Le Bateau France to the Caribbean

In the last post we were on the way to Seville for a couple of days. What an amazing city. Beautiful old houses with lovely tiled entrances leading to plant filled atriums. Large grand buildings being actively used as government offices. Narrow streets with the omnipresent Tapas bar. The largest wooden structure in the world (who are we to doubt their assertion). And a river meandering through the city. A great finish to Jane's month in Europe. The "other owner" in Seville Plaza dr Espana, better than it's photo! Busking at the Plaza Typical grandeur of Seville Metrol Parasol, also known as the Mushrooms Then I took Le Bateau back up the River Guardiana. I was attracted by the dry South Australian outback feel, and what I had heard about Mertola at the upper limit of navigation. And it didn't disappoint. About 60km upriver, totally fresh but tidal water, but rocky and impassable at all but high tide. I did some reco...

Le Bateau kept moving West along the Spanish North coast in generally grey skies and a bit too lumpy seas until we got to the Rias (Spanish fjords) These were lovely sheltered areas with fishing villages and comfortable anchorages. We also knew that most days we would have fresh to strong North winds in the afternoon so quite easy to plan our sailing. In La Coruna we met up again with Liz and Scott who after their month of intensive Spanish school were keen to speak Spanish but still found it a bit of a foreign language. Kerry and Jenny disembarked for Madeira and after a dinner out on the town Le Bateau continued South. The Motley crew changes Liz and Scott wouldn't describe themselves as experienced sailors but over the next few days aquitted themselves well. Passing Finisterre in 27knots of breeze was memorable. Rounding Cape Finisterre, the end of the world....well the finish 9 knots of boat speed at Finisterre Terri (Jane's  sis) on a walk around V...