Hat Day
It was a lovey calm blue sky day in our bit of paradise or so it felt. A pleasant calm breakfast under the doghouse and the generator went on to charge the batteries and for a load of washing. It does seem to build up but once washed dries in about 20-30 minutes.
Our red ensign was showing signs of wear in that it kept getting caught on fishing lines and the davits. We therefore got out the sowing machine I had bought which has never been used. Corinne knew what to do and after some head scratching had it up and running. We needed to get some different cotton and a border for the end of the flag.
Keith Watson (and his kind Spanish speaking wife) had come up trumps and we were booked into Magazon Marina near Huleva for the 11, 12, 13 August 2023 to assist with crew departure and crew arrivals. We decided we would leave tomorrow about 9.00am.
We decided to return to Tavira as we had really taken to it. So, we caught the 11.00am ferry again. I have a blue Tilley hat with two straps which I use and everyone now and then the strap gets annoying. I slipped the strap off and just as I did a gust came and off went my hat and off the ferry into the water. That was a great shame and I saw it float away in the opposite direction. Tavira was just as charming and we stocked up at the town market which was huge and well laid out. We found a coffee place on the front and had a nice drink and this merged into a lunch whilst we watched the world go by.
I looked for a replacement hat but they did not have a similar one so I bought a smart leather hat which would work ashore. Jules found a present for her friends and Corinne and Mark went to visit the castle and churches. We found some extra thread and a cream border for the ensign. We also found another great ice cream shop and I had white chocolate and strawberries and pasticcio and there were other unusual flavours like wasabi and coconut, Ceylon cinnamon, ginger and matcha. This cooled us as it was very hot. We returned back to Stormbird and I hoped that someone had kindly found my hat and put it on board. Alas not. I got in the dinghy and searched the shore to see whether it had been washed up on the rocks but sadly it had gone.
We had a relaxing swim and paddle boarded- we were getting used to the temperature of the water now. Corinne carefully repaired the ensign with its new border and before long it was showing off from the stern again looking very smart again. The sowing machine had been enlisted and we now had a better idea as to how to use it.
We had sundowners and then dined on a delicious tuna supper. We did some star gazing and watched a beautiful sunset enjoying the moment knowing we would move on from Tavira and who knows whether we will ever return. Still I had left my hat as a souvenir or sacrifice for a few most enjoyable days.
If you have any questions, comments, suggestions – do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com