Inland Sea, "Red Arrows", jellyfish and Cartagena again.

A gentle sail, a narrrow approach with a final passage behind a small island and then a well buoyed twisting channel and the lifting bridge was visible ahead. We knew from the pilot book that the bridge would open at 13.00hrs, but no, the times had changed and it would not open until 14.00hrs so almost two hours to spend tootling up and down the narrow channel - much to the amusement of local boaters in the motor boats who could sail below the closed bridge.

At last! The bridge opens,

Mar Menor ahead.

We motored into the Mar Menor, decided it had not a lot to offer without motoring too far - which would mean a long way to motor back again - so picked up a berth in the marina at the entrance and just inside the opening bridge - charges of 50 Euros almost changed our mind again but instead we resolved to be away in the morning. We left with the 12.00hrs bridge opening, continually overtaken by a stream of local power boats totally oblivious to signs pleading for speed limits to be obeyed and equally oblivious to the efect of their wash on us and the other yachts leaving with us.

Motoring down the channel we were treated to a display by Spanish aerobatic display team, very entertaining but we don't think the Red Arrows have a lot to worry about for the moment!

Again, a narrow and well buoyed channel behind another island, a rather gusty offshore wind but full sail set. By 14.00hrs we were well reefed with the wind rapidly backing and, with seas rapidly building, we sought shelter in Cabo Palos, a bay well sheltered behind a headland. It was a good decision (always worth a mention!) and we were soon lying quietly to anchor, several other boats joining us during the afternoon. A down side was the vast number of jellyfish which prevented us swimming.

The following morning 26th July we were away early in the hope of avoiding the strong early afternoon winds we had experienced - and paid for this by having to motor all the way to Cartagena and when we arrived at 13.00hrs it was still absolutely windless! It did get quite windy in the late afternoon. We enjoyed a couple of days in Cartagena, the sun shone non stop, it was extremely hot and we spent quite a lot of time in the marina swimming pool. A really excellent marina, good facilities, very helpful marineros and ony 21 Euros a day. The skipper even found time for a haircut - a worrying time as he knew the mate was taking advantage of his absence by visiting the splendid shopping centre - and that was before he found a short back and sides was "15Euros - Gracias, Senor" Once again a Spaniard who could only speak English in numbers and Euros. A very pleasant stay though and we would definitely recommend Cartagena as a destination.