Saturday 26^th April – Gibraltar (La Línea de la Concepción)

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Today we crossed to La Línea de la Concepción which is just across the border in Spain.

La Línea, meaning ‘the line’, was originally established as a line of defence back in 1704 for the Spanish army to prevent the English troops occupying Gibraltar from advancing any further into Spain.

So late morning, armed with our passports, we cycled off the short distance to the border which is just the other side of the airport and entails a walk across the runway.  However, before we could walk across the runway we had to wait for a plane to taxi out and take-off.  When we were allowed across after a few minutes it seemed quite odd to be stood in the middle of the runway looking out to sea in each direction.

Once across the border we headed off in search of a chandlery we had been told about.  This proved to be further away than we expected and complicated by the fact that that the directions were for travelling by foot and did not take into account the one-way system.  Then, when we eventually got there, we discovered a sign on the door saying that it was closed for the day L. 

Fortunately there was a large DIY shop nearby so we were able to pick up a few things there, and Richard was able to look at the ladders there as possible alternatives to use as a passarelle (gang plank).

On the way back we stopped in La Línea for a coffee and then explored down near the harbour – there is a good anchorage just inside the long breakwater.

This afternoon, back at Pyxis, Richard has rigged up a new temporary solution to our passarelle problem which will hopefully keep us going for now whilst we source a more permanent solution.

This evening we visited Wandering Dragon to see the cats (and Anne & Stephen who happened to be there too) and then had a belated taste of Christmas – pressing the microwave into action to heat up their Christmas pudding.  Later, back on board Wandering Dragon, we were very polite and let them beat us at Scrabble – we think they have been practicing ;-)

Tomorrow has been declared a day of rest.