San Jose

San Jose was a six hour sail from Roquetas del Mar. Light winds again which meant we tested the dart sewn into the Code Zero  - it works perfectly, has stopped the luffing on the edge of the sail and the subsequent noise that created. On the way into San Jose harbour a gorgeous turtle swam past about five feet away from the hull looking totally relaxed, unfortunately I didn't have my camera handy, but he was really cute :O) San Jose is a shallow bay at the end of Cape de Gata, very small, two hundred souls, the rest are tourists.

Code Zero fixed!

Cabo de Gata ( special request from Mark Phillips) - another place with a windy reputation. Just ten knots today. The haze still around even though it's two in the afternoon.

 

 

Me on helm, Greg dropping sails as we go into San Jose harbour.

 

Sewing Day

Today my trusty sewing machine saw the light of day for the first time since leaving Cornwall last August. Pleased to report that it is still in one piece and functioning perfectly. Our lightweight Code Zero sail needed a dart in the luff edge - no sooner said than mended - will let you know how successful this is after tomorrows sail to San Jose.

And while the wheel was turning I patched up a pair of shorts and fixed a few other small pulls and tears around the place.

Not sure if other crafters experience the almost 'meditative' state whilst crafting? Today, fixing the sail dart, I was glancing around and noticed a huge discrepancy in size between the fishing boats across the water from us. See very big trawlers below and the little 'tiddler' in between them, David and Goliath came to mind.

 

A day full of colour!

Just wandering about Roquetas - the photos say it all.

Harbour entrance:

 

Fixing his nets:

Sad yet beautiful:

Being coaxed into a pose on the walls of the Castille:

Picture postcard:

 

Arrived Roquetas del Mar ( small rocks of the sea) 15th April

We're on the Costa Tropicana! The Sierra Nevada mountains protect this area well. As we sail the coastline we can see acres and acres of greenhouses on the southern slopes producing fruits and vegetables. My particular favourites - delicious avocado, tomates and sweet peppers. I imagine this intense farming provides much needed employment for local people. Roquetas has quite a large fishing fleet - we wake up when the boats leave harbour. Last night we ate fresh grilled fish courtesy of these hunter gatherers and Greg tucked into a plate of fried baby squid ( Chiperones) which he loves! I feel sorry for them :O(  After supper we walked to see the Castille S.Ana  which is in spitting distance of our mooring. It was a stronghold for centuries against the dastardly marauding pirates :O) Only Mother Nature managed to conquer her - in 1804 an earthquake tumbled the towers. The local government had it rebuilt, this was completed in 2003. Here are a couple of pics taken last night:

My zoom can't quite make it to the clipping of the Moon :O)

 

Adra

Adra marina was originally built for the fishing fleet. Unfortunately the fleet has diminished. Apart from us there was a German and a Norwegian boat - peaceful. Adra was the very last stronghold of the Moors. The  town is devoid of all but a few metres of the old fortress wall.

Spotted this little girl on the breakwater in her communion dress.

And some flowers in makeshift vases

 

Down a back street, a bag of kindling waiting to be hoisted to a second floor window by a length of sisal

 

 

Alhambra Granada

The Alhambra has now been crossed off the bucket list. I've chosen just one image to sum up the afternoon at the Palace  and this is it:

My absolute favourite -

 

On to Motril 10th April

Somedays you get the distinct impression you are sailing along on the edge of an infinite postcard - the Sierra Nevadas this morning:

 

 

Love sea stars!

 

Waiting for the massive roll on roll off ferry to go into Motril harbour before us, suddenly its horn blasting away one, two, three, four, five, six times - see the fishing boat in front of it:

and somehow it pops out from behind and lives to tell the tale:

nutters!