Sitting in Gijon.

We've been sat here in Gijon for a very long time now. Far longer than anywhere else so far.

 

Longer than when I had to replace a rotten stem and fix a hole in one of the bows.

 

Longer than when I had to replace the engine mounts (and, of course, wait for them to be delivered).

 

Longer than when we had to wait for an exhaust part so we could stop ourselves from (technically) sinking every time we ran the port engine. Okay, it would have taken us a very long time to sink at the rate the water was squirting in (weeks maybe) but we would end the day with more water inside the boat than we started with - that's sinking.

 

I digress (of course)...

 

Gijon has been good to us - it's safe and comfortable as a marina and we have been made very welcome here. We are still on the edge of the Bay of Biscay, and plan to remain so for some time as we move towards the Basque coast and then up the side of France.

 

It is very important around here to keep a close eye on the predicted weather and, as ever, we will almost definitely be moving outside of the recognised season for such things, which will increase the need for caution. We also have children aboard. It's an old boat, even if it doesn't start sinking (again - I must stress - very slowly, glacial slowly, continental drift slowly) every  time we start the engines.

 

So we won't move until the weather is right. A bit warmer wouldn't hurt either.

 

When we do go it will be a bit more of an adventure because, for a while at least, we'll be sailing where few cruising sailors go and trying to squeeze our fat old catamaran into harbours which are a little less visited. I would say that I'm looking forward to seeing the Guggenheim in Bilbao, and the village where they have to turn the bus on a turntable so it can get back out again. I am getting a little superstitious about saying I want to see somewhere but these are places we'll have to pass - so maybe...

 

The French coastline between the Spanish border and Bordeaux is meant to have noting to recommend it for the cruising sailor, but we're boat gypsies really so we'll probably find something. Watch this space or, more likely, the facebook page facebook.com/tarquilla and I'm sure we'll let you know.,