Thursday 6th May.... Linda - I'm amazed how quickly blog day comes around. I'm sure if I didn't make notes throughout the week I would have no idea what we've been up to. The photos remind me too, so I always upload the photos first, and then write the text around them. I guess it's good to have some kind of technique going on.
This first photo shown this week is our head torches. This all came about because the night before when I switched the saloon lights on, nothing happened. All other electrics were working apart from the lights. This was really unusual and we had no inkling of what was wrong. Dean was quick off the mark and had his head in the electrics wiring cupboard. Believe me, it's a complete maze of electrics. He identified that there was no live feed to the lights and assumed that the wire had broken. By this time it was dark and we were working by torch light. The elastic on the head torches was useless and had become slack over time, making the job very frustrating. Eventually we decided to leave it until morning, and so we sat for the rest of the evening watching TV with our hand torches.
Bedtime eventually came, and as we were getting ready for bed Dean just happened to glance at the switch control panel and noticed that the mains cabin breaker switch was off. He switched it across and immediately all the lights came on! We had sat there all night in the dark and felt like right fools. We both have no idea how it got switched off, the only thing we assume is that we keep the Ipad nearby and it must have got knocked accidentally. It was a big relief and fortunately Dean had found the problem before bed and so didn't keep him awake all night thinking.
First job next day, we went to the shops and bought some new elastic for the head torches. So some good did eventually come out of the situation.
No more loose elastic for us
Plucking at straws for jobs to do, Dean bought some black paint and sprayed one of the mosquito hatch grills. All the grills are grey and blend in where fitted, but this one is in the side window and looked odd in the black glass. Now it looks beautiful.
Newly sprayed hatch grill hanging up to dry
See how wonderfully it blends in now
Sunday was a lovely calm day. For ages we've been looking for some material to make a cover for the paddleboard. Anything suitable is very expensive here and we needed 7 metres of it. We had given up looking, but on the boat we found an unused quilt cover in blue and white which could be suitable. There was nothing to lose and at least it was worth a try, and hey presto in half a day Dean had sewn himself a paddleboard cover. It's only really to protect the board from the sun when we keep it on deck during the summer months.
On Tuesday at Circuit Training, Dean suffered a major wardrobe malfunction..... It must have been quite frightening for those in attendance, and I believe they all had a good laugh. He didn't know about it until the others informed him of his exposure. He was most upset at the thought of having to throw away a pair of his favourite shorts.
It's a paddleboard cover
This week was Thesee's Anniversary since the start of our journey. It kind of puts our situation into perspective. We feel we are wasting the year just sitting here at the moment, but when we think of what we achieved in that first year when we left in May, we realise that there is plenty of time to enjoy this summer season. We're keeping our promise to Saffy and have been going for a walk every day. Some days we go into town, others just around the breakwaters or the marina, always chatting away about our memories.
Our very good friends Ant & Cid along with Oscar dog sailed off to Tunisia this week. A couple of days beforehand we went for a goodbye takeaway drink at our favourite Blue Sky bar. We've been friends with Ant and Cid since we met way back in Northern Spain in 2018, and non stop sailing buddies since Antibes in the summer of 2019. We also ordered yummy takeaway pizza and chips.....just incase you can't get pizza in Tunisia guys 😀.
Cheers, see you soon x
Seen better days
Quite a number of boats are getting ready for the off, testing out their sails and having new spray hoods fitted. Here is a photo of a boat opposite us trying his cruising chute.
....and one of our neighbouring boats trying out his storm sail.
On the morning Ant & Cid sailed away we went out to one of the breakwaters to wave them off. The morning was overcast but nice and calm for their overnight crossing. Here's a couple of photos of their departure leaving Licata.
So we've been to all the shops and stocked up with plenty of food and drink. We got a black basket from the local fruit shop so that Dean could stock the 24 cans of coke nicely under the floor. It was a bit too wide so he cut it in half and glued it to size... as he does
Making the best use of empty bilges
All was very quiet around the marina today, so we were surprised when a bride and groom turned up with their entourage of photographers. They even had someone taking drone footage. We haven't seen a wedding for quite a while, in fact I thought they were banned, but obviously not....
Mr & Mrs
Today's walk was along the very long eastern breakwater. We had noticed when looking across from our side of the marina, that a white hut had appeared on the breakwater. Time to go and identify what was going on. Well it seems to be some kind of refrigeration unit. We really have no idea what it's supposed to be, it's a mystery at the moment. The breakwater cats were all chilling out, obviously with full tummies, and in fact one of them was in such a blissful state I was worried he was going to fall off the plank. One of the kind boaty ladies in the marina feeds them every day.
Approaching the mystery hut
Cool cats
In dreamland
Thursday 13th May... Linda - The waiting game continues here in Licata. It's quite a thing planning the first sail of the season...better known in the sailing world as a shakedown cruise. Once you've identified a possible leaving day the countdown starts, and you have a number of days to get ready for it. Jobs to be done, wash and scrub the deck and cockpit (again, for the third time so far), polish the stainless, clean windows, refit the duogen wind generator, refit the bimini solar panels, sort out the halyards/sheets, refit the hydrovane self steering, fit the jackstays, wrap the glasses/cups/breakables and secure, sort out food for journey, last minute shopping. Not to mention weather watching & passage planning, and wine ordering.
Our wine cellar 😀
We started the countdown on Monday with a plan to leave today actually, but by yesterday morning we decided to delay departure. The main issue being the wind strength turning out to be too high for a comfortable ride. We do need wind obviously to be able to sail, and our planned journey will be around 70 miles (approx 12 hours sailing). We sensibly weighed up the pros and cons, and decided that the reasons to delay came out on top. A favourite acronym for sailors is the 'KISS' rule...it stands for 'Keep It Simple Stupid'. It makes a lot of sense and we always try to relate to it. Why complicate things and take risks when you don't need to?
As well as our countdown we did also find time to do other stuff too. Sunday was a fabulous day and so we went on a mini ramble. We walked the countryside path up to the castle, stopping at the top to reflect on our memories of the life and times of Saffy dog. It was a wonderful view and has helped us with our healing process. On the way down we followed the main path, then instead of turning left down the road, we turned right and walked along the road for quite a way before making our way down the steep road to the beach. The views were just fantastic.
Looking across our lovely marina
Old streetlamps with new led lighting
Half way up to the castle
I love this overhanging flower branch
Chiesa di Maria di Pompei
Colourful flowers adorn the route
Pretty pale pink flowers here
The bell on the left looks brand new and shiny
It's a lovely route to the top
A super day for walking
Look at that sea too
Views from our resting spot at the top
Down we go and Dean notices the new fencing
Can't resist taking lots of photos
Along the road now looking down to the beach
Fantastic residences in this area
This must be the Mayfair of Licata
Is this a house?
Reaching the bottom of the steep beach road
Other goings on... A few more boat movements in the marina. We had a new port side neighbour from Netherlands, and Wolfgang our Austrian starboard side neighbour moved his boat around to the boatyard for a lift out, clean and polish. He had joined us for dinner at the weekend, and I cooked a homemade Chicken/Mushroom pie, mash, and green beans. Fortunately Wolfgang is fluent in English amongst other languages and it was very interesting to hear about his homeland Austria.
Off to the boatyard
It was also our 7th Wedding Anniversary this week. We don't make a lot of fuss over it, as it's not really possible to make a lot of fuss! Dean did surprise me though with a home-made card, advising that the 7th Anniversary is Wool. He is so thoughtful.
Wool? or Cotton Wool?
Thinking we were going to be leaving we went to Blue Sky bar for take-out rum and coke, then take-out pizza and chips. That about as much fuss as you can make for an Anniversary here.
Dinner for two (days)
Saffy's walking legacy lives on, and instead of finding lovely places, we found a few unwanted clothes left by the recycle bins. Bonus, a brand new pair of jeans for me and incredibly they fit me to perfection! I was chuffed. Thanks Saffy.
There was some commotion yesterday with a Coastguard helicopter hovering around for ages. Then we heard sirens. It all seemed to be taking place in the fishing harbour, and so be it later on we saw the news which seemed to indicate there was a big crackdown to do with fishing licences and practises. I guess fish will be off the menu here for a few nights....they'll all have to eat pizza instead.
The hovering helicopter
Thursday 20th May... Linda - We are trying to keep ourselves occupied but it's becoming more difficult, same old thing. We are gaining more neighbours by the day as restrictions are slowly being lifted, with 4 out of the nearest 6 boats occupied.
Wolfgang next door returned with his boat from the boatyard on Friday. As he was reversing into his berth the lazy lines somehow got mixed up and one of the lines got wrapped around his propellor. Next day he tried to get it off by diving under the boat, but it was impossible. Dean offered to let Wolfgang use his small scuba cylinder and within a minute or so Wolfgang was able to dive under and release the line from around his propellor.
Dean on the pontoon, Wolfgang in the water
Sorting out which line is which
The day after, Dean sold Wolfgang one of his used solar panels and helped him fit it onto his bimini, like we have on ours. He was very grateful to Dean and gave us a nice bottle of red wine as a thanks for all the help over the two days.
For a change we went to Blue Sky bar on Friday night, instead of Tuesday night. It's supposed to be happy hours but it's still 7 euros for two rum and cokes, but they are large and delicious. Still in takeaway mode at the time so we have to be served in plastic glasses, but this is the first time we've had a lid on!
Still tastes good whatever container it comes in
One of the jobs this week was removing the hose from the forward heads and giving it a good bashing on the pontoon. It needs doing every 6 months or so to clear it from clogging up. Not the nicest job but Dean has it down to a T now so it only takes an hour or so. It used to take all afternoon.
My task of the week was to simplify our system for boat documentation. I made folders on the computer labelled Italy, Malta, Croatia, and Greece. And in each one I've added relevant documents required for each country. Nowadays if you go into marinas a lot of them want you to email your documents beforehand, so it's just easier if you have it to hand and in some kind of order.
Getting closer to a departure we decided to put the full bimini up, including the rear part with the two large solar panels. The sun is getting stronger also, and it doesn't take too long to get burnt if you are not in the shade.
The full bimini up.... it's huge
One evening we heard a clunk noise, it was the passarrelle. One of the elastics holding it in place to stop it swinging side to side had broken. Fixed first thing next morning.
During our research for getting into Croatia we read that it is possible to show a Covid self-test instead of getting a PCR test. Although I can't find that info now so I'm not sure. Anyway, we thought it would be good to get some self-tests to keep on board. It may be better than having nothing. Trouble was that we could not find anywhere to buy them in the local shops. We know they had them a few weeks back in one of the supermarkets but had sold out. I asked a question where to buy them on our Boat Owners Marina facebook page, and were astonished when another boat owner said they had some spare... and how many did we want? We went to see him and he let us have four tests, we took a bottle of wine in exchange.... Dean calls it 'boat currency' 😃
Our four rapid self-tests
Should be fun if we come to use them
Since Monday Sicily has been downgraded into low yellow zone restrictions. The ban on movements to other regions has been lifted, so long as you are coming from a yellow zone. This is great news and means we can now sail back to the mainland. Just the one obstacle now.... the blinking weather window. We got up at 5am yesterday morning with the intention of leaving, but somehow things just didn't feel right, so we decided against and went back to bed. Plus the day before Dean had a big headache when he found that one of the brand new solar panels on deck was kaput. Annoyingly it's the most awkward one stuck down infront of the sprayhood. Currently Dean is in contact with the company with regards to a replacement we hope. I have to say that the solar panels probably cause us the most grief out of everything on board.
This morning we had a walk into town, stopping for coffee and croissant at our favourite place in the square. Takeaway is no more and now we are allowed to sit outside with tables and chairs.... whoopie. Second coffee and croissant this week, so we are really pushing the boat out and making up for lost time.
I didn't really take many photos this week, but took a couple today around town. The first one is typical of the parking here.... parked on a pedestrian crossing. Nobody seems to bother about it, it's just the norm. The second photo was along the main street through town, an usual place to sell your headwear.
You would get nicked in the UK
for parking like this
An unusual place to sell hats
Then it was back along the park, where we noticed how nice the flowers and trees were looking.
Back in the marina, I thought I would take some pictures of the horrid lazy lines that you have to use when mooring your boat. You reverse into your berth and tie up the back of the boat, then you have to pick up two lines at the front and attach them to the bow cleats on your boat, as shown in this next picture. The disgusting sea creatures that grow on these lazy lines when they are left in the water are vile. Dean always wears his gloves when touching them.
By the way, this picture is taken looking through my bedroom window
Close up of the horrid lazy lines
Even closer. Whatever this is, is anybody's guess!
Quite disgusting
The next blog post will be called 'Going! Going! Gone!'
Bon voyage! Lots of love, Von & Jim xxxx
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