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Wednesday, September 6th, Barbate, Spain
Many thanks to our ever
efficient first mate, Tammi back at TSI, our school
books arrived on Monday afternoon via Fed Ex as
promised. We had gotten everything ready to go
earlier in the day so we could make the 5pm bridge.
There is no bridge opening on Tuesday so the plan was to
go anyway and tie up at the Marina Yachting and dinghy
back to the Yacht Club to pick up our packages if they
didn't show up in time. Luckily, we were spared
that hassle and took off with a following tide on Monday
afternoon. We were pleasantly surprised at the
sight of the lock, just a few miles past the bridge,
standing wide open so we motored right through instead
of having to wait 45 minutes for the 6 o'clock opening.
As comically ill-timed as our arrival in Seville ten
days earlier was, our departure went like clockwork.
We spent the night a
little more than half-way down the river. Luckily,
the mosquitoes didn't find us until early in the morning
as we were getting the anchor up. We motored the
rest of the way down the river and out into the Atlantic
Ocean. Boy, it felt good to get back to the blue
water and cool ocean breeze. We all loved Seville,
but it was HOT.
It looked like it was
going to be a mellow day for wind, so we were pleasantly
surprised when it filled in enough to sail around 11am.
Three hours later we were putting in two reefs in the
main and wondering where all these huge waves were
coming from. We bashed our way all the way to
Barbate. Both the girls got seasick. We were
all drenched from head to toe with seawater and actually
donned foul weather gear to battle the cold. What
a change a few miles can make!
The wind will die down
later today so we plan on heading to Gibraltar tomorrow.
From there we'll probably sail straight to Valencia.
After we check out the city and make sure it will work
for us for the winter, we'll sail over to the Balearics
for the rest of the season.
I posted a bunch of
photos from
Sevilla. It
really is a fabulous city. Just don't visit in
August!
We have been
corresponding with Lou, a boater from Lutherville,
Maryland, near Baltimore, who saw one of Joe's articles
in SpinSheet. He is something of a poet and wrote
the following about Zia and her crew. I wanted to
share it, so here it is:
Dear Christy, Joe, Cassie, and
Juliana,
8/3/06
It was another hot one here in Baltimore. With in-laws
in town, I was obliged to take a vacation day today,
which was well spent relaxing and swimming at the local
quarry. Last night they forced me to drink cold beer
eat a lot of spicy steamed crabs and shrimp too. Old
Bay... The nerve!
When we got home this evening, I sat down and finished a
little poem, (perhaps a song), that you inspired. I hope
you don't mind that I wrote it for and about you. It's
called, "Home Port for Zia." When it was almost done, I
realized that it fit the meter of an old song, so I
added a chorus and voila! it's a song too. (to the tune
of Lemon Tree)
Fair winds and smooth seas to the family and crew of the
S.V. Zia,
Lou
Home Port for Zia
One day the Zia will return, with home as port of call.
But home it will not be for those, whose eyes have seen
it all.
Where are my stars and Milky Way? Where are my friends
that swim?
That jump and play across my bows, and guide me close to
Him?
Refrain:
Keep a watch over Zia.
Give her fair winds and smooth seas.
Each day a grand adventure,
And each night a gentle breeze.
- repeat -
To glance across the boundless sea, and keep a weather
eye.
To take a palm tree shaded nap, until its time to fly.
A flight upon the swells and waves, where deep blue
waters call,
With sushi ready to be caught, as children learn it all.
These children of the open sea, are part of Zia's
spirit.
Her spars and rig and dacron sails, sing out to those
who hear it.
Her story's heard from far and wide. Alone she'll never
be.
The world is now home port for those, whose hearts
belong at sea.
Refrain:
Keep a watch over Zia.
Give her fair winds and smooth seas.
Each day a grand adventure,
And each night a gentle breeze.
Copyright 2006 LR Witt _/) *
Thanks Lou!
Next entry
>>>>>>>
Many thanks to our
friend Craig Homenko for his assistance in setting up
the website.
We also would like
to thank our buddy Scott Brunner who has been kind
enough to host the website on his server.
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