Waiting for the (right) wind
Author: Shirlz
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Spent most of the weekend getting the new computer sorted out. The wifi network here is intermittent and downloading drivers, etc can be frustrating. Now everything seems OK. All that remains is to find a secure place for it where the screen will be visible from the cockpit and Sinbad won’t be able to sit on the keyboard. Quite a challenge.
I took a break on Sunday and walked along the coast to the Forte Santa Cruz. The club was packed and the pool a solid mass of shrieking people. I escaped from Lotus Land to the real world. There wasn’t much space for pedestrians on the road as it wound it’s way along the steep shoreline. Quite a lot of traffic. Once past the long, stark concrete wall of the yacht club it was an interesting walk. A colourful fishing village at Jurujuba. Lots of flat bottomed rowing boats drawn up on the beach. Now and then the roadside widened into a nicely paved shady area with place for benches and card tables. Groups of men playing dominoes. Beers conveniently to hand.
I wandered down a narrow lane to the Jurujuba club. A group of herons were knee-deep at the water’s edge. Back on the road there was a dodgy section where I had to walk along a narrow ledge with a steep drop down to the water. A few posts connected by a chain made a reassuring handrail. Then another little beach. It was about 11 in the morning and families were heading to the shore with chairs, umbrellas, music and food. Every beach had a sign saying that swimming was not recommended but this did not seem to put people off. It was a very hot day and crowds were in the water.
Now the road turned inland. A narrow cobbled street through the houses. The end of the line for the no 33 bus so now there was less traffic and the walking was easier. On the other side of the peninsula the view was spectacular. On one hand the enormous wall of black rock soared vertically skyward. On the other side I looked straight down to the water which was cleaner here as it’s more open to the sea. I spotted a turtle swimming near the base of the rock.
The last kilometre of the walk was hot and sweaty as there was no shade at all and the heat was intense next to the black rock. At last the fort came into view. Shady trees and benches for sitting and admiring the view.
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
I had two divers clean the hull for me this morning. It took less than an hour and they did a really good job.
Escaped the heat of the day by watching the Black Swan in an air conditioned cinema.
Friday, 11 February 2011
My beautiful bosun’s compass has been hanging shakily in it’s bracket for months now. Someone fell on it while I was anchored in Flores in the Azores a few years ago and the bracket was smashed. A makeshift repair was made which lasted for a while but it became an ongoing project to keep the pieces cobbled together. I really like the compass and decided it was time to get the bracket repaired properly. Susi took me to a workshop in Jurujuba and they gave me a reasonable quote for making a new stainless steel bracket. It should be ready tomorrow.
I spent the afternoon making a new sun awning for the cockpit. I had enough of the yellow acrylic cloth left over from the sail. It looks rather good and gives a more cheerful sort of shade than the old maroon awning which was starting to fall apart.
Tags: cruising