Time to Chill

Time to Chill

Tuesday 2nd July…. Today was the day we had to say ‘cheerio’ to Ang, Alan, & Yasi, as it was time for them to fly back to the UK. The taxi turned up right on time as planned, which is always a relief.

How much luggage!

By 9am we were back on the boat and getting ready to depart. We decided to head south to Torrevieja. The weather was going our way and we managed to sail the 15 miles or so at a pleasant 5 knots. We’ve got some hanging around to do for a couple of weeks until we fly back for Jade & Kieron’s Wedding at the end of the month.  So we just want to chill out after our hectic few weeks. We anchored in Torrevieja harbour. It’s pretty well sheltered and there were a few boats here already. Dean managed to get some Paddleboard practise in, and later we took Saffy ashore. 

Easy peasy

Sorry, not too much info to tell today as we are back on battery power and laptops don’t last too long.

Wednesday 3rd July…. A very good night’s sleep, after so many late nights recently. We’re still inside the harbour at Torrevieja, and it’s well protected from the East which is where the weather is coming from at the moment. 

Dean wanted to go to Marina Salinas to see about extending our stay at the end of the month. They don’t have a place for landing dinghys but we phoned and asked and were allowed to use the slipway at the end of the breakwater. We thought it was better to phone and ask first (after our telling off we got at Moraira a week or so ago). So after visiting the marina office we went into UShip (chandlery). Dean bought a buoyancy aid jacket for me to use on the paddleboard in case i should fall off (and i probably will). He also ordered two special bendy chairs for us to use in the cockpit. The staff were really nice, and we liked the marina too.  Although the bars are very noisy at night and we can hear it out in the anchorage! 

Lovely flowers at Marina Salinas

Not so lovely me in my buoyancy aid jacket!

It matches the paddleboard perfectly though

Later on after a lazy afternoon doing nothing but watching the nearby cable skiers, we went ashore at the beach to get a little bit of shopping and found a very nice Fruiteria. We also found a lovely little park by the beach….. and guess what?? It’s dog friendly, yippee.

Saffy having a whale of a time on the grass in the park

Lovely fountain centrepiece

....even a bandstand too

Thursday 4th July... On our morning walkies back on the beach and in the park again we met an elderly(ish) couple off one of the anchored boats. They are from the Helford River in Falmouth and we had a good long chat with them. They've been sailing for over 30 years, crossed the Atlantic twice, and even sailed around the World. Wow, we've got a lot of catching up to do. 

Back in the lovely park again this morning

Big bird nests in the trees

We had decided to move on today to the Mar Menor. Here in Torrevieja harbour there is debate about whether you are allowed to anchor or not, as we hear that people have been asked to leave by the harbour police. Nevertheless, loads of people have anchored here over the last couple of days. Well would you believe it, just as we were preparing Thesee to depart, the police appeared and came round all the boats. They did say something to Dean but it was obvious we were leaving and they were fine about it. So i guess we won't be able to go back there again for a freebie night. So annoying really.

Out on the water as usual the conditions were worse than expected. Have you heard me say that before? We were heading South and the swell was East so we were rocking side to side. It got worse the further we got and by the time we arrived at the entrance to the Mar Menor we were glad to get behind the breakwater and drop the anchor as best we could.

To get into the Mar Menor you have to go through a channel and there is a lifting bridge which only opens every two hours, so we had to wait around for an hour in the anchorage. We still had 18 knots of wind but it was kind of sheltered from the worst of the sea state. 

Coastal homes at Cabo Roig

Wow, beautiful

In the anchorage outside the Mar Menor channel

The piles are the remains of a started but never finished marina

It's only 2-3 metres in the channel and we'd never done it before. At 15.45pm we raised the anchor and made our way into the channel behind another sail boat. We've heard if you're late at the bridge they won't keep it open for you, so we had to make sure we were ready for the 16.00pm opening. This is the first time we've done this so it was a bit nervewracking and we had to wait around for a few minutes for the bridge to open. It was just like going down a canal in the UK, about as wide, and as deep!! Quite a surreal experience and we were on a high. After we passed through the lifting bridge it closed straight away, in fact we could hear the alarms signalling the closure. So they definately don't hang around for anyone.

Bridge starting to open

Here we go

Chartplotter showing us approaching the bridge

We made it..... now looking back at the closing bridge

Still in the channel

Rocky remains over there

Now a tyre floating...Yikes

Told you it was just like a canal back home

The Tomas Maestre marina entrance

Once through the canal and into the Mar Menor the sea was so peaceful. It's just like a massive inland lake. We headed across to Isla Perdiguera and anchored to the south west of it. Not perfectly sheltered but good enough for tonight.... and no loud music either!

Approaching Isla Perdiguera

Lots of seagulls

Friday 5th July…. It’s been so hot here, especially the last couple of weeks. Well into the 30’s on most days. We actually removed the quilt from the quilt cover and now just use the cover as a light sheet to keep the mozzies off at night. It’s a good idea but we are still getting bitten quite a lot. It must be a bad time of year as we recall the same happened this time last year in San Vicente de la Barquera.

Saffy shading herself this morning

Time for a walk

Pretty Butterfly keeping still for a photo

Thésée of course

Quite a way out but only in 2.5 metres of water

Hot and sweaty already at 10am

Crickets in the trees

Old ruins on the island

Dean doing his beachcombing hobby

It's such a pleasure to have calm waters with NO SWELL. I got carried away after i offered to practise starting the outboard engine and steering us all the way to the beach and back in the dinghy! Saffy’s got a bit of a poorly paw, so we keep bathing it twice a day. It must have got infected when she gets these really prickly balls stuck in between her claws on her walkies. We’re keeping an eye on it and doing as much as we can to make it better. We had an extra special treat this afternoon when the local airforce did an airshow practise right above our heads.

I can do this!!

Dipping Saffy's poorly paw in solution

Aircraft in view above Thésée

Hard to get a photo in time

The water here in the Mar Menor is sooooooo warm, I think it must be about 23 degrees. We’ve noticed it’s very clear at the shoreline, but at the boat even in 2.5 metres of water it’s quite a green clear colour and you can’t see the bottom. People say there are lots of jelly fish but we haven’t seen any (maybe just one). Nevertheless, it kind of puts you off going for a swim. Dean did venture out today on his board, this time he tried it with the sail on. He was good and didn’t fall in. I will get him to write about his experience at the end of today’s blog. 

Setting up the sail

Nearly ready

Going for it

Out on his own

Don't go too far

We’ve move anchorages tonight as a bit of a trial run for the weekend. There’s some southerly wind forecast and so we’re now in the bay at the very south of the Mar Menor. As always when we arrive at a new anchorage we have a row about where to drop the hook.  We had only just decided and the deed was done, when five minutes later another boat arrived. Well it was only the couple that we met two days ago in Torrevieja. You know, the World Circumnavigators!  It’s reassuring when someone else has the same ideas as us, and especially when they have over 30 year’s experience.

Saffy sleeping on the ice-pack to keep cool

So the windsurfing! It's been years since I had a go on holiday. I set off going side ways, then had a problem and sailed backwards for a while. Eventually I managed to make some progress and made some headway in almost the right direction. More practice needed I think. Anyway, the board is quite wide and stable so it makes sailing and paddling easier than I thought, well staying on the board at least. As it's a combination paddle and wind surf board and inflatable it's not going to break any records but it's a lot of fun. 

Saturday 6th July 2019... We moved down to an anchorage we heard about in the South West corner, we were given coordinates to find the best spot. Anyway after the usual argument about where to anchor we dropped the hook where Linda wanted. It was OK in the end but there were some quite large jelly fish about.

Large jelly fish. Honest!

The couple we met the other day in Torrevieja turned up and anchored next to us for the night. The next day we went ashore for the usual Saffy expedition and to dump the rubbish bag.

 View from the anchorage, it's a mobile home park

 Large swimming area here, netted off to keep the jellyfish out

This is the boat lane to shore

 

Nice palm trees and beach

The water in the Mar Menor is quite green, cloudy and at times stinky. We're told it's because of the run off of fertilizers from all the local farms, shame. We hung around till lunch time and then looked for somewhere to shelter as there was a strong wind forecast. The forecast said gusting 29 knots from the south west. 

 Yikes big paddleboard

 Saffy time

 Boat landing area

 No perros allowed on the beach

 Nice beach

Usual shot

Saturday evening & Sunday 7th July 2019... We decided to have a look at an anchorage at Isla des Ciervo and our new friends were there already, who invited us for drinks at 1800 hours. So a quick walk with Saffy, shower and over to their boat for drinks. 

All was going well when suddenly all the seagulls took off from the island and made a great noise. About an hour later all hell let loose!! There was a huge wind gust. The boat we were on started to drag the anchor so we quickly jumped in our dinghy and headed back to Thesee to make sure everything was well. The huge gusts kept on coming. It was a mad rush to tie everything down and take down the bimini, that was by this time being blown all over the place. The life ring became detached from the stern rail and I managed to save that just in time. We also took the ensign in before it got blown away. Whilst all this panic was going on we realised that Thesee was dragging too!

We had to do an anchor retrieval and reset in the dark and although we only saw 33 knots our neighbors saw 50 knots next to us. There was lightening above our heads, and some motor boats headed in at great speed for shelter. There was sea spray everywhere, it was totally horrid. Anyway we managed to reset the anchor eventually and then spent the night on watch, so absolutely no sleep!  The whole thing was over in about an hour. We think it must have been one of those weather cells, as we found out later there are severe thunderstorm warnings over the Spanish east coast and lots of places in Europe especially Italy. Don't want to ever experience that again.

We make sure we take a transit bearing when at anchor. That can be just two fixed marks that line up. When they no longer line up you're in trouble.

 Transit: Blue crane in line with building

Conveniently the blue crane and the building have red flashing lights so they can be easily seen at night also.

Using the range finder this building is 475 metres away

When finally dawn broke through it was a big relief. But now the boat is covered in a fine dust blown over from the Sahara desert. It's everywhere. 

A coating of red dust everywhere

 

...and more

For the locals of course it's a Sunday so they're out in their droves, speeding past on jet skis, water skiing, playing load music and swimming. YUK.

We spent the day trying to catch up on some sleep and trying to book a marina berth for tonight as there is more strong winds forecast. Unfortunately this is Spain and they have no idea of the concept, customer service. The marina is extremely rude and hung up on me several times. After persevering they promised to call me back, Yeah right! 

So guess what? Linda is not happy that we are at anchor again tonight although 2200 hours now and still no wind, but the seagulls are noisy at the moment. I don't think we will be here in the Mar Menor for very long, it's very disappointing in many ways. They should rename the place Mar Cesspit, the inland sewer. I have first watch!

Monday 8th July... We made a big effort this morning to motor up to the lifting bridge which opens every two hours during the daytime. We were intending to take the 10am opening and get out of this place to move to San Pedro del Pinatar marina out on the sea side. I'm feeling so trapped in here, not being able to get out to a safe haven because of the bridge, and the only marina who say they are full. Yesterday was the first time ever we've been turned away from a marina. 

Very mucky boat 

Morning view 

Anyhow on the hours journey to the bridge, Dean called up San Pedro marina to book in for the night. Guess what? They're full too. So with about 10 minutes to go we had to make a quick decision not to go through the bridge as we would have had nowhere to go except back to Torrevieja (and our booking there is not for another 10 days or so). We made a split decision to stay in the Mar Menor and headed to Isla Baron to discuss our options. We dropped anchor to the north west of the island and it wasn't bad really, except you can't land ashore as it's a private island. 

Dean did some jobs on the boat and discovered the boom vang wasn't working. This is a pole that holds the boom up at an angle from the base of the mast. Well today Dean noticed that it was not lifting properly. The vang is basically two aluminium poles one sliding inside the other, there are two gas struts inside to produce a extending force. Well once he had dismantled everything he found one of the gas struts inside had exploded. A week or so ago in Santa Pola marina we heard a loud bang but couldn't find anything wrong with the boat at all. All makes sense now. 

Boom Vang now removed for investigation

 He knows something's not right

The exploded gas strut

The dismantled Boom Vang

About 6pm we headed back to Isla Perdiguera where Dean had to row ashore with Saffy for an unwilling pee, then at 9pm we scooted back across to Isla Baron. Phew!! Anchored again tonight.

Don't like clouds any more, but love this photo tonight

Tuesday 9th July... OMG, we had a nice day. Did i really say that? Slept in until 9.30am in the calmness to the north east of Isla Baron. Of course, landing Saffy was out of the question on this private island. We checked the forecast (for a change), only done this about 1000 times in the last 72 hours. Then we decided to head south to Los Nietos and anchor outside the breakwater for protection from this afternoon's gusts. It was still calm so we quickly got Saffy ashore about 11.30am. 

There's not much here, just small houses and a bit of a street with a few shops here and there. It was so nice to see civilization again and be able to walk along the esplanade and have a mooch around the Club Nautico. Saffy had a lovely time with all the doggie smells. So much nicer for her than the scabby beaches of late. 

Dinghy landing spot 
See the weedy bottom in the clear water here

 Looking over to the Club Nautico

Watching the dinghy racing next to Thesee

Mayhem going round the big red marker buoy

Later on we went for another walk and found a shop with a hammock for sale. We'll have that thank you very much. Only 15 euros, so now we have two hammocks. By now it was about 8pm and just by where we left the dinghy was a chiringuito, right on the sandy beach. We were having such a nice evening we decided to stop and have a sangria. Only 3 euros for two sangrias....wow, bargain.

 Lovely mosaic seahorse statues

 Aaah that's better..... Sangria time

Wednesday 10th July.... *** HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUMMER *** 

Still undecided as to whether to stay or go (even though we had a marina place reserved at San Pedro del Pinatar), we dithered about a bit early morning. About 10.30am we raised the anchor and headed north, knowing that if we stayed in the Mar Menor we would need to find a new anchor spot in that direction anyway. On the way we were entertained by the local Spanish Aerobatic Team again, performing their loop the loops.

There they go loop the loop

Weeeeeeeeeee

By 11.30am we had reached the bridge channel and still could not decide. The conditions here have calmed considerably and it's been pleasant the last couple of days. There were quite a few boats gathering and waiting for the bridge to open. 

What do we do??? Stay or go??

We decided to go, and started to find our place in the queue of boats which was now around 15 of us. Rush hour obviously. All was calm though and everyone was just moving up slowly. It was quite a sight to see. After we passed through the lifting bridge we exited along the channel without any problems, and once out into open sea raised the sails and made a 355 degree heading for San Pedro del Pinatar one hour away.

Slowly manoevring into position

Open sesame.... we're coming through

....and more behind us too

Goodbye Mar Menor

Still going along the channel

So close to the sides

Our route through the channel

Shown on Vessel Finder later on

It was a very pleasant sail, just the weather for making a long passage. When we arrived at the marina we were directed to our berth with the aid of a helpful marinero. The marina here looks very very nice. A handful of cafes and restaurants, plus a pub called The Clipper. Even with this entertainment close at hand it's peaceful, and not busy. There's a number of nautical shops for Dean to indulge himself in, and outside the marina is scrubland for Saffy and beaches galore. The showers are lovely and there's a laundry less than a minutes walk away. It's a small marina with the capability of taking larger boats, just what we like. 

View from our cockpit in the marina 

Outside one of the restaurants

Looking over at the handsome Thesee

(he will be handsome once we've washed the dirty muddy sand off)

Scrubland, nature reserves, and salt lakes around us

More prettiness

We're only 20 minutes away from where Von & Jim live, and this evening they came over to see us. They are both looking amazing and so relaxed. We chatted about all sorts of things including our recent meet up we had in Ibiza. Not sure how long we will be allowed to stay here as we are in a resident's berth, but we hope to find out more tomorrow once the marina office has been in touch.

This will be the last blog post entitled 'Time to Chill'
The next post will be entitled 'San Pedro del Pinatar'