Lanzarote
Mark woke me at 7.00am as we had to prepare the boat for an 8.30ish departure. This meant the usual getting the dinghy engine on board, raising the dinghy and general preparation of ropes etc. The poor old Red Baron was looking bedraggled and forlorn tied to the deck. A quick tea and bowl of cereal was required and we raised our anchor to set off to Puerto Calero in Lanzarote about 35 miles away.
It was a grey misty morning with clouds hanging over the cliffs of Lanzarote about 1.5 nm south of us. Since we have been at La Graciosa there have been clouds over Lanzarote and I think that must be the effect of the cliffs and their normal weather pattern. We were sorry to leave but we had to move on to meet wives and to drop Keith and Angus off.
We passed the little town that Peter had got the ferry from about a mile or so from the anchorage and it seemed quite austere in the mist and the gantries of boat cranes looked like hangmans nooses. I was looking out for whales in the El Hio passage but alas we did not see any. We passed the most northern point of Lanzarote where there was a large rock with a cardinal (type of buoy) on it and then giving it a reasonable berth, we turned south down the east coast of Lanzarote. Looking back at La Graciosa with its barren landscape -it seemed to be what a moon landscape would look like. No vegetation other than the odd shrub and just a sandy grey brown surface.
As we moved down Lanzarote the weather started to improve but Lanzarote was like La Graciosa – this lunar barren landscape with the odd white house or village/town right by the sea. It seemed as if little could live here or be grown here but clearly life goes on. The towns got larger and more commercial/touristy with concrete blocks and beaches as we went further south.
The wind got up and we sailed with the wind behind us enjoying the moment and viewing the vista before us. There as little traffic and had lunch on the hoof and we reckoned we would get to Puerto Calero at about 3.00pm. Puerto Calero is a family run marina south of the airport and provides easy access where we were booked in for 2 nights.
As we sailed on there was a noise of a fishing line running out. Mark went to grab the rod but a false alarm. However about 30 minutes later the line went again and this time Mark pulled out a good size King Mackerel which made him extremely happy and it is our first fish caught on this trip. Mark put the fish in a bucket and it jumped out and I had to grab the fish before it could jump overboard. It was soon dispatched.
It was not far to the marina who we called on the radio and before long we were moored in a nice mooring next to an Irish boat Orchestra Galway. Keith packed his bags and he and Mark went off to the airport where Mark was to meet Corinne flying in. Keith will be missed and we have become familiar with the ‘Commodore’ name being used to distinguish him from Keith Watson. However, they both plan to be back for future adventures.
Angus and I were left to clean the boat into something passable for the ladies. The Red Barin now salt encrusted was given a good washing and hauled up. The decks were washed, things put way and the washing machine went on. The hoover came out and before long we were ship-shape again. Corinne arrived and approved the cleanliness and we deserved a beer in the cockpit and to welcome Corinne.
We decided to stay on and Mark cooked the mackerel which was so fresh and delicious and we were eating it within 4 hours of it being caught! It was fantastic. We chatted away and then decided to go for a walk and there were a number of restaurants and bars ion the marina. We thought an ice cream would be good to finish off our meal and after coffee and brandy. It felt good to be here and ready for the next phase. Jules would arrive tomorrow and Angus would then leave. We looked forward to a day in Lanzarote.