Barcelona to Rome
After wintering from 1 October 2001 until 2 April 2002 at E27 in Marina Port Vell, we slipped TEKA III just down the way to Barcelona 92 where she received a new bottom paint job and had her bulbous bow removed. Back to Port Vell on 26 April for final finishing touches for the cruising season, then off we went in rain, mist and fog to begin the next adventure.
Anchored about 45 miles north the first night and added another 41 the next to Cadaques. TEKA’s log said she had been here before. Quite an interesting town, but we did not go ashore, but plotted our morning’s early departure to cross the Gulf of Lion to Marseilles, a sometimes treacherous piece of water.
That trip took 16 hours and we anchored off Isles de Frioul to rest. Very interesting sandstone rocks and tons of gulls nesting (always wondered where seagulls go at night). Cruised by the Chateau d’If (Count of Monte Christo fame), and on to Toulon where we felt comfortable leaving the boat at the marina and did some land touring to Provence.
Isle de Porquerolles called us next, along with hundreds of other boats as a holiday surprised us. By day’s end most of them had gone home. Winds chased us on to Saint Tropez, where wind moved us three more times. Being awakened by seas and wind at midnight and moving anchorage is not fun.
Only two more anchorages in France--Cannes, off the island of Man in Iron Mask fame, and Villefranche, east of Nice. Then the crossing to our first port in Italy, 96 miles away.
In Santa Margherita Ligure we celebrated our anniversary at a waterfront restaurant where the boat could be seen. The waiter broke into a huge grin when we told him that boat was ours. He ran to get his boss and then touched Denis and said, “Bellisimo!”
Portovenere had a spectacular entrance--narrow just below a church and castle with a small port near. We anchored across the way and had a good view all night. From there we cruised to the island of Elba, where we stayed several days at Porto Ferrario and a few at Porto Azurro. Lots of ferry traffic at Porto Ferrario, and a storm came through blowing one boat quite close to us near morning. On shore at Porto Azurro we spoke with some Thai ladies at a pizza place. They couldn’t believe we had lived in Bangkok and spoke Thai (nit noi) and liked hot Thai food.
Isola di Giannutri, a wild place with deep water--lovely but isolated, was home for one night before we went on to Porto di Roma to clean up everything and await David’s arrival on Father’s Day with the family.
