13th November 2009-11-12

Well here we are at last in Las Palmas. We arrived yesterday after a somewhat rough passage up from Puerto Rico. We were up and about at 7.00 and were clear and away under engine by 8.00. Fortunately John didn’t have to go under the boat to get the anode – because tra ra it is finally fitted.

The coastline around the south end of the island is so heavily developed it is just one long mass of white buildings. We hardly recognised Maspalomas as it is now enormous. We did get a bit of a thrill as we motored along by the beach which we used to love to walk from there to Playa de Ingles. It looks lovely from the sea. Once we began heading north the landscape changed to a much more industrial one. Cement works, factories, and endless wind farms. The port of Las Palmas is very large as lots of ferries and commercial ships come and go. As we arrived into the bay we watched a group of Opi’s out doing crash gybes round a mark with instructors shouting instructions from their ribs. Great fun, lots of squeals and shouts from the kids. Brought back many happy memories of days spent at Venacher. Difference here being that the water was warmer and the instructors didn’t look frozen half to death.

We were greeted by folk we had met in Puerto Calero which was nice. Always great to see a familiar face and a cheery smile. Then we met a couple from Qunito De Lordo and today we have caught up with Lioncat. I swear Lani has grown again in the 2 weeks since we last saw them.

Our berth is alongside Kathy and Steve who have virtually taken up residence here. She is great a mine of useful information. Their boat seems to be the watering hole for lots of local folk who come for tea, wine and a gossip – Great stuff!

The atmosphere is warming up as the boats rally. There are still about 60 adrift Gibraltar way and it will be pretty tight timing for them as the passage over from there will be around 4 days. Then they need to provision etc and of course they will miss the parties!.

John and I attended a couple of seminars today at the Real Club Nautica. Wow is it impressive. However its views only look out to the commercial port so it can’t beat the RTYC balcony overlooking the Tay or indeed Venacher’s view from the race box. Nonetheless I look forward to the cocktail party there at the weekend. John will have to wear trousers and shirt – he may well go into shock!.

After all the fuss about the blooming water pump John has just ordered one at the chandlers here. It will be here by tomorrow night, possibly Monday – all the way from Barcelona. It is a good bit more expensive than the quote from the U.K. but the prospect of having a spare is too good to miss out on given the Caribbean suppliers. Besides if many more pairs of shoes go mouldy due to water leaking we will be barefoot when we get there. All that’s left to do is get the short wave radio wired but having also acquired a 60 amp fuse that shouldn’t be too much of a headache.

Provisioning and organising menus is the next task in hand. Biggest issue will be where to put it all when it arrives. Just the water at 2 litres per day x 4 for 20 days is a lot of storage. Then of course there is spare diesel etc. and of course meals. Although if Biscay was anything to go by dry bread, cereal bars and fizzy drinks works well! Apparently however that isn’t the case and the main meal daily becomes a real focus for all concerned. Will keep you posted on that one. Maybe I can create some new one pot wonders. (Alas I don’t have my visionary Kay from work to help me out on that one.) Current issue for many og us is managing to get the gas cylinders refilled. We may yet have to get ourselves out to the airport ,where there is a DISA station, to get it filled – nothing but nothing is straightforward. However I guess that’s true of life generally.

So here we are – not quite twiddling our thumbs – but definitely watching the anticipation mount around us. Robert and Liz will miss the start of the celebrations but will be here for the farewell ones which will be great.