Illas Cies through the gloom
Thursday 5th September
Our first full day in Baiona was quite gloomy with no wind to blow the haze away.
Colin got the filter change done and it looks like it was the culprit for the engine problems, being very black with the results of fuel conditioner eating the fuel bug. The engine started fine and revved high without stuttering but we won't fully know until we put the engine back under load whilst moving.
Jobs done it was time to explore, looking around the old town with narrow streets full of bars and cafes and looking for a supermarket. We did find one, but not a Gadis so we can't stock up on the €0.89 wine we like.
For the afternoon we headed for the walk around the medieval walls around Monte Real, a former defensive post now turned into a luxury hotel. It costs €1 each to get in and a mile or so of walls to wander around. The grey skies didn't help with photo taking although the Illas Cies looked quite atmospheric rising out of the murk.
Hydrangeas grow in Galicia
Once again it's a shame the Spanish don't care too much about their environment when it comes to rubbish with litter and bottles left in sections of the wall. Surely the luxury hotel could afford to pay someone to clean up!
Friday 7th September
Virgin de la Roca
Before the wind was due to pick up we headed ashore to visit the Virgin de la Roca a huge statue built of granite just on the edge of the town. You can climb up the spiral stairs inside the statue for €1.50 for good views, which I did; at the top you stand in the little boat held in her hand - even though there is a safety bar I had a little wobble of vertigo.
View across Baiona to the anchorage
As forecast, the wind has now increased to F4 gusting F5 from the north which is right down the gap between the breakwater and the outer islands and so is creating a small swell and chop. There are 10 boats still anchored with us so it's not just us who are going to see how it goes. Our backup plan is to heard for Puerto Deportivo Baiona which has a huge long visitors pontoon which is currently empty. One reason it is empty and lots of yachts are anchored is the price, €43 for 12 to 14m, so it will only be used by us if things get too uncomfortable anchored out. I can't understand why they don't drop the price as surely they'd get more visitors. We also enquired at the MRCYB yacht club where it is a couple of € s cheaper, but they have a rally this weekend and no space.
We have cakes (baked cheesecake - delicious) to get us through a day or so of rolly-rolly.
The clouds have been blown away now and the haze lifted so I'm going to have to go round and take all my photos again ;-)
Practicalities: we are anchored out in the bay beyond the two marinas in about 5m, off of Playa de Santa Maria. Beware the couple of rogue mooring buoys just on the surface. Some boats went to anchor behind the wave break next to Club de Yates Montereal to escape the swell but were moved on. Dinghys can be left by the steps next to the slip on the west side of the fishing quay.