Interlude

The thunderstorms are following us around. We’ve only been here in southern Spain a few days and our second is rattling the shutters as we speak. Being on dry land I’d normally be pretty relaxed about it, though. But no. There’s a huge, great wasp taken shelter in the bathroom. I mean massive. This is the Terminator of wasps. And it chose to make its presence known just as I stepped out of the shower.

Not bothering with the niceties of drying let alone deodorant, I made a run for it, slamming the door – with my glasses on the other side.

“Wasp!”

“Well it can’t stay there.”

“Well, spray it then!”

“Where’s the spray?”

“Should be under the sink.”

“Is this it?”

(Fumbles blindly, dripping, into the kitchen and holds can an inch from nose to examine) It’s labelled in Spanish but there’s a picture of a mosquito on the front.

“Will that kill it?”

Not having an entomology degree I guess it’s a pretty safe bet it won’t like it.

Fumes.

A few minutes later.

“That sorted it”

“Is it dead”

Running water.

“It is now.”

Retrieving glasses I spot the soggy toilet paper in the sink.

“Is it down the plughole?”

“Yes, the paper’s to make sure it can’t come back.”

“Won’t it block the sink?”

Neil removes the paper bit by bit.

“The bugger’s still alive!” More paper is shoved down the plughole.

More running water.

“It’s dead now.”

Yeah, right. I’ve seen that movie. All four of them.

All Change

Our final days on board, like so many, were shaped by the weather. Frantic days of trying to get done all the jobs required to put a boat “to bed” for the winter were followed by enforced confinement below deck as the forecast thunderstorms rolled in. It rained, of course. Boy, did it rain! Four days of drumming inches above our heads as thunder growled and lightening flashed, penetrating even closed eyelids as, I confess, I hoped the nearest masts were taller than ours and would catch it first in the event of a direct hit.

After a brief lull, thankfully just long enough to dry out the dinghy sufficiently so it could be stowed in the heads, we got a spectacular encore as we were leaving. Timed to perfection as we hauled our luggage onto the pontoon, raised the bathing platform and adjusted the lines and fenders to keep the boat well clear for the coming months, the storm threw everything it had left at us in a deluge of biblical proportions. I say “we” but I’d run for the nearest bar.

We were lucky that our flight wasn’t cancelled like so many had been in the previous days and an uneventful, if rather soggy, journey to North Wales allowed us a taste of the lingering British summer – a few nice days and, yes, a thunderstorm. With visits to family and just about every clothes shop in a 50 mile radius our time in the UK seemed all too brief but our winter plans had been in place for some months. We’re on our way to Spain 🙂

Last Few Days

Our cruising season ended with Desert Dream at anchor in the narrow bay of San Stefano on Corfu. It’s a strange place, undeniably pretty with excellent tavernas and yet.. In all honesty I think it’s more touristy and British dominated than Benidorm. Just because you’re more likely be disturbed by a Hooray Henry than a Lager Lout doesn’t make it less so. Personal opinion, of course, and we had a great couple of nights there.

Anyway, with thunderstorms threatening again we headed back to the marina. There was a lot to do to put the boat “to bed” before we could leave her for the winter months and as much of it was on the outside we needed to get in before the rain set in. So with engine serviced, water maker (which is still costing more money, incidentally) winterised, salt water washed off, cockpit wood scrubbed and oiled, sails secured, dinghy deflated etc, etc, we’re sitting out the last few days in the rain, waiting to go home.

To top it all our dongle has stopped working. We’ve no idea why as there should be plenty left on there but we’ve given up on it and are now struggling with the rather tenuous marina WiFi. I’ll try to post this but there’s no way pictures will upload, I’m afraid.

It’s been a thoroughly enjoyable sailing season despite the odd close encounter with a bucket. We’ve been to new places and met new people, some of whom we hope will become firm friends. With one or two things still to be sorted, hopefully over the winter months, the boat is definitely feeling like our home from home and has lived up to her name. That doesn’t mean I’m not looking forward to a real bed, though. And a bath. Oh, and flushing toilets. You get the picture.