Mary: We call at a hypermarket on the way back to La Coruna which makes us slightly late for returning the car, but they don’t notice. Well not after we tell them that the automatic lock doesn’t work and the information on the dash starts at Jan 2007 every time you start I think they thought we might be looking for discount! So they didn’t say anything about our late return.

We slip the ropes at the marina with ease and reverse out of our berth, [Read more →]

David: Off around Cape Finisterre today with my mum. For those with limited spanish – Finisterre means end of the earth! Another ablum added with the photos on the way west from the border of Galicia and Asturias. Mary’s story of our trip from La Coruna will follow in a couple of days. I’ve corrected the date Sheana and Tom join us in Lanzarote to 2nd Nov. We are hoping that Dion Browne will be able to join us for the sail to Lisbon. We expect this leg to have good fishing boat spotting opportunities!

Mary: Back down to sea level at Ribadeo, what a great time we had in the Picos. Tidy up time on the boat as Kirsty, our youngest daughter, is arriving. My plan was to shop on Monday the day she arrives but its a fiesta day and all the shops are shut in fact some of the bars are closed to. Always something to eat on board though so we wont starve. Kirsty arrives at Asturias airport, then train to Ribadeo. We meet her at the station and have a relaxing evening on board, with the usual firework display in the background. [Read more →]

Mary: Christened the Peaks of Europe by returning sailors for whom this was often the first sight of their homeland. We arrived by hire car! Cangas de Onis tourist office first stop, where we found information about walks. Rather than the usual walking from sea level which is what normally happens when you arrive by boat we took the bus up to Covadonga. It’s a long windy narrow road, where the front of the bus hangs over the edge on the corners. Better to look at the views than worry about the road.
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Mary: Ria de El Ferrol does not get a good write up in the books but I really like it, it is sheltered because of the great big wall that has been thrown together at the entrance, which removes any swell from entering the ria. We anchor off just east of the first fort, and take a trip in the dinghy, using our big outboard we plane up to El Ferrol. Now I like going fast, but not for too long as you bounce along the waves and wash, it gets painful after a while, maybe I need better support! In town we find a place to refill the gas bottle but we need to leave it overnight, not really a problem as we have two bottles. That evening we go to an open air concert in one of the squares. (double click on photo for better view) [Read more →]

David: Pictures from Rias Altas and the Picos de Europa are now in the gallery.  Stories will follow shortly.

Kirsty joins us tomorrow and then we will be off back to the west,  She will leave us at La Coruna and we will pick up my Mother at Camarinas on the 17th September. Lisbon by about the 4th October.  Madeira 17th October. Canaries – Lanzarote 24th October.  Sheana and Tom join us on 2nd November.  Starting for Martinique 26th November.

David: Now around at Cedeira. A bit more wind than we planned in the short hop from El Ferrol. Boat performed well, we weren’t quite so well prepared and needed a shower to get rid of the salt when we arrived. Went to a great concert in El Ferrol as part of their festival. The young singer was so confident she had all the audience enthralled including a 3 year boy sitting beside us. He was very keen to tell Mary how good the lights were. Enjoyed the challenge of getting the gas bottle filled in El Ferrol. It was very easy in the end. Rebecca in the Ten21 butano shop was very helpful even held onto our trolley while they filled the tank over night.

Mary: Having left David in Kinsale, well not left him, left him. I spend a few days with friends in the Midlands then travelled north to play the game of who can spot me in Scotland. So I’m waiting on your replies on that one!

Katrina was waiting on the platform in Edinburgh to escort me out of the country. (click on image for a better version of image, back arrow to get back to story)

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Thank you Ian for reminding me of Haggis Samosas.

One of the best picnic or middle of the night watch foods.made very simply with strips of filo pastry and haggis. [Read more →]

David: Just finished a fabulous week of being with friends, Stuart and Katrina, and being with the Galicians as they celebrate fiesta style. Lots of fireworks. The bands have large mobile stages and several lead singers so no need to stop for a break. There is room for everybody to dance out front. Some parades are highly organised and huge preparations others are no particular time of day and you bump into them as you move about town. We managed to find a few places where the locals were eating as well. Mary will fill you in on the detail in a later post. I have put some photos on the gallery.