1st October 2008

We topped up with water and checked the weather ready for the move from Almerimar to Caleta de Velez and Thursday (25th) looked like a reasonable day. We decided to do the distance in one hop (not like last time when we went into Motril to break the journey) but it was going to be at least 12 hours. Arrangements had been made with Nocturne to leave about the same time and at 7am we left the berth, called into the office to return keys then headed off (about 7:15). Nocturne were sailing for Gibraltar and it was difficult to see any navigation lights against the town lights but we managed to make out a couple of boats just before day-break and called up Darren & Vicki on the radio about lunchtime when they were just on the horizon about 5 miles away. It could have been that one of the sets of lights belonged to Sheer Fantasy because later in the morning we got an SMS from Di to say that they had arrived in Almerimar at 7:50am which berth were we on ??!!!!! Apart from the winds being too light for a decent sail everything was fine and we arrived in Caleta de Velez at about 7:30pm (just before the heavy rain started ). Bob & Teo (and Sophie) from Broxburn ( who we first met in Plockton in 2002 ) were holidaying at nearby Nerja with Richard & Margaret and visited us on Friday 26th; it was great to see them all. Thanks Bob.

We had hoped to stay in Caleta de Velez for several days but when I went to pay for some more days at lunchtime on Saturday, they said that we could only have one more night (because of reservations made for the berths). So I said that we would check the weather and possibly leave within the hour – which we did… I couldn’t understand it because it looked like there were plenty empty spaces…. The weather on ‘windguru’ looked bad enough and worse for Sunday – ( f6 & f7 Saturday and f7 – 8 Sunday, but all from behind) so we came along to Fuengirola which we had avoided on the way East. The predicted winds did not appear and the trip here ( about 28 miles) was all on motor (wind 5 knots); but it’s just as well that we made the journey when we did because the wind and rain came with a vengeance on Sunday. Loads of rain since last Tuesday (23rd) but it’s now back to blue skies and about 25 deg C during the day , cool enough for us to be cooking hot meals again instead of living on salads.

Fuengirola is a large holiday area as you probably know but the main holiday season is finished and the town is not as busy as it could be - which suits us. The facilities are good and the price reasonable so we are enjoying slowing down again and will watch the weather for the next opportunity to move to Gibraltar - probably Saturday.