Arriving 'home' in Mazarron 37.33:87N 01.15:42W
Tioram 4
Tina & Tony
Thu 24 Jun 2010 17:41
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Arriving 'home' in Mazarron.
In our last blog we were 12 hours from Mazarron. Our last
few hours were spent motoring into the bay with very little wind. The sea was
like glass, incredibly still with the lights of the coast line reflected into
it. We started to see the Cabo Tinoso and Cartegena lighthouses at around
02.00 am and then Mazarron light house later. There were several radar contacts
from 04.00am onwards, mostly without lights so we took care to stay a mile
away from them.
We arrived in the bay of Mazarron in the early hours of
17th June and so we decided to anchor in La Azohia at 06.30 am. This
was great timing as it was light and allowed us to safely motor into 5
meters of water to drop the hook. The morning light was just great and the
sun rose behind the easterly mountain range of Azohia with one strange beam of
light funneling through a gap in the hillside and hitting/
illuminating the fort.
After sailing in the crystal clear waters of the
Caribbean, we wondered if the water at La Azohia would be as clear as we
remembered. We dropped the anchor and motored in reverse to dig in the hook. The
boat settled, the wash calmed and there through the water was the sandy sea
bed----clear and welcoming.
We were both very tired after our continuous trip from
Portugal with just a 20 min fuel dock stop in Gibraltar. We slept soundly at
anchor and recharged ourselves ready to see Mom and Dad in
Mazarron.
We arrived to another great welcome, quite emotional as I
hadn't seen Mom and Dad for 5 months and for Tony 8 and half
months. We settled nicely into the Marina and spent the afternoon chatting
and celebrating.
We have been feeling very at home over the past few days,
meeting up with English and Spanish friends and enjoying life here
again.
The boat has now transformed from its ocean going
'Atlantic' mode where everything delicate is stowed, waterproof
seat covers protect sofas, plastic plates, cups and glasses are in use,
everything well propped or tied down to prevent low flying missiles. Lee
cloths (canvas sides to stop you falling out when heeled!!) are
dismantled off beds and the cooker and fridge re -sorted. Tioram is now in
comfortable live aboard mode.
We wake up now with Tioram strangely still---the sound
of Spanish voices and scent of coffee rather than the sound of reggae and
scent of lush steamy vegetation.
In St Lucia we met another ARC boat being sailed two
handed by a Swiss couple. We saw them again in the Azores. Yesterday they
came into Mazarron to stay for a couple of days --which is great. We may also
see another boat whom we met in the BVI's. The ARC is a great way to meet other
people on the same journey and email allows you to meet up in tiny bays and
obscure places en route. It is really nice to be still meeting up with people
who are passing Spain and continuing to the South of France and further
into the Med.
The following photos show:--
~Leaving the Azores and voyage to
Portugal
~ Albufeira beaches
~Malte leaves the boat for another adventure, travelling
light with rucksack, guitar and 6ft surfboard !
~Straits of Gibraltar
~Early arrival in Mazarron Bay
~Arriving in Mazarron marina and meeting Mom and
Dad.
We hope to now catch up with our emails using
internet access and to individually contact family and friends.
Love to all
Tina and Tony x x x x
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