One of the fantastic things about cruising is meeting up with old friends.
Sitting drinking our morning tea on Tuesday (we were a bit late as we were pretty knackered even though Chris was asleep by 9.15 and me by 10.00pm – very early for us), knock knock knock on the hull.
Chris popped his head out and I heard him say “oh hello – I’ll just put some shorts on and get Keren to put her top on then come aboard” I thought I recognised the voice but C would not say So when I went up on deck, it was a lovely surprise to see Roger (from Sarah Giddings with wife Audrey) in his dinghy waiting to be tied on. We had first met up very briefly in the River Guadiana and then spent a few evenings with them in Rabat, where we were all bemoaning the fact that we couldn’t get any wine and sharing our last beers. I had last seen them very briefly – just to say hello - in Las Palmas when we got back from England so there was lots of catching up to be done.
Audrey and Roger were in the marina but had seen us arrive on Monday. Roger stayed a while but we needed to pump up the dinghy to get ashore and book in so we agreed to meet up again later and possibly go ashore for the New Year celebrations.
Sitting drinking our morning tea on Tuesday (we were a bit late as we were pretty knackered even though Chris was asleep by 9.15 and me by 10.00pm – very early for us), knock knock knock on the hull.
Chris popped his head out and I heard him say “oh hello – I’ll just put some shorts on and get Keren to put her top on then come aboard” I thought I recognised the voice but C would not say So when I went up on deck, it was a lovely surprise to see Roger (from Sarah Giddings with wife Audrey) in his dinghy waiting to be tied on. We had first met up very briefly in the River Guadiana and then spent a few evenings with them in Rabat, where we were all bemoaning the fact that we couldn’t get any wine and sharing our last beers. I had last seen them very briefly – just to say hello - in Las Palmas when we got back from England so there was lots of catching up to be done.
Audrey and Roger were in the marina but had seen us arrive on Monday. Roger stayed a while but we needed to pump up the dinghy to get ashore and book in so we agreed to meet up again later and possibly go ashore for the New Year celebrations.
We went ashore (couldn’t book in as the office had closed early as New Year) had a good wander round and found the supermarket etc. In the main street/square there was LOUD music playing and we assumed that would be the centre of celebrations later. In the photo here you can swee two flags flying on the starboard side. The higher one is our courtesy flag, the flag of the Cape Verde Islands and under it is our Q flag (yellow duster( flown before we book in. |
About 7.30 we dinghied over to the marina, tied up alongside Sarah Giddings and were invited on board for a glass or two! We had a smashing evening catching up and talking about plans. At around 10.30 we were thinking about going into the town but could no longer hear any music and it seemed as if nothing was happening after all! By then we were beginning to feel too tired to be good company anyway so we went back to Moontide, where we lazed around until midnight. Suddenly around 12.00 all h**l broke loose and ships in the harbour, marina and at anchor all started blowing their horns and making a real racket! Chris got out our foghorn and joined in with gusto!
There was a short but quite good, fire work display - we had a good view out in the anchorage and afterwards a load of, presumably out-of-date, red parachute flares were let off to fly out to sea – it was great and very shortly after it was all over we again collapsed in bed.
There was a short but quite good, fire work display - we had a good view out in the anchorage and afterwards a load of, presumably out-of-date, red parachute flares were let off to fly out to sea – it was great and very shortly after it was all over we again collapsed in bed.