Monday - 10 September 2018

Other than a few chores and a run, during the morning, we walked around to the other side of the marina to the boat yard to ask the manager about the possibility of leaving the boat here for the winter. The north easterly winds seem stuck in for a few more days and, with a possible counter current, it is going to be hard work getting north east to Cartagena. Also, we really like it here in Aguadulce.

The boat yard price, for leaving the boat out of the water, is good. The sticking point may be whether they can get supports big enough to cradle Equinox. Where have we heard this before, that the size and draft make it difficult? Everywhere! The boat yard owner seems determined to make it happen for us. We have to wait while he investigates.

When we arrived back, we heard that the marineros were concerned about our mooring. The lazy lines, which hold our bow, were at the wrong angle (too steep), not a problem in benign weather, but there is more high wind coming in tomorrow. So, while there was little wind, at lunchtime, we moved over to a berth more suited to the boat length, stern to the breakwater.

We are very impressed by the care taken by the staff here, in the marina and the yard.

Late afternoon two sprightly gentleman, owners of the boat next door appeared and we enjoyed a long conversation with them. Paul (70) and Peter (75) are brothers and from Liverpool. They have a flat in Aguadulce, having several years ago, decided this was a good place for their boat and to live. Paul had been a diving manager in the oil industry, while Peter ran a print business, in Liverpool, employing 400 people. He had to close the business when the city council forced on him a compulsory purchase of his building to make way for an access road, which 40 years later, still hasn’t been built. The brothers then pooled resources and ran a hotel, on the Wirral, for several years. They are health freaks and exercise for an hour every morning, before breakfast, and extolled their recipe for muesli, which they eat daily with their, also home made yogurt. I was delighted that they knew where one can buy porridge oats here, for us to do likewise. This will be the first place we will be able to buy them in Spain.

It continues to be hot and humid so, when the wind comes in, it is lovely. Our new spot is very quiet, away from the bars and restaurants. I suspect we will sleep very soundly tonight.

Distance covered today	0	nautical miles
Trip distance covered	1616	nautical miles
Distance covered 2018	2336	nautical miles
Tricia (and Steve)