To 09/03/11

Puerto Sherry 09/03/11

We had another beating against the pontoon last night, so when the wind died this morning and the sun came out we spent some time drying everything out and then moved away from El Puerto a couple of miles to Puerto Sherry. This is a big half-finished marina “village” place – not particularly nice but it should offer good shelter from the very strong winds forecast for tonight and tomorrow morning. The total distance was only about 2 ½ miles – including messing about so that Carole could go fishing, usual success rate. A complete change in atmosphere here – from friendly and cosy to big and impersonal, although the staff have been nice and helpful. We had to pay a €75 deposit for an electrical connection plug for me to wire into our mains power circuit. The picture shows the size of the normal plug in comparison – clearly a place aimed at bigger boats than us!

Spent the next 5 hours sorting out the washing due to strange machines that fought back then insisted on a siesta.

Should be in Cadiz tomorrow to meet up with Neil and Yvonne.

El Peurto De Santa Maria 07+08/7/11

We’ve booked in for another night, 8^th, had planned to go today, but the heavens opened and for the first time we’ve had proper rain. Before now we’ve had a bit of dampness, not fit for the name of rain really but this is stuff we’d be proud of in England. When we sail in Scotland we call it comedy rain - because it really is having a laugh.

Last night, 6/7^th, the wind gave us a serious pasting against the pontoon, the forecast was for 30+ knot gusts on the beam and it certainly felt like that, no damage fortunately, had every fender out, even the little ones I keep hidden for emergencies that are not fit for much.

Yesterday in El Peurto was good, had a tour round one of the sherry bodegas, sampled most of their Sherries and brandies, surprisingly ended up buying some of their wares. Had a good cycle around the local area too, although the knees felt the slightest hill after the sherry.

Fish and chips El Puerto style – the strange things with short tentacles are small whole squid, Carole said they were good!

Then Carole dragged me onto the tennis courts at the yacht club – included in the price (!) – for my ritual humiliation, no photos, too exhausted to hold the camera.

Great Restaurants.

Having a “duvet” day on the boat today, as it’s raining so hard. Sheet lightning and rolls of thunder – shouldn’t have been so smug with those sunsets.

Determined to move off tomorrow, weather permitting!

Cadiz and El Peurto 06/03/11

Lazy breakfast after last night then walked into Cadiz for wifi – recognised some of the Roman gladiators, Mickey Mouse’s and cowboys from last night as they staggered out of the town having finally given up the party at 11:00am – felt mixture of admiration and pity! The town had an army of street cleaners out and by 12:00 all the mess was sorted out and families were out for the kids fancy dress parade and general promenading around – bars packed again by 12:30! After further Microsoft frustrations we went back to the marina and packed up ready for sea.

The weather was supposed to be OK according to the forecasts but from the top of the breakwater you could see a pretty big storm off shore. We had wanted to go to a place called Sancti Petri – another tricky spot to enter but sounding idyllic once there but would need to pass through the storm. Discretion got the better part of valour and we turned away from the bad weather and simply ran with the wind across Cadiz Bay to Puerto do Santa Maria, a port ½ mile up a river at the head of the bay. As we crossed the bay you could see lightning bouncing off the clouds offshore.

El Puerto de Santa Maria

Great private yacht club, sort of faded elegance, but in summer it will be a great spot for a few days, with a swimming pool, tennis courts and a restaurant all within the yacht club. The rain arrived, briefly, with some of the wind from the storm just after we’d tucked ourselves onto a berth, slightly bouncy from passing ferries to Cadiz, but a good view. This place is the most expensive we’ve stopped in, at €15/night, by a long way but decided to stop for two nights to have a proper look around the town and hopefully do a trip round one of the Sherry Bodegas.

Two pan dinner – shouldn’t have said anything before.