• Cruising donkeys
apr 2017 – mag 2018

Cruising Donkeys to Greece

Un’avventura di 401 giorni di Cruising donkeys Leggi altro
  • High winds and the christmas quiz

    14 dicembre 2017, Spagna ⋅ 🌙 12 °C

    We had a bit of a blow on Sunday and Monday with wind speeds reaching 67knots in the gusts but we were fine if leaning a little. The Marina staff had added extra ropes for us and we winched them super tight. First 2photos are looking westish from the western edge of the marina towards the marina entrance (look on location map above).
    This Wednesday we attended the Christmas quiz and made our Christmas hats, sadly we didn't win the best hat competition but never mind.
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  • Guernsey without the boat-Christmas 2017

    4 gennaio 2018, Maglione ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    Hello everyone
    So for those of you we haven’t met personally ‘Happy New Year and we wish you all health, wealth and happiness for 2018 and onwards’. We hope you have also had a lovely Christmas season. As you might have guessed from the title we managed to make it back home for the festive season and have had a lovely time celebrating with friends and family, we are now waiting for this wind to ease so Condor’s Liberation can start sailing again and we can head back down to the South of Spain and we hope some sun and warmth but while here I have managed to use the gym and go swimming in the sea with my mad sea swimming friends!Leggi altro

  • On way finally

    8 gennaio 2018, English Channel ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    After two unnecessary nights in Jersey we are on our way to France, at last. First delayed by bad weather then a stevedore strike in France then bad weather again we are now half way there.
    We had a mooch round St a Helier and did the Railway walk from Corbiere to St Helier in the wind.
    Will be glad to get down south to the sunshine and a little more warmth.
    All the best for 2018 everyone, health wealth and happiness all round
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  • Almerimar

    13 gennaio 2018, Spagna ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Thank you to everyone for my birthday cards and presents sadly John had misplaced some of the cards and I only got to open them on Wednesday when we arrived in Almerimar and started to unpack. The drive down was OK but as you will see from the photos it looks like we just missed some artic conditions in central Spain. When we first crossed the border into Spain we were met with blue sky’s which was great, but then as we turned inland things got whiter and whiter, luckily we were through the worst before we were due to stop for the night just south of Madrid.
    We got back to Almerimar on Wednesday afternoon and tried to move into the apartment we had rented but it hadn’t been cleaned, so further short delay and we moved in, in the evening. A few teething problems with the flat but should be able to get them sorted out quickly, the electrician has already replaced the trip switch that didn’t trip we are now waiting to find out about the Internet that was working before the trip switch was replaced but isn’t now.
    The boat was lifted out yesterday that went smoothly and we have finished our first full day of work, I looked a bit like a smurf earlier as had been working under the boat scraping the hull which is covered in blue antifoul. I managed to get it on my face, in my hair, on my arms and hands, lovely!
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  • Weather

    23 gennaio 2018, Spagna ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    What a difference a day makes, two photos from the balcony of the apartment we are in while Take Five is on the hard. Today it is foggy, yesterday it was glorious. We had hoped to put on a coat of antifoul today but looking unlikely but John still has loads to do me not so much so might do some cleaning!!Leggi altro

  • Granada and Alhambra Palace

    18 febbraio 2018, Spagna ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Mum came to visit last week but sadly the weather was not the best, we had a week of cold weather but I hope she still enjoyed it. We visited the local market and bought some herbs and spices, did a lot of coffee drinking and eating Tapas. On the Thursday we visited the Alhambra Palace in Granada, here are some photos from our visit, the others I will put on Facebook in case anyone wants to see them. The history of the Palace was interesting but it was really cold while we were in Granada, the main fountain in Plaza Nueva had to be switched off as it was so cold and the standing water in it froze over night. We also saw a flamenco show which was good to see but we lost a bit as we couldn’t understand the story they were dancing to, which one of the performers was singing, the guitarist though was exceptional. On Saturday night we took part in one of the local Almerimar quizzes and... we won, I think that was down to Mum, she knows a lot of what would otherwise be useless information. The other mammoth project we were undertaking was to make a new heavier duty awning for when things start to warm up again as we will need the shade. We borrowed a sewing machine and with Mums help, well really she did most of the work, have made a very impressive looking cover to give us another room outside when it’s hot. The Sunday walk was also good somewhere near Paula’s, but more strenuous than usual with ropes to help us on some of the climbs, there were some fairly steep bits with dramatic drops as well but sadly we forgot our camera but views were stunning.Leggi altro

  • Valor

    18 febbraio 2018, Spagna ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    So today our regular Sunday walk took us to Valor a small town to the North west of Almerimar up in the hills about a 45min drive away. There was loads of almond blossom and it was very picturesque if not as stunning as last week.
    We have just realised that we might be leaving here in 10 days time! so have a few more things to buy and do including restocking the larder and fueling up as well as picking people’s brains for the best places to anchor and most expensive marinas so we can avoid those! There is rumour that it will rain here tomorrow so might be an internet planning day.
    Thanks to everyone, from John, for his birthday cards and birthday wishes. On Saturday we took a walk to the nature reserve to see if there were any flamingos in the lagoon, there were, but this time we did remember the camera but when I switched it on ‘battery exhausted’ was the message so we have to go back again for photos. I think I even managed to catch a little sun. Later on in the evening we went out for a birthday meal where John had lamb chops, one of his favourites, then we took part in the quiz again but did miserably this week.
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  • Cordoba

    22 febbraio 2018, Spagna ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Before we return the hire car and move on from Almerimar we decided to visit Córdoba and the Mezquita specifically. The drive up was uneventful but did take about 4hours, even here the Spanish still do not seem to appreciate why they should show which way they are planning on going by using indicators! We spent this afternoon wandering the streets of the old town and visited the Torre de la Calahorra which houses the museum of the three cultures. Tomorrow morning, early we plan to go into the Mezquita as it is free between 8:30 and 9:30, we may also go to the Palacio de Viana which, per the Rick Steves’ guide book, is a 16th century palatial estate full of Stuff.Leggi altro

  • Mezquita and Palacio de Viana in Cordoba

    23 febbraio 2018, Spagna ⋅ 🌙 11 °C

    So it was an early start to visit the Mezquita before Mass when it is free but it was worth it, an incredible building a Mosque with a Cathedral inside it, stunning. We also saw the ruins of the roman theatre not much there really, had coffee in the Art Deco cafe called Cafe de Gloria and visited Palacio de Viana with its many courtyards and museum collections it was a shame we were out of season for the flowers but it was still warm and would probably have been too much for us in season.Leggi altro

  • Tabernas

    25 febbraio 2018, Spagna ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    So this week, because it was supposed to be windy we headed north east towards Tabernas, famous as the town closest to the Hollywood sets built for some of the spaghetti westerns including ‘fistful of dollars’ ‘for a few dollars more’ ‘high planes drifter’ and Lawrence of Arabia. Scenery was good but different to the other areas we have been more like open caste mining or sand castles mostly washed away by the waves. In the end the weather was lovely we had some sunshine and no wind, but things will get a little cooler and windier next week but from what we have read nothing like it will be in the UK and Guernsey, we hope on your behalf’s that there isn’t much snow. Stay safe and warm!Leggi altro

  • Castala

    11 marzo 2018, Spagna ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Hello All
    We are still in Almerimar, I am waiting on a new crown for my tooth, it is still very hit and miss with weather we get one OK day and then back to high winds, Tuesday it reached 57knots, today seems about the same and tomorrow’s not looking great either. But there are definitely worse places to be and this means we have been able to spend more time with our new friends. On Saturday Jane and Dave cooked us a lovely curry, today we have been walking near Castala and the Fuente de castala. After the walk Sebastian took us to one of his local tapas bars and to see his son and family. Sadly Jane and Dave, and Frank and Tina leave here on Tuesday so the walking group next week might be Maria, our guide, John and I and Phil from Oz.
    We haven’t been idle while waiting for new crown we have removed the screens and treated the rust and are revarnishing the wooden rails from under the screens before we replace everything.
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  • Almerimar nature reserve

    25 marzo 2018, Spagna ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    OK we admit it we slept in, after two nights of howling winds and then moving the clocks forward we missed the 10 O’clock rendezvous time for the Sunday walk, but we did do our own walk East along the beach to the nature reserve where we managed to take some photos of the flamingos sadly we couldn’t get very close but here they are.
    Last week there was only Maria and myself so we repeated one of the Castala walks the one to the old disused lead mine, I took a couple of photos.
    We don’t have any real news except that against all expectations we won a round of the music based quiz on Wednesday so John has another bottle of red wine to drink. The winds have been high almost all week so no major work done on the boat but we do manage the odd hour here and there so things are moving forward slowly, this week the weather is supposed to be much better so fingers crossed. Not sure if I have mentioned that I am working in the local charity shop whenever they need me and worked 8hours last week that kept me out of trouble for a while. The shop raises money to help look after abandoned and injured animals mostly dogs and cats.
    Tomorrow one of our friends Ian has arranged a visit to a private motor collection so provided I am allowed to take photos I will post some and tell you more about the visit later in the week.
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  • Pepe Moreno Museum in El Ejido

    29 marzo 2018, Spagna ⋅ 🌫 13 °C

    Hello again, well after a couple of lovely sunny calm days the wind in back.
    On Monday we did manage to go to the car museum it was pretty impressive there were 65 cars, 60 motorbikes and loads of other things as well. Here are some of the photos including one of the exterior of the museum, which has a workshop and painting/drying room and parts storeroom underneath the bit you can see in the photo. The front has been built to look like a mansion but is really only a facade with a big hangar type store room behind that. The bathroom might be functional but looked kind of cool so that’s why there is a photo of that.
    In the process of being restored there was a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car and a WW1 Italian tractor/tank. In the museum proper were cars used in an Indiana Jones film, and a Mafia based film. The vehicles can also be hired out for events weddings etc. Apparently the museum etc is now self supporting visitors donate approx E5pp for a visit, during which you get a personal,guided tour from Pepe followed by wine and tapas, the wine is from his families vineyards near Granada. The tapas is served in a little Bodega at the back of the main museum and contains goat skins an old olive press and old wine casks.
    We did do a little work on the boat as well on Monday and a full day on Tuesday, and Wednesday we have sanded and pre coated the cockpit now and prepared the mast ready for the new rigging which will go on when we receive the screws sent by Michelle, thanks again, we could have bought some here but we’re not sure of the quality as and they are going to hold the new track to the boom we decided we needed something we knew. So when the wind eases again we need a second pre coat and then top coat as well as to renew the secaflex this should keep us busy.
    Our pet sitting duties start on Saturday when I will introduce you all to Santos a Norwegian Labrador collie cross that we are looking after for a few days while the owners do some hard sailing to Vigo, (just above Portugal on the Atlantic coast of Spain) he is a lovely soppy thing but I’m not sure what his English is like though it’s probably better than my Norwegian I admit, perhaps we can communicate in Spanish. We are unlikely to do the official walk this week as it is probably a bit much to ask someone to have a dog in their car, but we will wonder to the meeting point just in case, but if not we will walk West along the promenade perhaps as far as the Castle and the views of Balerma. The local animal charity are also having a fun day at one of the local bars Leo’s with competitions and tombola we might dress up Santos! Don’t worry I am not being cruel he is used to various outfits as before he moved to Spain he was a Mountain dog and had he own sort of ski suit to keep the snow off and goggles, then when he moved south he had a cool suit (temperature not style) so he could go out in summer without overheating. So a Tshirt and silly hat should be fine for him.
    Due to the wind today I have made Tiramisu and carrot cake as well as roasted vegetables and pork stew!

    So the latest on the tooth saga the reason we are still here in Almerimar when we had planned to leave the beginning of March, I was hoping to get the temporary crown replaced, the original cracked in Dec the Guernsey dentist told me, so in Spain I got the damaged one removed and a temporary one fitted and then tried to find out which abutments I needed to connect the new crown to the old implant. Sorted this and sent the Spanish dentist the info received email confirmation of receipt and incorrectly assumed that he was sorting things out. Followed up with them to be told they needed to know what abutments to order so again referred them back to the email when they said ‘oh yes any abutment on any implant’ but the ordering and paying the supplier took over 2weeks although I paid them immediately! There was no sense or urgency although I said from the beginning that I needed things sorted as quickly as possible.
    We have now decided that when the dentist reopens, oh yes I forgot to say that the parts have arrived I tracked them myself after contacting the UK supplier, they have closed although they told me they were open over Easter, we will just collect the parts and get the work done in the future, somewhere else, perhaps next winter, I can’t stand waiting around a minimum of another 2weeks and the dentist said it would take 10days for the crown to be made which, so we are told, could mean anything up to 20days. The temporary crown hasn’t caused any problems since it was fitted in Jan so no reason to assume it will. The dentist here is good but everything takes so long. Of course if extended forecast is rubbish this may all change but even 1good day would allow to move another 50miles in the right direction.
    Anyway I will be in touch again soon, hope you all have a good Easter break.
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  • Dentist

    2 aprile 2018, Spagna ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Have finally been fitted for the crown and been told that everything should be sorted by the 9-10th April Hurray
    So this week we have a boat guest Santos is staying until the 6-8th April while his owners relocate their boat to the Spanish Ria of Vigo.
    He is no trouble on the boat but as you might be able to see from the attached photos there is a bit of Labrador in him, so when we go walking he is constantly on the lookout for food. Yesterday evening I took him out for about an hours gentle stroll he is 11 so have to take it easy and as we get back and I go to undo lead I realise he has half a stale baguette in his mouth, no idea where it came from!
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  • Quiz winners

    7 aprile 2018, Spagna ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    Well the wind is picking up again so on sat eve we decided to take part in Leo’s quiz, just John, Santos and I we were a little worried it would end up embarrassing but at least we were out of the wind and noise for a few hours. We realised we weren’t doing to badly, at least compared to the team next to us whose answers we were marking, but as they were reading out the results we started to get a bit excited and we were joint first so a tie-breaker question and we got it! We won a bottle of Cava and some dark chocolate cherry liquor chocs, which I shared with the other team.
    Friday afternoon was also fun instead of just coffee and chatting with the language group we all met on Nickys boat and she cooked Belgian Waffles for us all delicious. Nicky has sent me some photos of the group which includes Annabelle, Isabel, Mercedes, Antonio and Puri as well as Nicky and her husband Edward. A thank you goes to Jane for introducing me to these great people sadly I will only make one more session before John and I move on East along the coast.
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  • Cartegena

    9 aprile 2018, Spagna ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Well on Sunday afternoon after Silje collected Santos we decided we couldn’t cope with another week of wind in Almerimar so booked a hire car and accommodation, we are now in Cartagena which has a lot of Roman ruins a nice marina and some good food, today we took a stroll around town but I forgot the camera so photos and more information in tomorrow’s update. We are currently sitting on a sofa watching TV, CSI to be specific, in our apartment that overlooks the old Roman road.Leggi altro

  • Cartegena

    10 aprile 2018, Spagna ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    We had an early start today and managed to see everything we wanted to which is good because it got a lot windier about 15:00. First of all we returned to the Castillo de Conception with resident peacocks, via the Spanish civil war museum and the viewpoint overlooking the city and the harbour before visiting the Roman theatre and associated museum. Then we went to the local market and had a coffee and hot chocolate before going to the Naval Museum. I might have already said but Spanish hot chocolate is very rich, it is as if they have actually just melted a dark chocolate bar in a mug, delicious. The naval museum had lots of models of old boats, mines and costumes and lots of info on submarines as Isaac Peral born in Cartegena is supposed to have been credited with inventing the submarine as we know it then lunch, a lovely Menu Del Dia of Ceasar salad, calamari and dauphinois potatoes then creme caramel. After lunch we walked around the marina along the old city walls then continued to follow the walks inland away from the wind. We were trying to access some of the other hills around Cartegena but they haven’t been touristified yet. In the photos you will see john in front of his next boat, the futuristic silver one!Leggi altro

  • Valencia

    11 aprile 2018, Spagna ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Today we drove up to València via Alicante, didn’t see anything in Alicante except high-rise buildings and beaches, but as windy beaches not looking good. València is lovely and the people are very understanding especially the commercial port police. While following the iPod GPS directions we managed to get ourselves to the entrance of the commercial port with all the container trucks, the guy manning the entrance was really sweet he showed us where to u-turn and told us how to get back to town. After we managed to find the apartment and car park we went for a walk around the old town here are some photos. We saw a cute little red squirrel in the gardens that now grow in what was the old river route, the cathedral and basilica. We also visited the Plaza Rotunda (the round square), the Centre Del Carme Cultura Contemporania, an old monastery which was interesting for the architecture and the display of work by Okuda San Miguel very colourful. Photo of type of thing attached. Will be more info and photos tomorrow.Leggi altro

  • Valencia update

    12 aprile 2018, Spagna ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    So a full day wandering aimlessly around the city and here are some more photos, we visited the market, the post office, the science museum hemisphere and loads more, can only attach 6 photos so rest to go to Facebook. Had a lovely lunch set menu down near the marina and now having a rest before popping out for tea. Tomorrow we drive back to Almerimar to have my dental work finished do last minute shopping and washing before we continue the trip can’t wait!Leggi altro

  • Cabo de Gato, Puerto Genoves

    15 aprile 2018, Spagna ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    So we have finally moved on, we left Almerimar this morning, well it was actually about 11:15 by the time we got water fuel and paid up. We headed East along the coast past Rocquettes, Agua Dulce and Almeria and are now anchored up on the eastern edge of the Cabo de Gato near San Jose. It isn’t the calmest Anchorage we have been in but neither is it the worst. The trip wasn’t as calm as I would have liked for our first trip in almost 5 months but hey at least we could leave. Tomorrow we plan on heading towards Aguilar further East, running away from the strong winds that are predicted for this weekend in the South, the forecast for north of Alicante is much nicer than for here so hopefully we get that far. Anyway here are photos of Almerimar and the anchorage we are in now. Not to make you jealous but I think I will need to apply a little after sun to John’s face.Leggi altro

  • Punta de la Cabrilla, North of Aguilas

    16 aprile 2018, Spagna ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    A long days sail today 8 hours started and ended a bit bumpy but beautiful in the middle. We saw some dolphins and 1 gannet as well as having a stowaway for 4hours. The stowaway was a small bird between a wren and a sparrow with a pale grey head and pinky brown back, we think it just needed a rest. We arrived at 16:20 said good bye to Bob the bird ate tea earl as I didn’t have any lunch, am still working on getting my sea legs back. I have been for a quick dip 15 mins was enough for my first Mediterranean dip of the year. I did swim in Guernsey in 2018 before we returned to Almerimar and now hope to do a lot more.Leggi altro

  • Yacht Port Cartegena

    17 aprile 2018, Spagna ⋅ 🌙 19 °C

    Yes we’re back but this time we brought the boat with us, we had a lovely crossing and stopped for lunch and a swim (25mins) in a small bay called Cala de la Salitrona just inside the large inlet that contains the Cartegena ports. There is a large commercial port on the outskirts, then a super yacht boat yard/builders, a fishing port and two yacht marinas then right inside is the Naval port including submarine pens. We are moored alongside a finger pontoon which is very comfortable but we better not get used to it as very rare in the Med. Once we had completed formalities we each had a long warm shower😀, then into town for tea and a little shopping ( milk and bananas). On the way back to the boat John noticed some large brass torpedoes inside a brightly lit door way so we stopped for a look in and the next thing we know loud music is playing and when we turned around everyone was stood still and or so we thought, looking at us ☹️ but as we walked a little further away we realised people were looking up and saw that the large Spanish flag was being lowered and therefore assumed the music to be the Spanish National Anthem, so we also stopped walking until the flag was brought down and music finished 🇪🇸. Photo 1 is scenery on the way, 3 is where we stopped for lunch, 2 is further in the inlet towards Cartegena and 4is the superyacht we photographed last time but they have now added two booms to the stylised masts.Leggi altro

  • Torrevieja

    18 aprile 2018, Spagna ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    So we are anchored up for the night just off the beach, area is very high rise as was most of the coastline to get here I will attach a couple of panoramic shots please excuse wavy horizon but boat wouldn’t stay still. We are currently debating whether or not to do an overnight trip tomorrow to Ibiza. As the coastline here really isn’t much to write home about and Ibiza looks much prettier well at lot less built up that’s for sure. Are lunch stop off Isla grosa, bird sanctuary, opposite the entrance to the Mar Menor was beautiful that’s photo 2. photo 1 was of the lighthouse on Cabo de Palos where the high rise started and the 2 panoramic shots are off the Mar Menor seaward coastline. Hideous we decided therefore not to bother going into the Mar Menor but instead as the sea was flat calm to cover more distance. If we travel to the usual hopping off location for the Balearics it will take us 2more days the coastline for the first day will definitely just be more high rise the second day might be better but while forecast is good we think it best to cross the water.Leggi altro

  • Campello

    19 aprile 2018, Spagna ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Well that was an interesting trip fairly bumpy at the beginning so we decided against a straight to Ibiza sail, it got better near Santa Pola which was where we decided the revised destination would be so we headed on obviously the conditions then worsened as we headed towards Alicante and were then horrible for the last 4miles to Campello it was gusting up to 27knots but the sea bands did their job so I kept the Jaffa cakes down. 😉 To the west of the marina are lots of high rise but to the east it is a bit less built up, right next to the marina is a small isthmus Islotte de Banyets with ruins of a Roman settlement on top and fish baths on the waters edge see photo 1, 2 is looking East from isthmus, then photos of what look like miniature irises, blooms only inch and a half across also photo of the seaweed growing on the rocky shore as the colours changed the closer to the water they were. Maybe Morayra tomorrow as there is an anchorage there that should work in this wind direction it’s now E, through to North and this Marina costs 40 Euro a night so need anchorages.Leggi altro

  • Calpe

    20 aprile 2018, Spagna ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    Bumpy trip from start to finish, considered cutting it short and did but in the end only by 8miles. Am very impressed with the sea bands obviously the last set I had were faulty😉. In the photos you will see 2 gloomy ‘wish you were here’ Benidorm shots, even from a distance it’s awful. If the weather had been kinder though there was some stunning coast but with winds gusting up to 35 we couldn’t go close or stop to look too much. After Benidorm which has a cute little island off shore we went along steep cliff photo 3 and then headed across large bay to Calpe. As we crossed the bay we also crossed the GMT date line photo 5. You could see Calpe from quite a distance due to height of rocky headland next to the harbour photo 4. Once anchored we did some boat jobs tightening stay and final paint coat on scuppers before John rowed us ashore for a coffee tapas and walk. On the walk we saw a salty lake with Flamingos hopefully you can see them OK. This eve we are going to try for Ibiza as wind seems to be dropping, fingers crossed🤞Leggi altro