Gaeta - October

Gaeta - October

Wednesday 6th November... 

LINDA - Two weeks has passed since we last wrote about our adventures. A little longer than planned. I've been back and forth to the UK, and in Italy Dean was having internet issues with the marina wifi having a bad headache. Normal service has since been resumed and so we should be back on track. 

Back to the 22nd October, and Dean paid for Thesee's winter berth. Ian and Sarah on the boat nextdoor invited us for dinner on the friday of that week. Dean rolled out the genoa and gave it a good scrub and clean with the broom. He says it's not really made much difference as the dirt is ground into the sail.  He also changed the oil in the outboard engine, and we watched some films.  Next day we met Jayne, who looks after all the foreign boats here. She's an American lady so we have no language barriers communicating. Saying that, the Italian staff are real good at speaking English. Dean removed the outlet hoses from the toilets and gave them the yearly bashing on the quayside. It was a much quicker job than last year because he has a technique going now.

Here's Dean cleaning the genoa sail

It's a big job

Changing the outboard engine oil

.... and with the water hose connected to flush the engine

On the Thursday we took the bus into Formia as I wanted to do a reccie for my upcoming journey to the airport on the Sunday. I was a little nervous about the trip going to plan because i had to get the first bus at 5.30am and hope it came on time for me to get the train at 6.15am. Along with this, the clocks changed overnight which made me doubly nervous. I'm glad to report all went perfectly on the day.  

We forgot to take Saffy's muzzle on the reccie and when we tried to get on the bus we got turned away and had to go back and get it, then wait for the next bus. She wasn't happy to wear it at first, but soon got used to it and was as good as gold on the bus. On our way back from our reccie we got off the bus in Gaeta's old town and had lunch at a kind of German bar. It was a nice change to be able to have Burger and Chips. Not very German but at least not pizza or pasta. 

Saffy wearing the dreaded muzzle

Formia

Back in Gaeta now at the small fairground

... in Gaeta old town

  

Lots of architecture

The German bar

Big Buns

No thanks, we're not into Octopus salad

Magnificent churches

.... and old streets

Back at the marina that day, the crane was starting to lift small boats out of the water for the winter.

Need a bigger crane than this for Thesee

Saturday 26th, Dean went to Platani bar with the gang to watch the England Rugby semi-final and they had a wonderful time with England winning. Then they stayed for lunch to celebrate. I was busy making up Jade's wedding video to take home with me the following day. 

So then i went home for a week to see and play with grandkids for school holidays. On the Wednesday we went with Angela to Gullivers Kingdom in Matlock Bath and had a fabulous day. It was cold but the kids didn't seem to mind. 

Having fun at Gulliver's Kingdom

DEAN - So here are a few photos and notes from mine and Saffy's time by ourselves in Gaeta. To extract the oil from the engine you have to suck it up the dip stick hole.

 Oil change using the vacuum oil extractor

I changed the raw water impeller

There is a powerful pump to suck water up through the hull, through a strainer, this is used to cool the engine. Me and Saffy went shopping Italian style.

 Happy shoppers! not quite

Bombay spuds

I was invited to an Indian night on another boat, i made Bombay potatoes. Unfortunately the night was changed to a Chinese night at the last minutes so they became Beijing spuds in the end.

 Pepe's wine and veg stall

 Vino Locale

This is Pepe's local wine and veg stall (alley) one of my favorite places to visit!

Thésée has a new official stamp

I had heard that as we move further east will may need an official stamp for signing in to different ports. I had this made in the UK and Linda brought it back with her.

The next blog title will be GAETA - November