42:16.720N 008:49.416W
Whisper
Noel Dilly
Sat 11 Aug 2012 12:15
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We woke up to find ourselves still under a thick
blanket of fog. We waited until lunch time to see if it might lift but it
didn't so we weighed anchor and set off for Aldan our next rendezvous.
Aldan is at the south west end of the Ria de Pontevedra we passed many fish
farms on the way in, square wooden platforms of varying states of repair with
long lines hanging down on which the mussels grow. Large fishing vessels passed
between the platforms stopping to harvest the mussels as they went. It appeared
that they took the large mussels and cast the smaller ones back into the
sea somewhat unceremoniously with the aid of a shovel! .
We anchored amongst the faster boats which had
arrived before us and watched as others arrived and chose their spot, all the
time the gaps in between the boats getting smaller. Ribs and dinghies of varying
sizes were deployed from foredecks and stems and smart casually dressed men,
women and children made their way to the ramp where a fisherman would watch our
dinghies until 1:30am. As we approached the ramp a charming young man waded
in to take our line and help carry our Aron up to the accumulating gathering of
dinghies. Once we were all ashore, trouser legs lowered and shoes on dry feet we
set off for the short walk to our dinner venue. This was a unique venue, a
XII Century fort, built as protection against the Vikings and Arab pirates, it
suffered various modifications until its present form. We arrived outside a high
stone will into enormous double wooden doors and a string to pull on which rang
the huge door bell on the other side. The door opened and be were admitted to
the Pazo and gardens. Long tables were laid out under an awning
in front of a huge outside stone fireplace. As we wandered about the
extensive garden, we saw the ancient viaduct bringing water from the cistern
above over which spanned a small Roman footbridge as well as an ancient barn on
stone stilts.This type of barn is common in Galicia and in raised to keep the
vermin out. The base of the frame is made of stone beans, jointed
at all four corners as if cut from wood. The sides of the barns are slats
of wood with small spaces in between to allow the air to circulate and dry
the crop, the roof is tiled with a stone cross at one end.. We were told that
these traditional barns can be any length but are always the same
width.
Our light dinner started with mussels cooked
in a huge caldron in the middle of the garden, these were ladled onto plates and
put onto a large trestle table where we all milled about helping ourselves to
the non stop supply. The children joined in this gastronomical delight learning
the etiquette of were to put the empty shells. Next we were asked to sit at the
tables which were laden with two types of flat pies, one with a tuna filling and
the other meat, hot boiled potatoes and octopus, which too had been cooked
outside in a huge cauldron. Next followed a dessert of delicious walnut or
chocolate cake. We are still meeting new people on the rally, conversations
inevitably nautical, interesting, very often amusing and very noisy! Its great
fun we are both enjoying it immensely. We said our 'good byes' to our hosts and
made our way back to the harbour. Only a few dinghies remained, the young
fisherman was still on duty and helped carry the dinghy and launched it for us.
We had forgotten to put up our anchor light, but luckily managed to find our way
safely back to Whisper in amongst the throng of gathered
yachts.
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