Estapona



i admit that on leaving Gibraltar I was of the mind set that getting along this next coast line was going to be fairly easy, clear Europa point , keep the hard stuff on the left, twenty something miles to Estapona.



Fog - It just ruins your day - I saw it sweeping down over the hills of Southern Spain , swallowing everything in its path, like a huge white marsh mallow it slowly engulfed "the rock" and then I saw Strongbow (Richard) on the trader 44 that we have shared a marina with more than once in the past year, I grabbed some pictures before he too vanished from sight.

It was cold and very wet - something I hadnt been for quite some time in that fog bank, the AIS was on and making noises every once and a while, i followed the coast line, keeping in shallow to avoid anything bigger, we werent in a shipping lane or regular route so we saw nothing big.

The fog lifted as we approached the marina entrance, the hills and mountains slowly coming into view, I slowed and headed for the beach and the yellow buoys that mark the safe swim zone, anchoring right on the edge of this imaginary line in what felt like marbles even though the chart said sand.

There was little wind overnight (just as well) the forecast was more fog, so we set about getting our UK gas bottles filled which was our primary reason for calling into Estapona, we met the chap from the gas company in the marina office and swopped two empties for full uk cylinders - bonus as camping gaz does not last!



The following morning with light Easterly winds forecast, I pulled up the anchor (not set) from the sea bed and smiled as I watched it rise from the full five meters - deep joy

Sadly missed some friends that live nearby - maybe I can catch you all up soon ?

Marbella next (mistake)