Thanks to the Italian navy and Guardia Costiera, I am moored at the far end of the marina next to the merchant ships and fishing fleet on a special berth waiting arrival of the pump. The Port Captain, Navy and Coast Guard have been brilliant. My neighbour 500m away is a large ferry from Cagliari that has been in Arbatax for months. It has its engines, generators etc running 24/7, presumably cheaper to keep them running than a costly restart. The noise is very invasive, but a bit like being tied up next to a motorway and after a few days I barely register the noise anymore. Minwah remembers when I shared a flat in Paddington opposite the fire station and when the doors were flung open, engines started, lights flashed and the engine and turntable rumbled out on a call with a din to wake everyone in the apartment block.....except me! Though I am probably the only one in Arbatax who does not like the weather, which is very hot and sunny, most days. The thermometer in the doghouse sits at 35C and the saloon is warmer still. At night the mosquitoes come out to play and being one of those with an allergy to biting insects I have no alternative but to lock the hatches before I dare turn on a light, which in turn makes the boat warmer still. Last night we had a thunder storm with impressiove thunder and lightning and very heavy rain. Neighbouring boats dived for cover, but I sat outside getting soaked and enjoyed every minute of it. The harbour turned brown as water rich with mud cascaded off the commercial piers. I got out my scrubbing brush and my decks are now squeaky clean. The dinghy was right side up and had four inches of water this morning showing just how hard it rained.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 11:43:17 +0000
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