for La Coruna (our actual
original destination across the Bay) at first light, Rob said, he woke early
read the GMT clock (2 hours earlier than Spanish time) and went back to
bed. At last favourable wind direction and force 4 - 5, perfect, even
the dolphins were playing with us. Arrived La Coruna in the
evening. Walked around the town Monday morning doing some food shopping
(sneaking in some meat when Jak wasn't looking). Away in the afternoon
after confusion over the mooring fees.
An overnight trip planned to take us out of the
dreaded Bay of Biscay and around the corner into the Atlantic coast of
Spain/Portugal. We were making for Bayona but made such good time, even
using the ol' iron topsail, that we decided to push onto Viana do Castelo
so now in Portugal.
Have to make good haste now to get to Lisbon for
September 25 to pick up Ian Mansfield who is joining us for the passage to
Lanzorote.
From HLS
All this talk about sailing is putting me to
sleep.It's all about languages in these places and making yourself look like a
complete idiot or understood, trouble is there is nobody to tell you what you
may
have thought you said. My best one was in France
back in L'aberwrach where I asked for three pietons for the showers I was
corrected and told it was a jetons I needed. My curiosity got the
better
of me so I looked it up and discovered a
pietons is a pedestrian. Move to Spain need some bleach I was hopping round the
shop pointing at clothes and clothes saying Blanco would you believe it she got
my
drift laughed to which I commented because the
bottle was so large todos el mundo es blanco she laughed even more. I think I
said the whole world is white! Help Mum
Now we are in Portugal I am completely stuck so the
boys are on there own
To those of you who have so kindly been concerned
about my welfare I am fine now can even cook below decks and I have become
master of the loo. Which means getting back on deck before anything
unplanned
happens.
I was let out on my own last night for the first
time. The only company I had was the setting sun which sizzled into the ever
elusive horizon and Venus was with me for and hour. The moon from
behind
crimson and huge . Rob told me it was a busy area
so keep a good watch out. I must have looked like a demented owl the way my head
was swivelling round made me dizzy it takes a while to get used
to
who is doing what out there. At 11.30 the boat was
completely surrounded by dolphins what a treat to enjoy all on my own. Kicked
Normy out of bed then I was back on duty at 04.30. Had a restful day
and
started to learn more about Navigation. God help us
all.
Thanks again for all your lovely
emails.
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