5th March – 18th
So, we arrived at Caleta de Velez on Tuesday 4th and were there until the 6th when we went to Motril. Velez was another of these places where an injection of cash would lift the town that extra little bit, however, it is a nice place with some tourist town developments nearby, the marina is good with good showers, laundry and helpful staff; there is also a ‘Lidl’ about 1km walk away….. At Motril we stayed in the Real Club Marina which is tucked away in a corner of an industrial port and amazingly we had to go through the paperwork the ‘old fashioned way’. We first had to go to the Guarda Civil where a couple of old codgers (with guns) were very officious….. then to the club office to pay. Security was very high which was good and the facilities were excellent – however charges were also very high and we wanted to make good progress along the coast so we only stayed the one night.
Friday 7th we moved to Almerimar and arrived just as the wind was starting to get interesting at about 25 knots. From here we visited the Alhambra in Grenada by car, with Jaap & Diana and made a tour along the coast up through the mountains to Granada and then back via the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It was a long day out but well worth it to see the Moorish history and architecture of the Alhambra and also have a look at some places in-land. The road back took us to a ‘township’ near Guadix where the people live in caves (modified to ‘modern’ standards with TV etc.) which dates back to when the Moors had been cast out of society by the Christians during the Reconquista; and also over one of the passes to Puerto la Ragua at 2000 meters. The scenery is amazing and hopefully the pictures (later) will give you some idea of what it is like.
Almerimar has a large (multi-national) live-aboard community similar to the one at Lagos where there is an active social life and well organised and helping community which discusses the day’s and future events on VHF each morning. However, there is not the same character as Lagos because Almerimar is a custom built place around the marina. While there we met Peter & Joyce (Spicy Maiden) and heard stories of great ventures up to the far north of Norway, and also went for a small trip out to a tiny village called Vicar – very narrow streets and only one bar with a few locals but obviously very typical of what Spain is really like, out in the country. We also went into the ‘Loch Ness’ bar (on the last night) in the marina and met Billy & Doreen who knew Aberfoyle very well and had been back there only a month ago.
We left for San Jose on Saturday 15th and had a good day sail (after the wind started about 10 ish) and went to anchor in one of the bays. The wind had started to pick up when we were about half an hour until the first of 2 possible bays, so we were putting some more sail away, and both too busy to take the registration of the twin engine, small aircraft that had decided to have a close look at us; because ‘close’ must have been about 15 – 20 feet; I could have thrown a bucket of water at him. Aw well; - we anchored in the second of the bays and the wind picked up to gusting 40 knots but the anchor was well dug in, it was amazing to see the wind come blasting over the hill and punch the top of the water, lifting loads of spray. The wind died away during the night and we had turned across the swell so did not sleep much what with all the rolling. The water was so clear that we could see the anchor five and a half meters down, half an hour before sunrise when we were hauling it in.
Next stop was to be Aguilas and there was also a chance to anchor there – winds were light so we had to motor-sail again. We found a quiet spot in the east bay and dropped the anchor in about 3 meters – only one person on the beach, but within 15 minutes the Gaurda Civil had been by car to have a good look followed by somebody in a canoe and then a photographer on the beach with some very fancy equipment taking lots of pictures of us. Nobody came out to visit or radioed us – so we will never know…. Nocturne arrived about 9pm and we left early for Cartagena the next day about 8 am and arrived about 2 pm after another motor-sail.
So here we are in Cartegena for a few days – there is so much to see (including a couple of submarines) and this is the Semana Santa – the holy week leading up to Easter with lots of processions and holidays.
The next post will be the photographs from the Alhambra etc ; the route on google maps has been updated (link on the top right).
10th March, Photos
10th March Photos
Actually 12th March due to delays with and problems with internet! The following photos are – 1 to 26 of Seville, 27 – 30 of Cadiz (including wild parakeet), then Gibraltar, Marbella, 3 of Caleta de Velez, 4 of the Sierra Nevada & Motril and one of Almerimar (where we are now).
Actually 12th March due to delays with and problems with internet! The following photos are – 1 to 26 of Seville, 27 – 30 of Cadiz (including wild parakeet), then Gibraltar, Marbella, 3 of Caleta de Velez, 4 of the Sierra Nevada & Motril and one of Almerimar (where we are now).
Calcutta Cup
Just listened to most of the second half of the rugby (Scotland - England) broadcast by Radio Scotland. Forgot that it was on and then found it by accident. Great Result ( after the last 3 efforts)... Passing along the coast yesterday and looking north we could see the snow covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada - made us think of home (the past couple of mornings have started about 6 deg C ).. also made us think of home....
March 5th, 35 Km East of Malaga
18th Feb – 4th Mar
Mon the 18th we caught the bus to Seville with Jaap & Diana for a day trip to see the city sights. What a wonderful city, we are very pleased to have seen a lot of the place and would liked to have had more time. However, we did cover a lot of ground and will hopefully be back another day. I should make a selection of the best 3 places for a multi-city 10–day holiday in Spain.
19th – 25th we stayed in Cadiz while the weather blew in and out and would not settle or ease enough to let us get further along the coast. So we did some more sightseeing and checked out a couple of places for Tapas. We didn’t venture into the new part of Cadiz – the old part of had more than enough to interest us for the duration of our stay. Carolyn also had to go to the shops and select a new jacket to replace the one that disappeared ‘in the oggin’ while she was off the boat one day….. The skipper had decided to give the clothes from the hanging-locker an airing and had secured them to the rope very well - except that the hanger that the jacket was on broke and only the little wire part was left stuck through the rope…. We didn’t see it again!! Ho Hum (or words to that effect) !!
Mon 25th we moved on to Barbate (about 37 miles) and had to motor again because of light winds which once again turned into a head-wind. So after putting in some diesel and leaving Cadiz about 10:30, we were a little early at the edge of the firing practice range and slowed down and generally ‘hung about’ for half an hour or so until the finish time of 13:30 – then it was up revs and make best speed to Barbate, another 5 hours away. Of course the wind decided to pick-up a little and was up around 19 or 20 knots and close on the bow – so we were motor-sailing again with the mainsail set and about 30 degrees to the wind. By the time we got to Cape Trafalgar there was a bit of current running and that made for some lumpy water again. It was quite interesting to be heading towards the exercise area and have a large grey ship try to head us off (but the water we were in was too shallow for him), then the aircraft carrier headed towards us; but the best was when the ‘SeaKing’ helicopter tried to sneak up behind us. First to hover a couple of miles away on the starboard quarter and then about a mile and then he flew right in front of us banking steeply – so he must have got some really good pictures of us… I can only guess at what they could have been thinking when they saw the Dutch flag of Kiara and the British flag of Balchis just off Cadiz!!! That was all when we were about 8 miles from the range but obviously heading towards it – they never came back or called us on the radio although we could hear them calling other ships to keep clear – and they must have relaxed when we pulled up 2 miles short to wait for the firing to finish.
So firing range with very loud bangs – Cape Trafalgar and the lumpy seas – that’s 2 things – is there a third thing to come..? It must have been when the crew decided to fall off the pontoon ( in the dark ) just as we are trying to tie-up the boat.! Good job Diana and Jaap were there to catch the lines and rescue the crew. No damage done – she even said how warm the water was. Sorry – no pictures.
We were in Barbate until the 27th when we headed to Gibraltar – weather forecast : light winds --- Huh - by the time we got 8 miles down the coast it came from nowhere – 5 knots to 18 knots in 2 minutes. By the time we got to the corner at Tarifa it was up at about 23 knots. However we got into Gib in quite good time about 18:30 (after a 10:15 departure from Barbate) and tied up in Marina Bay up beside the runway. We were met by Darren & Vicky from Nocturne who were also in Marina Bay and next day Sergij & Isabelle and the children (Alex & Katie) came round from Queensway Quay Marina. So we had a good reunion over the next couple of days and also did a couple of jobs.
28th 29th Feb & 1st Mar in Gib - Kiara leave on the 1st we leave (with Nocturne) on the 2nd to Marina La Bajadilla about a mile east of Marbella. We didn’t bother with the touristy bit while in Gib this time as we had visited with Francy & Richard in December.
Just 1 night in La Bajadilla and then the 3 boats move on to Caleta De Velez about 35 Km East of Malaga. So this is where we are for now trying to decide which weather forecast is telling the truth and which will be the best day for moving on. In the mean time it’s good to have a little internet (again patchy) and a little time to slow down. The past few days the weather has not been as predicted so we are cautious that the F4 – 5 that has been forecast may actually appear from the wrong direction.
Darren & Vicky decided to carry on over night to Almerimar and have reported in by SMS that they have arrived safe & sound. We will probably see them when we move along there in a couple of day’s time.
Mon the 18th we caught the bus to Seville with Jaap & Diana for a day trip to see the city sights. What a wonderful city, we are very pleased to have seen a lot of the place and would liked to have had more time. However, we did cover a lot of ground and will hopefully be back another day. I should make a selection of the best 3 places for a multi-city 10–day holiday in Spain.
19th – 25th we stayed in Cadiz while the weather blew in and out and would not settle or ease enough to let us get further along the coast. So we did some more sightseeing and checked out a couple of places for Tapas. We didn’t venture into the new part of Cadiz – the old part of had more than enough to interest us for the duration of our stay. Carolyn also had to go to the shops and select a new jacket to replace the one that disappeared ‘in the oggin’ while she was off the boat one day….. The skipper had decided to give the clothes from the hanging-locker an airing and had secured them to the rope very well - except that the hanger that the jacket was on broke and only the little wire part was left stuck through the rope…. We didn’t see it again!! Ho Hum (or words to that effect) !!
Mon 25th we moved on to Barbate (about 37 miles) and had to motor again because of light winds which once again turned into a head-wind. So after putting in some diesel and leaving Cadiz about 10:30, we were a little early at the edge of the firing practice range and slowed down and generally ‘hung about’ for half an hour or so until the finish time of 13:30 – then it was up revs and make best speed to Barbate, another 5 hours away. Of course the wind decided to pick-up a little and was up around 19 or 20 knots and close on the bow – so we were motor-sailing again with the mainsail set and about 30 degrees to the wind. By the time we got to Cape Trafalgar there was a bit of current running and that made for some lumpy water again. It was quite interesting to be heading towards the exercise area and have a large grey ship try to head us off (but the water we were in was too shallow for him), then the aircraft carrier headed towards us; but the best was when the ‘SeaKing’ helicopter tried to sneak up behind us. First to hover a couple of miles away on the starboard quarter and then about a mile and then he flew right in front of us banking steeply – so he must have got some really good pictures of us… I can only guess at what they could have been thinking when they saw the Dutch flag of Kiara and the British flag of Balchis just off Cadiz!!! That was all when we were about 8 miles from the range but obviously heading towards it – they never came back or called us on the radio although we could hear them calling other ships to keep clear – and they must have relaxed when we pulled up 2 miles short to wait for the firing to finish.
So firing range with very loud bangs – Cape Trafalgar and the lumpy seas – that’s 2 things – is there a third thing to come..? It must have been when the crew decided to fall off the pontoon ( in the dark ) just as we are trying to tie-up the boat.! Good job Diana and Jaap were there to catch the lines and rescue the crew. No damage done – she even said how warm the water was. Sorry – no pictures.
We were in Barbate until the 27th when we headed to Gibraltar – weather forecast : light winds --- Huh - by the time we got 8 miles down the coast it came from nowhere – 5 knots to 18 knots in 2 minutes. By the time we got to the corner at Tarifa it was up at about 23 knots. However we got into Gib in quite good time about 18:30 (after a 10:15 departure from Barbate) and tied up in Marina Bay up beside the runway. We were met by Darren & Vicky from Nocturne who were also in Marina Bay and next day Sergij & Isabelle and the children (Alex & Katie) came round from Queensway Quay Marina. So we had a good reunion over the next couple of days and also did a couple of jobs.
28th 29th Feb & 1st Mar in Gib - Kiara leave on the 1st we leave (with Nocturne) on the 2nd to Marina La Bajadilla about a mile east of Marbella. We didn’t bother with the touristy bit while in Gib this time as we had visited with Francy & Richard in December.
Just 1 night in La Bajadilla and then the 3 boats move on to Caleta De Velez about 35 Km East of Malaga. So this is where we are for now trying to decide which weather forecast is telling the truth and which will be the best day for moving on. In the mean time it’s good to have a little internet (again patchy) and a little time to slow down. The past few days the weather has not been as predicted so we are cautious that the F4 – 5 that has been forecast may actually appear from the wrong direction.
Darren & Vicky decided to carry on over night to Almerimar and have reported in by SMS that they have arrived safe & sound. We will probably see them when we move along there in a couple of day’s time.
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