Lying low in Palma
07 October 2009 | Palma, Mallorca
Brad
Well since Stu, Su and Jenny left we've been lying low in Palma Mallorca trying to finish off some jobs, including both improvements and warranty work before we set off into the great yonder. We've established a little routine it seems of spending Friday and Saturday nights in a little anchorage called Las Illetas (little islands) a lovely spot with blue water and sandy bottom, then the weekdays on a charter boat pontoon. The charter boats are out during the week so it means we get some cheap mooring right in the middle of town, only moments from the Cathedral and old town. It was a top bit of advice from our mates Ray, Julie and Sam on Meander, an Aussie family from Queensland that we have been spending some time with. They too are on route to Oz so we'll likely be crossing each other's paths many times in the coming year and the BBQs we've been sharing in the last couple of weeks will surely be only a few of many to come.
So last week we had an overnight visit back to London for my Citizenship ceremony, (yes I'm now a POM, although still 100% Aussie it makes sense to get both passports) spent some time with Kat's Folks and of course, had the mandatory curry! We also stumbled upon a nice little 21inch 12volt monitor that is now our TV!, a new toilet system for the aft heads that is electric and chops the stuff up and a range of other little nice to haves.
Then late last week my mate Robbie (from donut days) and his girlfriend Jess who are 3 months into a 6 month trip abroad joined us. We had a couple of ridiculously rolly nights at anchor back at Las Illetas, the worst we've ever experienced which wouldn't be so bad if you ignored the weather forecasts and could see the swell but these super stealthy ripples could hardly be seen but still managed to rock the boat all over the place. So after two nights of this indescribable, unfathomable phenomena, we hightailed it back into our cheap mooring arrangement for a good night's rest and to prepare for some warranty jobs Hanse are doing for us. Nothing that jeopardises our safety, just cosmetic stuff that was displeasing to the eye and need sorting.
So now we have a couple of more days here in Palma before heading down to Ibiza to catch-up with Lee and Sal who are flying out for a weekend catch-up and then on to mainland Spain before we pick our way down to Gib as quickly as possible. We're definitely "meded-out" and it is time to move on to sunny skies, warmer water and catch-up with some of the other liveaboards that have already sailed out of the med. It feels like the weather is becoming more and more volatile and Meander and Ghost are the only cruising boats left in the med!
More pics at: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bradmcmaster1/Spain2009MallorcaWithStuSueAndJenny#
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bradmcmaster1/Mallorca2009RobbieJessInPalma#