So we went to the beach instead

and left poor old Mike home alone

is it beer o'clock already?

But not before a quick drink to steady our nerves after all that stress :)


So, is it curtains for the old Perkins 4108 ?????

lets go

faster, faster

Dave tries his hand at surfing

the sandman!

tired out from all the excitement (and wine)

Happily, when we got back Mike seemed to have everything in hand - well, he was smiling anyway so it couldn't be that bad could it.....

Pontoon R's big day out

It's all arranged, we're going for a sail. On Phantom Lady. The beers are on ice. The sun is shining. The people are on board.....

And we're off!
Well, we didn't even make it out of the marina.
Something catastrophic happened with our engine and it started over-revving with white smoke pouring out and lots of noise.
Oh, the embarassment :(
Major panic, the anchor is deployed pronto and all the noise brings out the marineros in their rib (it's a nautical abbreviation - rigid inflatable boat)
Oh the ignominy!

Dave to the rescue

naturally the whole marina was out watching.....

Mikes bedtime reading

Then and now

before....

and after!

Old Las Palmas

Santa Ana Cathedral

beautiful old railings

lots of fine buildings

a funny fountain

pavement cafes everywhere

is it Friday today?

got the blue canoe out again...

Look what arrived in port this morning

drew quite a crowd.....

They are eight new, engineless ships/barges (approx 130m each)  under tow from China (where they were made) to Rotterdam where they will be fitted out. Their tow broke so they had to be brought into Las Palmas.
Apparently it's cheaper to have them built in China and towed half way round the world than to make them in Europe. Incredible.

Happy Daze

Peace is restored

They've gone!
Back to waking up to the glorious sound of.......nothing. Ah, bliss :)

maybe this will do the trick

I don't want you to think I'm a miserable sod (cos I'm not!). There's loads of kids on this pontoon and I accept that kids make noise. In fact they're all very nice kids that I get along with just fine. But those French ones next door.........

nice kids!

Well, we are filling our days with the usual. Sunbathing, relaxing.......

But more and more our thoughts are turning to home (and work)

no charge for a  fish pedicure on our pontoon!

And did I mention we've got plans to buy a Dutch barge and do the European inland waterways next?