18th July 2008

17th July 2008
We are in Puerto Pollensa – we sailed up here after 2 nights in the harbour at Soller and another night at anchor; so we got here on the 3rd July in order to be at a larger town (better medical facilities?). We enjoyed the train trip out to Bunyola from Soller and had a walk about the town but the train was full to capacity on the way back and was ‘shooglin aboot’ something cruel; the whole trip to Palma would have been too much for Carolyn’s sciatica.

Puerto Pollensa – the town is now busy with holiday-makers especially since the school holidays have started in Scotland and some other European countries, but even at that it’s not too busy and we do like the place surrounded by the hills etc – it’s got a good feel to the place. We went to the doctor here in Pollensa and the results of the tests (sciatica) are back and there is nothing showing; so that leaves the x-rays tomorrow (results Monday); but there is still slow improvement and no need to take painkillers. We are still on anchor and it has proven itself in the last few nights when the wind gets up to about 25 – 30 knots for a short period of time – gusting in over the mountains. During the day it usually starts with very little wind and then picks up during the afternoon and quietens back down later in the evening (general plan – doesn’t always happen). So if we go ashore in the morning we try to get back to the boat before the waves pick up and soak us during the dinghy trip back – doesn’t matter too much because the sea water is warm and we can sometimes get away with just rinsing the clothes out in fresh when we get back. And then we can also go ashore in the evening for Carolyn to get some more exercise. There is a regular market in the town on Wednesdays which is quite good by some standards and also does sell some good vegetables and reasonable quality stuff besides the usual tourist (looky-looky) tat.. Kiara and us were out for a meal in a local restaurant when the tennis final was on (last few games) and it was a good atmosphere again when Nadal won. A good year for the Spanish – eh?! That was the 6th and then 7th July was the first anniversary of leaving Feochan for the start of the trip – we have travelled roughly 3500 nautical miles since then, it sometimes feels like it has been a lot longer since we left.

We haven’t been doing much while in Pollensa this time but have a regular routine where we go ashore at least in the morning and again in the evening so that we can have a walk about, check email (mornings), do the shopping, put in the laundry (collect is a separate trip) or anything else we need to do (shower in the evening). We are still managing with the wind generator for power (even a little extra for HF radio now and again) but have to go ashore for internet. We have also been into Fletchers Bar to see their happy faces a few times – if you come out to Puerto Pollensa , call in and see them, or have a look at their website at - http://www.fletchersbar.ukpub.net/index.html . Another good place we went for the ‘menu del dia’ was L’Olivera which is just round the corner from Fletchers – but don’t be fooled by the slim dark-haired waiter – his spanish is good but it’s Stephen (originally) from Glasgow….

Kiara left this morning for Menorca and then onward to Sardinia – they are hoping to winter in Malta and have about 3 months to get there. The weather looks good for the next couple of days for them so we hope they have a good trip over. We have agreed a couple of HF frequencies and times to try and keep in contact by radio but there is always SMS and email ( and the Blogs ) to keep in touch. So it was a sad evening last night as we had a walk about the town and watched some of the festivities in the square (and a couple of beers) and this morning as we waved them ‘Bon Voyage!’. It’s been 11 months since we first met and we hope it’s not too long before we meet up again.
I also had to go for a swim the other day so that I could retrieve the top of the electric razor which had jumped ship… and….. the sun is having a bad effect on Deirdre (the Heid) - she had been sleeping on watch (at anchor) a few times (normally when it’s rough and she gets her head down on the engine hatch) but her colour is not as good and it looks like she has a bad bruise on her cheek – either from taking a dive from her watch-keeping position and lands on the engine hatch….. or it’s the sun….. or she’s been fighting..??