Good News for Space Monkeys

Ahoy,

as I have said before "how good would you have it be?" it seems that the Ol'Girl and myself have really landed on our feet. Not only have we found a Marina that is "on side" we are meeting some very fine people and enjoying the company immensely.

Between a Rock and a Nice Place

Ahoy,

so the Ol' Girl and me headed off to find an anchorage for the night before trying to find a place at another Marina. Just off the point of Papagayo in Lanzarote we found a sheltered bay with a few other boats and dropped anchor. During the day for a break I have enjoyed being at anchor, this was the first true test of the anchor alarm at night and I decided just to take brief naps, rather than risk slipping anchor and waking up on the rocks.

Morning arrived slowly and all was well until I had to weigh the anchor, the chain had become rather attracted to a rock, so, swimming gear on and a quick dip was the order of the day.

That issue dealt with I headed off to Fuerteventura( thanks for the chart John) the Ol' Girl and myself had a small amount of hope regarding Puerto Castillo( despite me making a balls up of trying to speak Spanish to the Senior Hugo, the Director) the delightful Nicky was being extremely helpful on the phone and it sounded like we may be welcome for a little while. I would also like to thank Julie, Cori and Carlos .

Wow, what a difference, the Ol' Girl and myself had been delivered from hell to heaven in the few ours it took us to motor sail here.

Everyone I met it seemed was out to show that the Canaries was not famed for the treatment we had received in Lanzarote.

The Ol' Girl is as happy as I am to be here, for the contact with real people again and for me to give her a little TLC.

Since arriving I have been invited to a eye opening submarine tour, cheers Captain Andres, an entertaining (& educational) sea life afternoon at Oceanarium Explorer, had fresh fish delivered to the Ol' Girl by fishermen Gilberto and Miguel, which was cooked by the Camarote Restaurant for me, thank you Nestor, Mercedes and Maria, it tasted soo good.( your Mojo Rojo is the best I have ever had and as for the Honey Rum, big smiles) and thanks also to Elliot for the news on Arsenal.

I even had a kiss from a beautiful girl!(see picture)

Yet to come is a hair cropping from Captain Andres's wife Amelia, pictures will be taken!(I'm thinking of a cut suitable for a monkey that's to be shot into space)

Essentially my faith in human kind is restored and maybe, just maybe everything will be OK between now and when we need to leave for the Atlantic crossing in late November. As I say this I realise I have still not managed to speak to the Director here in person, as we have arrived during a Fiesta and a public Holiday, everybody cross your fingers or have a beer for me, whichever feels most appropriate.

Starting Line

Ahoy,

well the Ol' Girl has reached the starting line, with a little help from me.

It took six and a half days, in that time we were becalmed for a little over a day, we passed electrical storms and Dave the Auto pilot snapped. These minor issues aside all went well, one night I thought I heard children playing, which was unlikely as I was one hundred and thirty miles off the coast of North Africa and four hundred miles from Lanzarote, of all the things to imagine.

Back in Vilamoura, my friend Graham gave me some Expedition Foods, freeze dried foods in a bag, just add water, they are amazing. No artificial anything, thanks Graham.

Another great help on the crossing was weather information from the Royal Marine Commando's, thank you Sandy, it was all spot on.

In fact I met some very cool boaties in Vilamoura and will miss them chatting about life on the sea whilst I take notes. Thanks for the beans Mike.

So now the Ol' Girl and me are in Lanzarote, alas in our first Marina in the Islands, we are not welcome, or at least feel less welcome than anywhere else to date and have to leave tomorrow, they did allow a few nights on the reception pontoon(without electric or water) so I should count my blessings. (One of the members of staff was cool, you know who you are, thank you) It has shaken my confidence a little, still everyone else on the adventure so far has helped so much, I am probably due such treatment just to bring me back down to earth.

So tomorrow it's off to Marina Rubicon, maybe, just maybe, our luck will improve. I hope so, as we need to be here on the Island's for over a month, leave too soon and there is the chance of Hurricanes.

As a friend says, do you want to be a Grizzly or a Koala (perhaps this only works with the hand gestures)