At anchor in Torrevieja harbour

28th June

We were at anchor in the harbour at Torrevieja. The sea wall is approximately a kilometre long. Inside, at a right angle to it and about halfway along, a new wall has been built and behind it a new marina, the Marina Salinas. Opposite this, on the shore side, is the International Marina, and next to that the Club Nautica so plenty of spaces for visiting boats. We had anchored on the other side of the new wall in what must be one of the safest, most comfortable anchorages on this part of the coast. At the entrance, coming out from the shore was a long jetty with what looked like a conveyor belt along it and a tall gantry.This, we realised, was where the salt boats come to load up. Torrevieja must be one of the most important salt centres in the Med.

One of our reasons for visiting Torrevieja was that we thought we may like to over-winter Ganymede there, if we stay in Spain as I would certainly like to do. We checked out all three marinas and decided that if we were to choose one of them it would be the Club Nautica since it was the cheapest, the nearest to town and seemed to have the best social facilities, that is, a good restaurant and club house.

On into town, it wasn't quite as bad as it looked. Again, from out at sea, it looked as though it was only apartment block after large apartment block after large apartment block. Again, once ashore, the bars and restaurants, the shops, the trees, all provided colour and shade, and there was a lively atmosphere with people enjoying a morning drink, shopping or simply spending time with friends. BUT: no WiFi to be found anywhere. Oh dear, this was not good news.

We spent the morning in town and then had lunch at one of the restaurants in the marina before heading back to Ganymede. The anchorage, almost empty when we left, was now filled with day boats, not quite as tightly packed at the apartment blocks... but getting close. A perfect summer afternoon spent on the water, swimming, sunbathing, relaxing with friends, away from the intense heat of the town. (Daytime temperatures are now generally in the low to mid 30s.)

In the evening we visited the three bars in the new marina and it was only in the last one that I found a wine that was drinkable. So, wine and tapas for dinner.

Next morning we watched as a large boat slowly entered the anchorage and slowly, slowly and carefully, tied up to the jetty. But we didn't wait to watch the salt being loaded on: Tony was on a mission, to get as far south as possible before I persuaded him to turn back and wait for Charlie.

Once again, the anchor was up and we were sailing off down the coast.