No...this is not a Scottish blog. KILT is Knowledge, Insight, Luck and Timing: That's how we got to Garrucha...and, how good was that!!! In fact, one could say those four elements are essential to any positive outcome...and not necessarily in that order.

Sunday, when Moonbeam's Captains (a/k/a 'the boys') studied the various weather apps, they decided that some planning was necessary. Weather was going to move in...and out...over the next few days, and we wanted to stay on top of it. There was a marina in Aguilas which was a reasonable distance away...and would be more comfortable than being at anchor in 20 kt winds. Then, there would be another marina twenty miles further south for Monday night. Guillermo has been very familiar with our stops prior to this but this is new territory for him, as well. Our Sunday night marina was fine; there were a few high gusts of wind but we were quite comfortable. In fact, we even considered staying awhile into Monday and doing some provisioning for fresh fruits and veggies. Nuestro nuevo amigo, Guillermo le gusta mucho las frutas y las verduras.

However, Captain Ken decided that since the weather was still good, we ought to take advantage of it, get out of Dodge and head for the next marina in Gurracho. The various cruising guides described it as one of the better marinas. It's a new marina, and we were assigned a finger dock. I like it a lot already. We checked out the 'hood' and found restaurants and a large Mercadona supermarket. Later in the early evening, I had the chance to do 'paseo' with a genuine, experienced 'paseoist' Guillermo. It was a lovely evening, and we did the walk down the Paseo Maritimo. Every Spanish seaside town has a promenade along the water where everyone....mom, dad, kids, dogs, in-laws, out-laws, etc stroll along before eating their late dinner. Now I was one of them. (Actually, when I returned from Spain in 2002, I did try to get the paseo thing going with my neighbors in Marco...along Tigertail Beach...but never was successful.)

On the way back, we strolled through town...and, what a lovely town it is. Of course, Spanish-style, all of the shops and restaurants were open, and the streets were hopping with activity....walkers, eaters, game players, chatterers....

Tuesday, the weather was as predicted...cloudy with intermittent rain. What better place to be than Gurracho (we could have been at sea...getting bounced around and wet). We got many important items off our to-do list: phone card issues (again! Don't ask), mani-pedi for the girl (me), massage and haircut for the Captain, and, of course, food shopping. And...then there was the replenishment of the home (boat) made baked cookies. Sometimes, we just need a day like this.

So, whoda' thunk Gurracho would be such wonderful find. (By the way, I taught Guillermo that expression last night. He's helping me with my Spanish and I'm helping him with his English. Truth to tell, he is starting out from a much, much higher plane that I am, but that said, his rate of improvement leaves me in the dust.)

Because this part of Spain has such a temperate climate, it is a holiday area in both summer and winter, although it is certainly much busier in the summer. It is also a refuge for retirees in the winter, looking to escape from the northern parts of Spain. The economy looks good, the shops are busy, and people seem genuinely happy. Not a bad place, for sure...and how fortunate of us to have happened upon it.