Captain and first mate resting

The Hard worked crew!!

Pax Nostrum latest

Hi everybody

Have realised most people will be saving up and getting ready for christmas
in December, so don't have much time or money to go off sailing. Therefore
we are considering sailing straight from here [ ie the bottom of the Rio
Guadiana where Spain and Portugal meet in the south] direct to Lanzarote in
December. This should take about 5 or 6 days max.
So anyone interested in such a trip please get in touch with available dates
as soon as poss and we can start making plans.

All fine up the river at the mo although nights are gettng cold and we have
had a bit of rain. Still not complaining been working in shorts most of the
day and now off to the bar for a few cold Sagres.

Hope to hear from lots of folks, cheers H&P

Pax latest

Hi everyone

Finally made it up the Rio Guadiana, good to see lots of old friends and be
made very welcome by the locals too.
After leaving Gibraltar we did some great sailing through the Straits,
although we managed to shred the staysail rounding Tarifa in big winds.We
were windbound in Barbate for a couple of days but set off round Cape
Trafalgar in lively seas and big winds, and anchored in Sancti Petri safely
for several days while thunderstorms passed over us. Sancti Petri was well
worth a visit,an old village which was abandoned during the Franco era,it is
gradually coming to life with bars , restaurants, watersports and holiday
homes developing.Whilst there we made an expedition up the narrow waterways
towards Cadiz by dinghy accompanied by Cape and Tengy's tenders -that was
fun!
Gradually we headed west calling in Rota, the lower part of the Guadalquivir
[the river that goes up to Seville], and El Rompido to the entrance of the
Rio Guadiana. Entering El Rompido proved testing as we missed the channel
markers and touched bottom on our way in, fortunately Paul got us off and we
found the poorly marked channel eventually and enjoyed anchoring in another
well shelered river.
We actually came up the river at the end of September but ended up returning
with Samarang [a 25tonnes, 18meter ex-RAF pinnace] in tow down the
Guadiana, west to Culatra and up the channel to Bruce's yard , Faro. All
went well and it was an extremely interesting experience, felt good to
rescue her as she had partially sunk in the river and is now on the hard
awaiting lots of tlc.
Back up the Rio Guadiana we are spending some time on the quay or anchored
off Alcoutim and getting on with maintenance and more improvements. Our
pickup was still here after 18months and once Paul had recharged her battery
she fired up first time, so we are able to drive off down to the coast for
essentiel supplies.
Cape , Moxie and Pax made an expedition upriver last weekend and anchored
off a small tributary, the Rio Vasquo. We took our tenders up so far and
then walked further upstream until we could wade to a roman dam and enjoyed
a picnic , swimming and exploring the beautiful valley.
Our plan now is to get Pax ready for December and head off to the Canaries,
most likely via Gibraltar and the Moroccan coast to Lanzarote and Graciosa.
So we are looking for crew for that trip, allowing 2weeks to complete it
from here [or at least 1week from Gib].
We have met up with Paul and Maura on Noble Warrior , they may join us along
with Cape. So hope to hear from you all and better still see some of you
soon.
Chhers H&P

Carole and Hilary playing in Santa Ponsa

Pax latest

Hola,
Called in to Estepona but unfortunately swelly seas prevented us staying
there for more than anight, as expensive marina fees meant we couldn't hang
around there.
Have spent a couple of weeks in Gibraltar, both in the marina and on anchor
over in La Linea, and have caught up with a lot of old friends. Also played
a lot of music both on boats and in The Tunnel Bar jam sessions. Sad news as
we arrived - Alan {as in Helen and Alan who lived on Francis] died very
suddenly, Helen was getting on with things as she said but it was a terrific
shock for everyone.
Sue has now rejoined us, along with her beau, John so we are getting resdy
to head off through the straits tomorrow, forecast easterlies picking up to
gale force so we are leaving early and hope to be round Tarifa before the
wind builds, then plan to anchor off Bolona or in Babate and nip into Sancti
Petri for a couple of nights and explore that unspoiled part of Spain. Cape
and Tengy are with us, so we hope to celebrate Sarah's birthday in a
restaurant in Sancti Petri and sample the fresh fish.
Paul has acquired another knackered dinghy, which he assures me is
reparable, this one was formerly tender to Bacchante [Peter and Vivien's
boat ] and is the largest retrieved so far; that takes us up to 8 dinghies,2
outboards, 5 bicycles and 2 motorbikes !!!!!! So should be busy sorting out
things when we get up the Rio Guadiana.
Will let everyone now our plans after that. Hope to see more of you soon.
TTFN H&P

Pax news

 

--- Date: Monday, 16 August, 2010, 10:49 Hi everyone, We are now in Almerimar and have been for over a week!! Did go round northern Mallorca and spent some days in Santa Ponsa, Carole was great and had a go in the sailing dinghy whilst there. We had a brilliant sail across to mainland Spain and made our way down to Alicante before Carole had to sadly leave us. She was a quick learner and very willing so managed to develop quite a few musclesw pulling up sails and anchors!!! Paul and I tootled down to Torrevieja and Mar Menor. Unfortunately Paul had picked up an ear infection but have managed to get that sorted here in Almerimar. Batteries were beginning to hold little charge and we came across some cheap deep cycle one's not far from here so P is currently installing 10 of those!!! Met up with Linda Roswe here and spent a great night up in her cave house with family Cape, had a bbq and of course music session. Making the most of good shops here, and having a load of folks onboard tonight for a nother barbie and music. Heading for Estepona and Gib, so no doubt will catch up with a few friends along the way. Then will go up to Cadiz, Villa Real [Portugal] and probably up The Rio Guadiana for a couple of months , get a few jobsw done and prepare for heading down to the Canaries. So start thinking about jpining somewhere along that route. Must dash as on borrowed computer, looking forward to seeing lots of friends soon!!! Cheers H&P

 

 

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