Changing Nav Plans

Marina Bay, Gibraltar

GS (aka Chief Navigator) has made plans….yet again.  A non-sailing one and a sailing one this time as we will have a guest aboard come October. 

The Motleys are setting off for a trip to Morocco mid-September, leaving WJ3 snug in her Marina Bay berth.  Our foray into the deserts of northern Africa will be on tour (Intrepid if you’re interested in the itinerary) leaving from Casablanca and finishing in Marrakech. No navigation, no anchoring, no planning, no tourist research, no driving and no worries!  We think this may be a precursor for our future Med travels.  We normally do well hitting coastal spots, making forays into immediate landscapes and researching our own historical and local information.  Sometimes though, you just miss too many chunks in the “whole” story and, since our chances of being back this way are slim, thought this just the ticket.  So, sign me up Scotty!  Captain and Ms Motley will join the coach tour set.  They promise to behave – don’t they, Cap’n, hmmmm?

This is the itinerary for our 2012 Morocco Tour.
Now, we just have to get ourselves to Casablanca!

Our next announcement is that we have crew arriving in October to help us sail back to Lagos.  The Cap’n is excited to have an all (old**) girl crew, reviving hopes of one day, having a Bow Bunny (BB) aboard.  His dream may not be quite dashed yet.  GS is looking forward to having conversations that don’t revolve around boats, new boating equipment, boating manuals, power tools for boats or lately, rugby. 

For our guest’s sake, this is our intended route back to Lagos (disclaimer: over 4 weeks; weather & time permitting; on crew approval):

Gibraltar.  A few days to recover from jet lag and take in the sights.  A chance to meet the neighbours and do a bit of monkeying around on top of the Rock…

Smir, Morocco.  Just be sure WJ3’s really out of the EU.  Taking time for a ride up to Chefchaouen to walk through blue streets of the walled Medina to the Kasbar…  

Cueta, Spain.  (said “suit  a”)  A Spanish enclave on the African coast to wait out the right tides and winds to get from the Med back into Atlantic waters.

Cadiz, Spain.  Taking history lessons in one of Spain’s oldest, most notable port cities.  Their ham (jamon) and sherry is also highly recommended.

Seville, Spain.  Doing flamenco whilst munching tapas in famous tascas! (Drinking fresh orange juice of course!). To get close to Seville, we'll cruise up the Guadalquivir River and anchor near Gelves.

Rio Guadiana.  Borders Spain & Portugal.  We hope to have time to spend a few days exploring rural towns that dot this navigable waterway.  As long as we can get under that bridge near Ayamonte though….

Faro, Portugal.  Anchor in a small lagoon behind Culatra, a barrier island,  to do a bit of stork-watching (in the Parque Natural de Ria Formosa) then a quick swim in cold Atlantic waters before exploring Faro’s old town (fun dinghy ride included in price). 

Portimao, Portugal.  A chance to swim, eat freshly caught seafood and relax on a pleasant beach or two.

Lagos, Portugal.  Haul out time.  Lagos has an old town to explore, more than a few restaurants and a nice beach 2 minutes from the boatyard.  Other activities - as time permits!

Meanwhile, our BB will (patriotically) have to wear her red bikini in Spain, her blue/white one in Portugal and her green one in Morocco (under her djellaba).  Not much more required in her suitcase really. 

**Our guest-to-be is rather younger than the Motleys, however she is a veteran visitor having spent time in Malaysia with us.  Whilst there, she ran the Port Dickson Hash through cobra infested palm oil & rubber plantations with the pack and an equally athletic Cap’n.  Ahhh, memories!!!)