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Hiking the Archduke’s Trail, Spain
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The Archduke’s Trail through the Tramuntana Mountains, Mallorca, is a fascinating and spectacular hike.
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Hiking the Dry Stone Route, Mallorca, Spain
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In the olden days, olden day Mallorcans built a network of cobbled pathways that linked remote communities in the rugged Serra de Tramuntana mountains. Today’s Dry Stone Route walk is comprised of 8 main stages and sidetracks, enabling hikers to access some spectacular country.
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Surfing the Med, Spain
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The locals at Cala Major Beach, Mallorca, were definitely making the most of their chance to surf the Med on a sunny Saturday, and no doubt many went home after getting their best wave ever.
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Passage to Mallorca, Spain
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We cast off from La Maddalena, Spain, in the late afternoon, motoring out through the islands towards the open water. Setting a conservative amount of sail, we spent the next two days getting the crap beaten out of us.
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Storm Front, Italy
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We left our beautiful anchorage at Porto Taverna on Spain’s Sardinian north-east coast to make the short hop to La Maddelena Island. There was a storm front approaching, and the Skipper was keen to see us moored in a sheltered harbour to sit it out.
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Sardinian heavy weather, Italy
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I was aware of the boat rocking from a steepening swell, and the wind starting to whistle outside. However it was quite a shock when a broken wave, a broken wave, slammed into the side of the boat, sending various items crashing to the floor.
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Arriving in Bizerte, Tunisia
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The last miles into Bizerte, Tunisia, seemed to take forever. Chugging into the wind on the engines, and against a current, was a patience exercise that I didn’t have the patience for.
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Stromboli and Etna, Italy
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Around midnight the island of Stromboli loomed out of the darkness. We sailed our way around to the north side of the island, where we got our first smell, sight and sound of the volcano.
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Night Demons
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When I’m sitting in the dark, alone at the helm, I often receive unwanted visitors. They come when I’m at my weakest. When I’m tired and cold and wishing I could sleep.
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Passage to Malta
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Our passage to Malta, the longest of our voyage from Turkey to Tunisia, would take three and a half days. We were all looking forward to getting ashore for a shower, a meal and a beer.