Back in the boatyard

Our boatyard home for a few weeks

Having spent the last few months getting used to being landlubbers again it was a bit of a shock to the system to find ourselves back living on an 11 m boat and out of the water! We were in need of a rest after all our hard work over the winter months but that was going to have to wait. Thankfully the yard staff had heeded our email requesting a source of water, electricity and a ladder to be set up ready for our return. We immediately got to work to try and clean up the months of desert sand and boatyard dust that had found its way into every nook and cranny both inside and out.

Our neighbour, a Spanish search and rescue vessel

We'd ordered a few bits and bobs for the boat and thankfully a new liferaft, toilet and water heater were waiting for us at the marina office. The old water heater was leaking and the constant repairs weren't holding so we decided it was time for a new one. The old stainless box was removed and reluctantly put in the skip and the new "plastic fantastic" cylinder fitted neatly in its place. It was already getting too hot to work once the sun was up so a few early starts were needed to get the boat polished and the bottom ready for painting. Days turned into weeks but the jobs were slowly getting done. 

       Old water heater in the skip                                              and the new plastic version!

On the move as we were blocking another boat

In search of a chandlery in Roquetas de Mar

Having a break in Roquetas de Mar marina

It wasn't all manual labour. There was also some much needed paperwork we needed to apply for. We'd heard that more and more EU countries were beginning to ask for proof that the boat has the status of Union goods. Apparently a Vat invoice is not sufficient and boats are advised to get an official stamped T2L document. A T2L document can be issued retrospectively by HM Revenue and Customs in the UK to provide evidence that the boat it relates to is of EU origin and thus establish it has the status of Union goods. So with a bit of help from the RYA we duly filled out page 4 of the C88 (status) form, enclosed copies of various documents and sent them off to HMRC with all fingers and toes crossed. Miraculously within a week the form was returned with lovely HMRC official stamps all over it. This will also become handy if/when Britain leaves the EU as it means that at least the boat will have freedom of movement even if we don't! This of course only applies if the boat is in EU waters on 31 October...something else we need to make sure we have proof of...

Being transported to our new place in the boatyard

The good as new old liferaft

One of our last jobs was to dispose of our old liferaft. Of course we couldn't just throw it into the skip in its cannister so we had great fun setting it down next to the boat and pulling the cord. After 16 years and a less than 100% service record the big question was would it inflate....we needn't have worried and in seconds it rose like a phoenix from the ashes! We retrieved some of the equipment which could be reused and the rest went the way of the water tank - into the skip.

        A small suitcase sized cannister.....                                 inflates into a six man liferaft

Applying the finishing touches before launching

Finally we were ready to splash back in the water. Once again we had planned to head west to Portugal and once again we changed our minds and decided to return to Ibiza and Formentera instead. The thought of being inland up the Guadiana river between Spain and Portugal in the heat of July and August along with a scourge of mosquitoes was a big decider. Instead we can look forward to a well earned swim very soon and a break from all this Brexit chat...

Finally the boat gets lowered back into the water

Homeward bound

Moraira anchorage

It was finally time for us to start thinking of wending our way back to mainland Spain and our winter berth. The wonderful summer weather was becoming changeable and we had to delay our departure from Ibiza due to a storm passing through. When we finally left it was a long day of motoring with little wind, heavy rain and some fog but thankfully very little traffic. We decided to make for an anchorage we hadn't visited before and dropped the hook off the small upmarket coastal town of Moraira which offered welcome shelter from the easterly wind and swell. It was busy with local craft but they disappeared with the sun and we were left with a handful of yachts for the evening. We stayed another day but were soon on the move again on our journey south.

Jellyfish infested waters

We had an early start passing Benidorm on the way and finally dropped anchor off a long sandy beach, rather too exposed for our liking, around the corner from Alicante. It wasn't a very picturesque stop and we had a bit of a rolly night but at least we were safe in the sand. With some very strong winds forecast we decided to  return to the Mar Menor inland sea and sit out the dodgy weather with our anchor safely stuck in the soft glutinous mud. We were up again at dawn and safely navigated the shallows around Tabarca island before arriving at our destination. The bridge opening times hadn't changed since we last entered the large lagoon a few months ago but the quality of the water had! This time the waters were absolutely inundated with jelly fish and there was almost more jelly visible than there was water. We anchored in a peaceful spot in the lee of one of the islands but there was definitely no swimming this time! With yet another wind shift from yet another direction we moved across the lagoon in search of shelter and stopped just south of La Manga.

We went ashore in search of some provisions and we, as well as our dinghy, were made very welcome at the Club Nautico la Isleta. As well as a safe dinghy park they offered us free hot showers which were most welcome and in return we made good use of the club bar and restaurant. Needless to say La Manga is a very strange man made resort but we managed to find a couple of grocery shops hidden amongst the sea of 1970's apartment blocks. With the bad weather behind us we were happy to leave the jelly fish infested waters and continue on our way.

No whales, just a couple of snorkellers!

As we passed Cartagena and entered the bay of Mazarron we kept our eyes peeled for marine life. This is where there is practically no continental shelf and the sea bed falls away to depths of 2000 metres just a few kilometers from the coast. This is precisely the marine habitat that sperm and fin whales need and is one of the few places in Spain known for whale spotting. We went on a long detour following the continental shelf scouring the horizon for a fin, a large tail or with luck a squirt of water....

Laid back La Azohia

La Azohia beach

View across La Azohia bay

Having completely failed at our cetacean hunt we hit the jackpot with our next anchorage. Not only did we find shelter from the easterly swell, La Azohia proved to be a delightful laid back little resort. We were happy to chill here for a couple of days and enjoy swimming in the turquoise, jellyfish free, waters. We had a lovely coastal walk to the unusual hexagonal 16th century watchtower affording great views across Mazarron bay as well as the sea some 70 mts below. There was a lovely laid back feel to the place, a great beach front bar and even a much needed Spar supermaket a short stroll away.

View of Azohia bay from Santa Elena tower

Aguillas windmill

Sadly we had to tear ourselves away and continue on our journey. We had heard good things about Aguillas, particularly that it afforded good shelter inside the large natural harbour where yachts are still allowed to anchor. We found a spot sheltered from the swell and went about exploring the town which didn't really come up to expectations. On the move again we had nice easterly winds helping us on our way but unfortunately it meant that the wonderful anchorages around Cabo de Gata were untenable especially as some gale force winds were forecast. Instead we snuck round the headland and joined a handful of yachts off San Miguel beach. Our last night at anchor and a final swim before the last hop back to Aguadulce.

                                                             Aguillas town square

Ride of a Lifetime at anchor in Aguilas harbour

Anchorage off San Miguel, Cabo de Gata

Ride of a Lifetime's winter home

Once back in the marina and firmly attached to the concrete we busily set about tidying, cleaning and putting the boat to bed for the winter. Our final journey took us from our berth to the boatyard lifting dock. We were then hoisted and moved to our new resting place on the hard standing. This winter we are leaving the boat for the winter months and are becoming landlubbers for the first time in fifteen years! We'll be back in the Spring....

We'll certainly miss Aguadulce's glorious winter climate

Work, more work and a little bit of play...

Drying out in Aguadulce boatyard

View from the tree tops

After a long frustrating summer ashore we are now back on the boat and it's a bit of a shock to the system! The boat was out of the water on the hardstanding in a very dusty boatyard in southern Spain. It was also swelteringly hot, in excess of 30°C, but thankfully we missed the blistering summer highs of over 40°C. There was much work to be done before we could splash back in the water. Our arrival back also unknowingly coincided with the Almeria festival which meant our plan to retire to a nice hotel room at the end of each day was scuppered. There was not a room of any description to be found so unfortunately the boatyard was to remain our home. The boat certainly got a good dry out in our absence and we decided to take advantage of this and made the decision to remove all the old bottom paint right down to the original gel coat. After seeing the amount of sanding we would have to do we decided to buy a couple of deckchairs, a bottle of gin and watch the marina staff do the work for us. Time increased and the gin decreased but after rather too many mañanas they eventually got the job done.

Ride of a Lifetime with her nice white sanded gel coat bottom

Manzanilla con hielo y una caña!

While the sanding progressed at a snail's pace we went about sourcing all the paint and equipment which would be needed to finish the work. Living in a boatyard is not the most comfortable of experiences so we were happy to escape at any opportunity. We also got to know the many local restaurants and tapas bars rather well. Tapas were invented in Andalucia and are more than just snacks. Whenever you order a drink a tapa comes free of charge too. The menus have a wonderful selection of delicacies to choose from and it is

Tapas - Patatas a la pobre con huevo y Tosta con salmón

also a great way to try the local specialties. Andalucia is also the home of sherry. This dry, pale white liquid was so good that Sir Francis Drake ransacked the port of Cadiz in 1587 and made off with 3,000 barrels of it! Traditionally tapas were served in bars to accompany a copa de fino (dry Spanish sherry) or draught beer. So, "when in Rome...". We found a great bar overlooking the beach and I chose a Manzanilla sherry - a variety of fino sherry made around Sanlucar de

Bar with a beach view

Barrameda in the province of Cadiz. In my best Spanish I asked for a Manzanilla con hielo. To my surprise a cup of Chamomile tea arrived along with a glass of ice! After much hilarity and with the most important word of vino added to the equation my sherry with ice finally arrived. To accompany our sherry and beer we decided to try the patatas a lo pobre (poor man's potato), a delicious concoction of onions, potatoes, peppers and garlic. Apparently there is a bar in nearby Almeria famous for this classic Andalucian dish...one to add to the "to do" list!

Bar with a marina view

Ride of a Lifetime with her grey epoxy bottom

Meanwhile back in the boatyard we were working at dawn and dusk to avoid the incessant heat. We decided it would be quicker to paint the boat ourselves rather than wait for the marina workers. Three coats of epoxy primer and two coats of antifouling later we were nearly there. Just the grey boot top line to redo as well as the fiddly and rather nerve wracking job of re applying the vinyl boat's name. The old one had suffered from some rather over zealous pressure washing!

Applying the final coat of black antifouling

For relaxation and keeping clean we joined the marina yacht club. As well as a washing machine they also have a gym, a roof top swimming pool which very few people seem to use and of course the ubiquitous bar. A brief reprieve from the dusty inferno of the boatyard.

Admiring the view from the yacht club pool

Enjoying a caña and a roof top view

The hoist arrives at dawn

Six weeks later we were finally ready to launch the boat. With our wonderful clean bottom we zipped along to our berth for the winter months. It was now too late to head for pastures new and we still had the Volvo mechanics due to arrive to give our new engine its first year birthday service. The big clean up began, the dust removed and Volvo did their thing. Time now for a much needed holiday!

Finally on the way back to the water

First impressions

Our winter home, Aguadulce marina

Aguadulce beach and marina

With our boat troubles hopefully behind us it was time to get to know our new winter home. We rather like Aguadulce. The marina is situated on the edge of this small, relaxed, resort town on the Costa de Almeria, Spain. The origin of the name, "sweet water" refers to freshwater springs that flowed close to the marina. Sadly due to building works these water sources no longer exist and we are firmly sticking to bottled water. Aguadulce benefits from the micro climate of the Costa Almeria due to shelter from the high mountain ranges of the Sierra Nevada behind it. The area reportedly has the record for the highest sunshine hours and least rainfall for the entire Mediterranean coast of Europe! It has rained non stop for the past couple of days so we are yet to be convinced. Next to the marina is a long broad sandy beach with a palm tree lined promenade. For bright lights and everything else we may need the nearby provincial capital, the city of Almeria, is only a 10km bus journey away with a handy bus stop just outside the marina.

Almeria from the Alcazaba

Almeria from the Alcazaba

Yacht Club pool with a view!

Before exploring further afield we promptly joined the Yacht Club which is located just outside our pontoon. It offers a range of facilities including an outdoor pool, tennis and squash courts, a sauna and great gym with picture windows looking out to sea. Absolutely no excuses now.

The Alcazaba, Almeria

The Alcazaba walls

The Alcazaba gardens

Arrow slits, Alcazaba

Aguadulce has all we need for day to day living but in search of a little bit more we hopped on the bus for the 15 minute journey to Almeria. We picked a beautiful day as we weren't just after some retail therapy, we also wanted to visit the Alcazaba. It is the largest of the citadels built by the Arabs in Spain and dates back to the 10th century. The hilltop Alcazaba's massive walls and towers dominate the city and command magnificent views over the old town below. We spent a long morning exploring the three compounds that make up this huge walled fortification. Not surprisingly it has been used to film various movies including Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Never Say Never Again and Game of Thrones. We walked back down to town via the splendid cathedral and joined the locals in a street cafe to sample Chocolate con Churros. It is a Spanish self-indulgence of hot thick melted chocolate in which you dip fingers of deep-fried choux pastry.....time to head back to the gym!

The Alcazaba

View from the Alcazaba