1000 UTC 

We have left Torrevieja and are moving to Almerimar. 

No,  there is no proper wind, neither good wether forecast for the foreseeable time… So, I decided to start moving… 

It would be probably the long motoring passage again, though the distance is short… …With a hope, it would be none-eventful and lazy… ;-) 

 

The staying in Torrevieja appeared to be very nice.

The anchorage — is good and protected.  I was saying a while ago — there is no good anchorages on the Med coast of Spain…  

I’ve been wrong! ;-). There is,  at least, one! 

As always, the most interesting — people… 

I met remarkable family… Parents, and three boys… The youngest — just started to go… Watching the progress he is doing in going around the boat — I think he started to go on the day I’ve arrived! ;-) 

The strong seagoing boat — may be not so shiny… But that is compensated by the sparks and shine in the eyes of each family member!   

They are on a boat for a few months. The learning curve is tremendously stiff.  But they are doing a good progress,  and they are non-stoppable, for sure!

It is always interesting to meet people, who have changed their life dramatically. Instead of ‘common knowledge way’ — good job on land, in the office, weekends,  school,  etc, etc, etc…. (you can easily imagine it yourself, right ? ) — they turned  their life into completely orthogonal way… Cut ‘lines’ with the land, and stepped on board of the vessel! 

It seems they are presently a bit overwhelmed, by the fact that the whole world is in front of them!  The immediate dream — to get to Caribbean Islands!   ( And I’m pretty sure they will!  ).  

They way they are preoccupied with idea — reminded me myself three years ago. About the same time, I casted the lines in the  Newport, RI, USA.  The first leg,  solo,  about 400 nm to Norfolk, Virginia.  With experience sailing the new boat for less then two weeks…  The first night on the Ocean, and  the first cold front passing on top… ;-). The friends on land  have the unanimous opinion — I’m crazy… ;-) 

Three years  passed by in a blink…  I’ve stopped counting how many mistakes I made,  how badly I’ve hurt the boat… ( Still surprised by her patience with me )… 

The milage I did — nothing in comparison with other ‘gurus’, and ‘ big name travellers’…  But still,  quite a few miles done, with crossing the Atlantic, the Caribbean Sea, etc…   During those days it Torrevieja, answering questions — I got surprised myself, how I managed to survive! ;-)

My new friends are going through the same pattern!  And probably, that why the evenings spent together  — were so easy going, was so mutually interesting!

And, of course,  the fact that I’ve been treated a bit like celebrity  — contribute a lot!!! ;-)   

The second fall I’m at the same coast of Spain.  

One thing I noticed — it is actually the end of October. But the people are still sailing.  The group of the sailors are slightly different though!  The conversations of the winter places — are on hold.  It is like the second wave — everybody talking where they would sail, what they are going to see, etc…  As if there is no winter ahead at all!   

Indeed — during my staying, there were a couple of greyish and windy days,  a bit cold.  But then, closer to the weekend — the days became sunny,  warm during the day!  How to make them perfect ? To add some wind! ;-) 

At the moment — we are moving towards Cabo de Palos… We will leave it to starboard… — for the first time, during the day light!  ( I hope ) ;-), would live Cartagena behind, and would take the course towards Cabo de Gata… 

I do not have satellite phone link yet. Working on it… So, my update my be delayed until I got to the Cell network again…

That is all for now.  Talk soon! 

M.