San Pedro del Pinatar
(Saint Peter of the Pinewoods)
Thursday 11th July... No time to waste, the laundry was soon in the machine this morning and we were walking the perro around the lovely marina looking at the pretty flowers. Dean hosed down the boat and canvas, whilst i updated yesterday's blog. It wasn't too long before Von texted and asked us if we wanted to meet up and go into San Pedro town for coffee and cake. That's a yes then.
These extraordinary plants have multi-colour flowers
Von & Jim picked us up at 1pm and off to town we went. The road took us through the Salinas (Salt plains) where we could see all the wading flamingos. There's a super cycle path through here too. Mmm i'm getting ideas. We were soon at Flamingo Island and then into the town itself. Right by the car park was a Ferreteria so Dean and Jim popped in for a replacement battery for our rangefinder. Whilst they were in there, Dean spotted Dinghy Wheels. Just what we've been looking for.... Bonus! They were a little expensive but better than bringing two back in our luggage from the UK. Purchase made, they were soon in a bag and in the car.
A little walk about followed with coffee and cakes in a cafe near the square. We've found out that next week on the 16th there is a fiesta on - Virgen del Carmen. From here Jim drove us along the lively seafront (it's actually on the Mar Menor) and then took us to Lidl for a few bits and bobs.
Is that you San Pedro?
Church of San Pedro the Apostle
What's Dean up to now?
Von & Dean on the main street through town
When we got back to the marina we all went in one of the cafes. Jim ordered a beer and the other three of us chose an ice-cream. How silly of us to think they would know we wanted 3 ice cream cones! When the ice cream arrived it came as 3 scoops in one bowl, lol. So we all dug in with three spoons. All goes down the same way i suppose.
Enough for three ? I think not
After saying cheerio to Von & Jim we had a leisurely evening aboard Thesee. It's pretty hot here still but we seem to get a breeze come through for most of the day. Saffy's just about coping with it, but Bonsai Tree is looking pretty worse for wear.
Still a couple of leaves remaining
Friday 12th July... Didn't do very much today really. We did make a decision to stay here for a while though until we've been back home for the 'Wedding of the Year'. We'll be able to wind down and sort Thesee out in good time, get Saffy a haircut, and pick up some boaty bits that Dean's ordered. We did notice this evening that the beautiful flowers here close up at night and open again in the morning......clever flowers.
Saturday 13th July... Spent the morning having a clear up. Dean washed and cleaned the dinghy then deflated it and put it away safely. Same with the paddleboard. Then he got the new hammock out and we gave it a try. This evening there has been some kind of marathon run going on around the marina, all ages taking part. Don't really know what it's all about but there were lots of people participating and viewing.
Sunday 14th July... Not much going on today, still quite hot all day. Linda sorted out some of her clothes ready for the trip back to the UK. I sorted mine out and have decided to take both socks and a spare tee shirt just in case. I spent a good part of the day trying to locate some more solar panels to add to what we have. It's a long job when you have to translate everything. Good job there is good free Wi-Fi here in the marina.
Saturday 13th July... Spent the morning having a clear up. Dean washed and cleaned the dinghy then deflated it and put it away safely. Same with the paddleboard. Then he got the new hammock out and we gave it a try. This evening there has been some kind of marathon run going on around the marina, all ages taking part. Don't really know what it's all about but there were lots of people participating and viewing.
A walk about the local salinas
Dean gets first go at it
My turn
Looks like my new Burgee has arrived!
Saffy had a busy day also!
Monday 15th July 2019... Monday at last. We took the bikes out for a ride to the town. I wanted to find some velcro to make a clew strap, actually for the genoa. We also wanted to find a dog groomers for Saffy. We stopped in town for a coffee and a muffin each, 4 euro bargain.
Genoa clew strap in place
Strictly speaking you shouldn't need a clew strap on the genoa however, I lifted the genoa with a dyneema strop some time ago and now the tack pulls away from the furler on some points of sail. I've tried a few ideas so hopefully this will work. The guy in the boat canvas shop in town stitched it up for us and also sold us some thread ends as we can only find cheap cotton for the sewing machine. 8 euro all in.
Random horse and cart
Flamingos
Why are Flamingo's pink? Is it because they only drink Rose?
Or possibly because they eat pink shrimpy things
These are the Salinas, salt flats
As far as I can tell sea water is trapped in large but shallow pools, when the sun evaporates the water the salt is gathered and sold to the UK for the roads. Or something like that. Luckily there is a cycle path through the salinas to town so the bike ride was quite easy.
Our landmark, Flamingo island
Special Perro area, just the gravel on the corner not the whole thing!
Nice trees outside the town hall
Anyway. I ordered the new solar panels today, and the gas struts for the vang repair so hopefully they will arrive in the next day or two.
Tuesday 16th July... All quiet here in San Pedro del Pinatar marina. I guess they're all getting ready for the festival tomorrow. We didn't even go anywhere on the bikes. It was very sunny unlike yesterday when it was rather overcast to begin with. So we just took it easy, the most strenuous thing was taking the washing back and forth to the washing machine. We're nearly out of food, the freezer is turned off so i hope we can survive until we head home next week. Of course we have the one and only Aunty Von who will come to our rescue tomorrow, and take us all along to her Spanish Conversation morning. Better get some practise in beforehand. Buenos Noches 😃
Wednesday 17th July... What a brilliant day we had with Aunty Von. She came to pick us up at 11am and off we went to Chiringuito Las Pistas in Horadada for her weekly meet up with Spanish and English friends. It's all about conversing, and her Spanish friends like to to talk with English people and vice versa to improve their language skills. We were there in plenty of time, and not long after Luis turned up. He's a chef for the Spanish Airforce and his English was already amazingly brilliant. Then later on another friend Gordon arrived and was speaking both English and Spanish with ease.
Before we knew it it was 2pm so Von, Dean, Saffy, and myself made a move to another nearby place for some lunch. This time it was Chiringuito Trokadero, just around the corner really and this time on the beach. I ordered a Sangria and it came in a pint glass! No so impressed with my cheese bocadilla though....not cheese as i know it!
From here Von was eager to take us into Los Alcazares on the west shore of the Mar Menor. This was one of the places we never got to see when we were there last week. She wanted to show us the Banos Termals (Thermal Baths). They are part of the Hotel La Encarnacion.... a health spa dated 1904 using the healing properties of the sea water from the Mar Menor.
On arrival we were firstly impressed by the 'Dogs Welcome' sign in the doorway. We walked through to the inner courtyard where there was an open-air restaurant with a fountain and the whole place was just like a botanical garden with plants all around. Some of the plants hanging from the walls were actually almost touching the tables! There were huge fans above us that sprayed a constant sprinkle of water over us, so it felt like it was raining but you weren't actually getting wet. We felt very priviledged to be here sitting at the the tables indulging in our ice-creams.
You can actually walk around the the thermal baths and Von took us for a tour. It was such a wonderful place, really stepping back in time and thinking about how it used to be. My camera was turning out to be very busy today. From here we walked through the nearby streets covered in historical photos of the place, and eventually back to the car.
Von had said we could have her car for the next few days, so after calling in at Mercadona, driving back to her place, sitting by the pool eating cherries and drinking Lambrusco, realising it was gone 9pm and then driving ourselves back to the marina we were ready for bed. Thank you Aunty Von for a wonderful day, you are truly incredible.
Thursday 18th July... Freedom!! We were able to drive into town today to take Saffy to the vets to check her poorly paw. This vet is situated inside a large pet store and they were able to see her straight away. 30 minutes and 60 euros later she had ointment to rub on, and 6 days worth of pills, plus a nice lampshade to wear to stop her licking her foot. Whilst we were there we bought her a nice new pink engraved phone number tag for her collar. because the old one disappeared a while ago some place or other.
By this time we were running late and began to head to Torrevieja to pick up Dean's boaty bits he had ordered. We had only gone a few miles when we realised we probably wouldn't get there before they closed for lunch, so we turned around and went back to the boat. On our arrival back at the marina, our neighbour was just signing a delivery for us.....yay it was the solar panels. Good timing. Dean was very excited.
At 4pm we headed off for our second attempt at Torrevieja. This time successful and we picked up our first order from UShip chandlery.... two super duper bendable comfy seats, a tether for the paddleboard, two anti rubbing strips for when Dean fits the new fairleads, plus he found a bargain offcut of coil for 1.49 euros just suitable for threading wires for the new solar panels. Next stop was the Accastillage Diffusion chandlery where he picked up his order of new deck cleaning brushes and handle. We actually felt like we had accomplished something today.
Friday 19th July 2019... It's been quite breezy here today, at least it keeps the temperature down a little. 1st thing on the busy list today was a haircut for Saffy. While we were waiting we went to try and find some wire to connect the new solar panels. Oh yeah I forgot! Spain, no chance. Either no stock, closed or they can't understand. Anyway I eventually found some, no black for the negative so red with black tape will have to do.
Once we had finished our running around and picked Saffy up we started with the new solar panel fitting. All has gone very well so far. As they say "what is cruising? It's just boat maintenance in exotic places"
Tuesday 16th July... All quiet here in San Pedro del Pinatar marina. I guess they're all getting ready for the festival tomorrow. We didn't even go anywhere on the bikes. It was very sunny unlike yesterday when it was rather overcast to begin with. So we just took it easy, the most strenuous thing was taking the washing back and forth to the washing machine. We're nearly out of food, the freezer is turned off so i hope we can survive until we head home next week. Of course we have the one and only Aunty Von who will come to our rescue tomorrow, and take us all along to her Spanish Conversation morning. Better get some practise in beforehand. Buenos Noches 😃
Wednesday 17th July... What a brilliant day we had with Aunty Von. She came to pick us up at 11am and off we went to Chiringuito Las Pistas in Horadada for her weekly meet up with Spanish and English friends. It's all about conversing, and her Spanish friends like to to talk with English people and vice versa to improve their language skills. We were there in plenty of time, and not long after Luis turned up. He's a chef for the Spanish Airforce and his English was already amazingly brilliant. Then later on another friend Gordon arrived and was speaking both English and Spanish with ease.
Before we knew it it was 2pm so Von, Dean, Saffy, and myself made a move to another nearby place for some lunch. This time it was Chiringuito Trokadero, just around the corner really and this time on the beach. I ordered a Sangria and it came in a pint glass! No so impressed with my cheese bocadilla though....not cheese as i know it!
I could be here for a while with this pint of Sangria
From here Von was eager to take us into Los Alcazares on the west shore of the Mar Menor. This was one of the places we never got to see when we were there last week. She wanted to show us the Banos Termals (Thermal Baths). They are part of the Hotel La Encarnacion.... a health spa dated 1904 using the healing properties of the sea water from the Mar Menor.
On arrival we were firstly impressed by the 'Dogs Welcome' sign in the doorway. We walked through to the inner courtyard where there was an open-air restaurant with a fountain and the whole place was just like a botanical garden with plants all around. Some of the plants hanging from the walls were actually almost touching the tables! There were huge fans above us that sprayed a constant sprinkle of water over us, so it felt like it was raining but you weren't actually getting wet. We felt very priviledged to be here sitting at the the tables indulging in our ice-creams.
The club house at Los Alcazares marina
Statues along the promenade
Von and Dean enjoying the walk
Saffy welcome at the Thermal Baths
Where shall we sit?
Time for a treat
Dean's got a double helping
What an amazing place
Hotel rooms above on the verandah
They even have a Coleus plant next to our table
My mum and dad's favourite
You can actually walk around the the thermal baths and Von took us for a tour. It was such a wonderful place, really stepping back in time and thinking about how it used to be. My camera was turning out to be very busy today. From here we walked through the nearby streets covered in historical photos of the place, and eventually back to the car.
In bathroom number 1. Two marble baths per room!
How posh.... a washbasin too
.... oddly some antique furniture also
Dressing tables along the corridor
Poster boards displaying how it used to be
Thursday 18th July... Freedom!! We were able to drive into town today to take Saffy to the vets to check her poorly paw. This vet is situated inside a large pet store and they were able to see her straight away. 30 minutes and 60 euros later she had ointment to rub on, and 6 days worth of pills, plus a nice lampshade to wear to stop her licking her foot. Whilst we were there we bought her a nice new pink engraved phone number tag for her collar. because the old one disappeared a while ago some place or other.
By this time we were running late and began to head to Torrevieja to pick up Dean's boaty bits he had ordered. We had only gone a few miles when we realised we probably wouldn't get there before they closed for lunch, so we turned around and went back to the boat. On our arrival back at the marina, our neighbour was just signing a delivery for us.....yay it was the solar panels. Good timing. Dean was very excited.
At 4pm we headed off for our second attempt at Torrevieja. This time successful and we picked up our first order from UShip chandlery.... two super duper bendable comfy seats, a tether for the paddleboard, two anti rubbing strips for when Dean fits the new fairleads, plus he found a bargain offcut of coil for 1.49 euros just suitable for threading wires for the new solar panels. Next stop was the Accastillage Diffusion chandlery where he picked up his order of new deck cleaning brushes and handle. We actually felt like we had accomplished something today.
Friday 19th July 2019... It's been quite breezy here today, at least it keeps the temperature down a little. 1st thing on the busy list today was a haircut for Saffy. While we were waiting we went to try and find some wire to connect the new solar panels. Oh yeah I forgot! Spain, no chance. Either no stock, closed or they can't understand. Anyway I eventually found some, no black for the negative so red with black tape will have to do.
Once we had finished our running around and picked Saffy up we started with the new solar panel fitting. All has gone very well so far. As they say "what is cruising? It's just boat maintenance in exotic places"
Solar panels now on the rear bimini
Before
During
After
Saffy had a haircut and a new collar
Very nice Saffy
Linda did a great job navigating to all the useless wire places this morning while I drove, they pride themselves here on having no driving test, or at least all the drivers I meet.
Linda was also a great help fitting the solar panels as it was particularly difficult to reach some areas. Saffy watched with great interest but was otherwise useless and knows nothing about solar energy. Tonight (11pm) there is a free concert, Queen tribute I think.
But as we have another busy day tomorrow and a late night with Von and Jim at a another concert I think tonight will be an early one.
Saturday 20th July... Early afternoon blogging today because we're off out tonight with Von & Jim (you know that already). First job was Dean's.... dying my hair. Only one week to go now until Jade's big day! Before my roots had even changed colour he was off working on the solar panels fitting. Today's task was drilling a hole for the deck fitting in which the wires pass into the aft cabin and are thread through the boat to the batteries (one of our unfavourite jobs). The threading turned out quite easy for a change. The worst job today being sticking the soft fabric heading back up behind the ceiling in the aft cabin....and getting it to stay up!
It's windy again today and semi overcast. There's been a lot of clanking halyards in the marina which is very annoying for us live-aboards! Dean's got enough things to keep him moaning without adding any more 😉 thankyou.
Sunday 21st July... This will be our last daily blog post for a week or so and will conclude this episode called 'San Pedro del Pinatar'.
Therefore just a quick update about last night....we went to Von & Jim's at 7pm for a lovely dinner which we ate outside on the patio next to the pool. Mmm coq-au-vin with mash and veggies. Delicious.
Then just before 10pm Jim drove us all into nearby Pilar de la Horadada to an outdoor concert with an orchestra and dance show. It was the VII Velada Musical held at the emblamatic Finca de Los Picos.
It was 1am before we went to bed at Von & Jim's. So nice to sleep in a bedroom with air con. So that's it for now. Watch this space for more 'Adventures of Thesee' coming soon.
Saturday 20th July... Early afternoon blogging today because we're off out tonight with Von & Jim (you know that already). First job was Dean's.... dying my hair. Only one week to go now until Jade's big day! Before my roots had even changed colour he was off working on the solar panels fitting. Today's task was drilling a hole for the deck fitting in which the wires pass into the aft cabin and are thread through the boat to the batteries (one of our unfavourite jobs). The threading turned out quite easy for a change. The worst job today being sticking the soft fabric heading back up behind the ceiling in the aft cabin....and getting it to stay up!
Solar Panel wiring inside the black tubing neatly attached to the bimini frame,
then passing through the new deck fitting into the boat
Saffy's keeping an eye on us
Now we have two MPPT control boxes
It's windy again today and semi overcast. There's been a lot of clanking halyards in the marina which is very annoying for us live-aboards! Dean's got enough things to keep him moaning without adding any more 😉 thankyou.
Sunday 21st July... This will be our last daily blog post for a week or so and will conclude this episode called 'San Pedro del Pinatar'.
Therefore just a quick update about last night....we went to Von & Jim's at 7pm for a lovely dinner which we ate outside on the patio next to the pool. Mmm coq-au-vin with mash and veggies. Delicious.
This is the life
Then just before 10pm Jim drove us all into nearby Pilar de la Horadada to an outdoor concert with an orchestra and dance show. It was the VII Velada Musical held at the emblamatic Finca de Los Picos.
Fabulous Flamenco
Olé
It was 1am before we went to bed at Von & Jim's. So nice to sleep in a bedroom with air con. So that's it for now. Watch this space for more 'Adventures of Thesee' coming soon.
