Nomad 2024

At last I am off the anchor and in Seville proper. I should have read the book more carefully, this is not Holland, they only open the bridge to get in and out once every other day. And the book said that they always have space here but from what I can see I was lucky to get a booking, I can't see any other free spaces and I am wedged between two gin palaces, moored for and aft, Mediterranean style. First thing tomorrow,  shower, get mosquito nets then meet Margaux at the airport.

Now in Seville. No reply from the marina so I have anchored. The middle part of the river was alive with big birds in the trees along the banks, too many different kinds for me to look up in my book. Certainly there were storks with little ones in their nests and spoonbills and lots of birds of prey, some harrying, some lurking, waiting for a chance, great stuff.

Anchored in the river, waiting for a more favourable tide to carry me up to Seville. Nothing to see here. It's flat and featureless, even though it borders Doñana national park. However, at the river entrance I passed Bonanza! I can't read Bonanza and not sing the theme tune in my head. It's probably too far in the distance for many of you to know it. Bonanza! .

Santa Maria, at the mouth of the river that leads to Jerez. It once handled all of the product from that famous town. The English once stormed the town, came across the stores of sherry and drunk themselves to a standstill. I've emptied lockers and lifted floor boards to find out where a mysterious snap, crackle and Pop noise is coming from. I should have just googled it. Shrimps! eating weed from the bottom of my boat. Weed? So much for my expensive 3 year antifoul..or was it 2 year? This gem is in the middle of Santa Maria. The Iglesia Mayor Prioral.

Working up an appetite for the menu del dia. £1.70 a pint.

Today is the first day that I wished it wasn't quite so warm. 28c in the boat.

It's a nice marina but a long walk into the city.

Sancti Petri was too boring, I saw some flamingos but they were specks in the distance so I've come here and now have the thump thump of a funfair or disco or something. I'll go into Cadiz proper tomorrow.