25. November 2012 · Comments Off on The Canary Islands: Graciosa – No we have not left yet · Categories: Posts

La Graciosa

Well we are still here in La Graciosa.   Life has been good off our little beach.

Shorts drying after a morning swim

Both the humans and I have enjoyed the ‘leasurely’ pace of life here.

 

Rainbow after a noon shower

 

They have not been ‘completely’ lazy.  While I have my afternoon siesta the humans have continued to get jobs completed on the boat.  All the leaks have been sorted along with an assortment of little repairs and faults.

It never ends with boats!

 

I have not been completely lazy myself.  It has been my job to greet all boats that come to the anchorage.

 

 

We have also found time to do some exploring.

We climbed the local volcano.

Me, at the top of the volcano.
The anchorage below and the opposite shoreline of the next island, Lanzarota

 

It was worth the climb for the great views.

 

There is our little beach anchorage

There is Spirit of Argo with a friends boat, Limbo, anchored right behind her.

Looking down on the pennisula that blocks the waves from hitting our anchorage

The view looking out towards the town.
It takes about 40 minutes to walk into town for groceries.

My humans walked to town once.  After that they motored the dingy around to drop off rubbish and pick of groceries.  It only takes 20 minutes by dingy.

View of the north side of the island.
This is where all the best surfing beaches are.

But all beach holidays must end some time.

A forecast of very strong southwesterly winds meant the anchorage was about to become very ‘uncomfortable’.  The pennisula would not be able to block the waves coming from that direction and Spirit of Argo would bounce around on here anchor uncomfortably.  The humans would probably find it too rough to run me ashore, so I talked them into moving into the town harbour.

Spirit of Argo moored up in the towns harbour

We were low on water anyway.  The harbour does not offer any ‘facilities’ except a protected mooring and unlimited fresh water.  So no microwave popcorn binges here.  But it is cheap at 10 euros.

Besides protection from the coming winds, being in the harbour puts the humans closer to some great cafes and resturants.  And my humans do love their fresh seafood and tapas.

View from our favourite resturant

 

It did not take the humans long to find a little resturant, on the edge of town, that the local use.  The food is great, the view is lovely, the portions too big for them to finish and the price very cheap!

 

Last night the winds suddenly really kicked in.

With the very short pontoons and the strong winds, the humans had to winch the boat back close enough to the dock for me to jump off this morning.  Waves have even managed to build in the narrow channel that separates La Graciosa from Lanzarota.

The harbour wall protecting the boats inside from the waves forming in the channel

The wind is stong enough to make little wavelets even inside the harbour.

Strong winds inside the port

It is good to have a protected port 10 minutes motor away from such a lovely beach anchorage.

 

The winds are meant to die down and turn favourable in a few days and I guess it is time to move on.  Time to explore the south coast of Lanzarota and it’s ‘still active’ volcanic attractions and beach anchorages.

It is a tough life!

The main road into town

Welcome to the village of Caleta de Sebo.  The only ‘inhabited’ area on the island.  Don’t blink, or you will miss it.

A two ‘horse’ town

The villagers have no ‘real’ roads and instead get around the island in Landrovers.

Very small with pretty white washed buildings and a Marina that brings in day trippers from Lanzarote.  This supports a Marina and a few good restaurants.

The Marina

Restaurants and cafes on the beach

And, luckily, an internet cafe.  That strangely is never open, but leaves the internet on.  So you just sit at their tables outside.

The humans are so happy to be back in ‘Tapas’ land and have a good Spanish selection of foods again.

With sun, sea and good food available I can not see them leaving here real quickly.

Spirit of Argo anchored off the beach

 

Sun, sea and sand. Is this not what we came for.

 

Anchored on warm inviting waters

 

The sun rose this morning on a turquoise sea and white sandy beaches. The humans are finally south enough that both the air and water temperature was just right for them to have a morning swim. They dove in and I waited for the screams, but was sorrily disappointed when they declared the water was lovely and warm.

 

Note: The very white skin

Once we all had a great breakfast, we were off exploring in the kayaks. We usually take the dingy, but as the anchorage is sheltered, and the beach is close they felt we could all use a bit of exercise and save on fuel. I was worried at first that the kayaks would be unstable, but they were pretty safe and I soon settled to enjoy the trip.

 

‘To the beach driver’

 

The best part was the beach. After a sea trip I like nothing better then a run on the beach. Stretch my legs and gallop up and down the waters edge like a loony!

Now this is my happy face!

Then it was back on the boat for a siesta. The silly humans did not take one and instead ticked off some of the list of boat jobs to be done. I think they are proud of themselves for making an anchor trip line, fitting the new cockpit speakers and repairing the computer 12V charge cord. They must be, because they are sitting in the cockpit drinking a ‘sun downer’ and watching the sun set.

 

 

Tomorrow they are off to find the islands only village. Will they have a grocery store? Will they have WiFi? But most importantly to one of the humans….will they have beer?

09. November 2012 · 1 comment · Categories: Posts

Every body loves surfing. Surfing Madeira way! Well not me!

Looking back on the Island of Madeira as we leave.

The human’s decided, 50 hours ago, to whisk me off to the Canaries. I just think they wanted to chase the sun south.

Looking back on the island of Madeira.
With only moutains and ravines, Madeira was forced to build the airport out into the sea on a platform.
Don’t want your plain to over shoot the run way!

At first it was fine, but a bit rolly. The ‘amusement ride’ started about 24 hours ago and I am happy to be off it now.

This ‘is not’ my happy face!

The wind and waves built so high….I put myself to bed and let the humans deal with it. Some body has to have the brains in this family.

The waves building as soon as we cleared the lee of the Islands

It was not like I could help, other then irritate the person trying to get some sleep on the sea berth. The boat does all the work, they just look on from the cockpit strapped in, getting wet occasionally. All this ‘man against the sea’ milarty is false. They should say ‘boat against the sea’ as she seems to take all the beating and do all the work. They just cross their fingers and hope they chose the right sail plan.

 

 

Welcome sight of land

Well I am happy to be on anchor now off the Isla Graciosa in the Canary Islands. The wind is still strong, but the sun is shining and the water looks inviting. Time for a run on the beach!

 

06. November 2012 · Comments Off on Arquipeligo da Madeira: Madeira – You meet all sorts when travelling · Categories: Posts

As you know, I am a dog.

Dragged around again!

As I am a dog, I like dog things.

Running on the beach, chasing balls, long walks in the woods, eating, chewing and especially sleeping.

The sailing thing I tolerate, because my humans like it, and I like hanging with them.

They make lots of ‘sailing buddies’ as we travel, and although I make a few play mates and girl friends along the way, no humans have really taken my fancy yet……..that was until recently.

 

Remember how I told you that eating was one of my favourite pass times?  Well I did not tell you that fish was one of my all time favourite foods.  The humans have caught me licking the dying tuna in anticipation of sushmi.  Well my humans have met their match with these two Welsh men.

Just a little fish!

This is only one of many fish they caught and gave the meat away to cruisers.

Some the humans BBQ for themselves and friends.

I only got the left over heads this night

And some they have packed away in the freezer for later.

They have promised to share it with me.

If you want some fishing tips Tristan and his father Howard are the men to turn to.

www.pycboats@aol.com