Costa Brava some weeks ago


It's a pretty small area of the coast we're hanging around in at the moment. From Sitges a bit South West of Barcelona and along the Costa Brava coast up North. That's the area you see in the box around Barcelona.
Some weeks ago, we left our marina again for some quiet sailing up North along the coast. We decided to find an even better creek to set anchor, for a peaceful weekend in the nature. As you can see we had a really smooth and comfortable ride up, but on the way back we had to face conditions which made the regular ten hour trip to more than the double and forced us to a couple of stops along the way.
Anyway, the sail up was smooth and wonderful. At some points, the wind died out completely and we had a perfectly sunny day and plenty of time to fish.
We were hoping to get some of those big tunas we told you about but none of them in sight.
Only a couple of small mackerel's and bonito's which were good enough of course. Here one with coriander, lemon, garlic and spring onion, served with grilled potatoes.
In action.
We found a nice creek after Tossa, just in time for the sunset. We were totally left alone in this beauty of the nature, no other boats in sight for the whole stay.
So we anchored the boat, pumped up the dinghy and went out to explore the surroundings.
Beautiful rocks.
I can not in any way tell you how the sunset looked like, as these pictures doesn't give a fair expression, but it appeared like a dream... the last beams of sun covered parts of the mountains in a theatrical way before they disappeared behind the hills. Breathtaking. And the simple moment was so quiet and peaceful. Like a dream.
We paddled further in our small creek to the other side where we discovered some caves..

Inside. Beautiful colors.
Then back to Caos..
Where we ended the night with a cheap but nice bottle of wine.
Early morning and time to go home. This is what we got on the hook just before we left.
When we checked the forecast that morning, they announced wind south-east, wind force: 1-2, but the reality was more like south west 5-6. Crazy ride back and forth. We got seriously exhausted by the 20-23 knots of wind in our face for twelve hours, the 1,5 meter high waves and all that tacking back and forth so we decided to stay over night in Arenys de Mar. Which was pretty nice as well but made us miss one day of work at home. Thank God we're both self employed and able to schedule our days pretty much like we want.

If someone wonders how our home looks like from the inside, in conditions like that. Everything-up-side-down, would maybe be a fair description.
The wind was pretty humble the day after so I took the opportunity to work an hour or so on the way back home from Arenys de Mar... Thank God for the wireless dongle.. Over all it was a very beautiful and peaceful weekend, exactly what is needed after a stressful week of work. /T

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Bonito/a


We've recently upgraded our fishing reels and lines for the wish of catching some of those huge tunas we had on the hook a couple of times but were to big to reel in. So far only Sea bass, Bonito's and Mackerel's, caught. Still waiting for the big ones. This is the dinner for tonight. A beautiful 1500 g's Bonito. /Alex

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Garraf


One of those nights last week, before sailing up towards Costa Brava, we decided to leave Barcelona for a night. We looked forward to a quiet dinner on the sea and the great feeling of waking up somewhere else than our own harbor. So we set sail to Garraf, a small town just before Sitges.
Salmon and potato salad, some cheese and a nice fuet, a wonderful bottle of wine and the magnificent view of the city.
Early morning in the Garraf marina.

Took a short promenade up in the town.
Had breakfast under the palm trees..
Visited the church..
.. and admired the sea from a distance while walking back to the boat for a relaxing morning sail back home. Every time we're out like this we say: Why don't we leave now? What if we didn't have to turn back home? It's a frustrating feeling of going somewhere wonderful, getting there, wanting more of it, to get further down South.. but then have to return. What a divine day it will be, the day when we will be able to say goodbye for the last time for many months. /T

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Costa Brava and back


Back home from a long weekend on the sea. Will show you more pics later. Now: Work! Can anyone imagine how much one has to get done, to be able to take two years of vacation? And time is flying, only five months left for that long, long voyage we have in front of us.

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Skepp ohoj!


We're off to Llafranc, Costa Brava for the weekend.

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Blanes for a day








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Maintenance and refitting

We did a good choice by deciding to leave the apartment and stay on the boat all summer. Spending time here allows us to see what really is in need of maintenance and renovation. As we both work 10-14 hours per day with our regular commitments, there isn't really too much time working on the boat but at least we have one new thing solved every week. At the moment I'm busy repairing the cockpit grate and refitting the teak on deck. A hell of a lot of work but I guess someone's just has to get it done. Very relieving to see the condition of the boat slowly improving./A

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Costa Brava for the weekend









Some pics from our last adventure. We spent two nights in the serenity and stillness of the nature. We were sailing around 110 nautical miles in total up and back on the Costa Brava coast in great conditions both ways. Maximum speed at 7,5 knots, not bad for this old lady of ours. Our home for the weekend, the small creek and the abandoned beach - placed between the walls of a mountain, served us with the best of hospitality. The best time for these weekend trips are right now, before the summer hits and all those hidden places aren't that private anymore./A.

(I suggest you not to look too closely on the teak, the renovation of this is under development, just have to find time for it all..)

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A simple rosemary focaccia

The weekend showed it's most sunny side and we headed up to Costa Brava, and a beautiful, hidden creek where we set anchor and stayed over two nights. One morning we had a picnic on the beach with this homemade focaccia, baked in the Remoska. The more I use that little machine, the more I love it and we've realized that there is nothing you can't do with it. Cakes, fish, gratins, bread, soups... you name it. Everything turns out to perfection.

This bread can also be made in a normal oven but the measurements are adjusted to the size of this mini Remoska:

Taru's Rosemary Focaccia

15 gr yeast
3 dl water (1,2 cups)
5 dl all-purpose flour (2,1 cups)
2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil
1,5 teaspoons of salt

rosemary sprigs
more oil
flaked salt

Preheat the oven for 30 minutes (175°c in a normal oven), while you prepare the dough.

Put the lightly heated water (36°c) into a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast over and stir gently until dissolved. Add the salt, oil and flour and mix the ingredients to the consistency of a soft dough. Knead the dough until it's smooth and elastic. Fill the bowl with four tablespoons of olive oil and leave the bread in the oil bath, all covered and allow the dough to rise until it's almost double of it's size, approx. 1 hour. When the bread is ready to be baked, put some oil into the pan before putting the dough inside. (Yes, a lot of oil, but that's what makes the focaccia so crispy, buttery and golden!) Prior to baking, dimple the dough by gently pressing into it with your fingertips. Drizzle the surface of the focaccia with some more olive oil and sprinkle it with flaked salt and rosemary sprigs. Leave it to bake in the oven for around 40 minutes until the surface is golden brown and crispy. Remove the focaccia from the baking pan and leave it to cool on a rack. Serve it warm.

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I can't stand the rain...


Yes I know it's probably not very interesting to discuss the weather all the time, but this winter have been the worst in Barcelona for decades. It is May and outside it's freezing 10°c (F50) and it has literally been raining non stop since Sunday night and they promise even more to come. It is as much frustrating as it is hilarious, what the hell have happened to our climate seriously? The picture illustrates what we would rather do instead of worrying about when the heavy rainwater will start to leak in through the unfinished teak-business we have going on, on the deck.. /T

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Last night's meal

What a beautiful Bonito we caught last night. We had it grilled with fresh lemon juice and garlic flakes. Served with a creamy potato gratin with mustard seeds, perfectly cooked in the Remoska. Food orgasm!!

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