Thula Thula (Fuerteventura - Gran Canaria)

Abandoned City Hall

Intruder

Friendly police behind doors

 Our Captain Jean Pierre left with plane back home and left us waiting for next ride to Gran Canaria. We found ourselves from old abandoned city hall. After 10 minutes of looking around the police came behind the closed doors. They found another way in and kindly escorted us out. We went together to the nearby police station and took a photocopy of my driving licence. The building was very nice but according to the police it had been unused for years because of water in the basement.

This and that

The next boat arrived and in two days we sailed to Gran Canaria. The new captain was heading to Cap Verde but it was hard to find out with who he was going to go there. At least we were getting a ride to Las Palmas and that was good enough for us.

Fuerteventura is left behind

Thula Thula - Jacques and Ann

Flipper

Flipper hunts

We had catch too

Gran Canaria

Port is full

In Las Palmas was a huge atlantic cruising rally (The ARC) going to start soon and the harbour was reserved for only attenders. Boats to other destinations were forced to anchor in nearby bay. One boat was named Nauta. I assume the owner is the same as of the earlier motor yacht Navetta.

Tahaa (Lanzarote - Fuerteventura)

The 100m ketch was made in Pietarsaari
and had crew from americas cup.

After I was politely kicked out of the loveboat and hadn´t found a new one during the first 2 days I thought the best option for me was fishing in another harbour. I had sent a few couchsurfing requests in the night before but hadn´t got any answers. I also had looked for cheap hostels but the only one i could find was full and others above my budget (30e) so I prepared myself to sleep under the stars. I really should buy a travel mattress.

I went looking for the bus to Playa Blanca but I got a ride from the first car going my direction. After arrival I went straight to talk with the boats as it was getting dark soon. I met few nice catamarans that could possibly take me on board but as I was hoping to go to Brazil and not Caribean I kept looking. When it got dark I thought it is better to wait for next day. As I was walking back I met two frenchmen. The younger one was travelling like me and spoke excellent Spanish and a little bit English. The captain spoke mostly French. We went for a beer and and dinner in their boat. I got to sleep on the sofa and the next day (5th nov) we were already heading to the next island, Fuerteventura.

Jean Pierre (Captain) and Thomas

Mutant banana from Morocco

Sailing along Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura

Autopilot

Gran Tarajal

 My new boat was definately not as fancy as the previous one but there was cool relaxed athmosphere and we managed to keep good speed with only sails. We arrived quite late to the small port of Gran Tarajal and headed to the office. On the way we found a local fiesta and got to participate ourselves too. Free paella and other dishes with beer and wine accompanied with live music was perfect after the days work. The table was soon packed with french people. I spoke spanish with Thomas and later we left to see the delights of saturday night. Although I must say that in Gran Tarajal there were not too much to find.

We had to change berth

The captain would leave in 9th november and we would head then to Las Palmas for more boats.

Ganga (Gibraltar - Lanzarote)

Ready to leave Gibraltar

We started leaving before sunrise but preparations took a lot longer that we expected and we headed to the sea at 1pm. Sea current was against us so we used motor to get to the open. The sea was swarmed with massive ships but with amazing skill and determination we found a way out.
.

 295 Tankers and 1252 Cargoships

Skipping Marocco was my price for nice passage to Lanzarote

Good sailors always have high collars

While taking the picture above I took over 20 shots that did not please me. Finally I got one where I think I look handsome and can proudly show everyone how I see myself as a sailor.

We (mostly Ben) tried to catch fish during the trip and the outcome was one cute bonito. Each day on the boat was much like the other involving lots of sleep at irregular rhythm, beautiful sky, and sometimes ship passing by. In the beginning I felt a bit seasick (though I refused to accept it at first). In my case it did not come too much from stomach but with slight fatigue and head ache. After three days I had accustomed to the conditions and sailing felt comfortable again.

Bonito and blue legged boobie

Cowboy of the ocean

Sunset among others

Day among others

Red and orange

Wave is way bigger than it seems

Window in my room

Sitting on the bow

Monster on board

After five and half days sailing we were happily on land again and it did not take too long to destroy a fair bottle of Olde English cider we brought with us from Gibraltar. Pod of dolphins escorted us for some time but i guess they were slightly shy because most of them left before we could take pictures. Baby dolphins playing in front of the boat were really cute and there was even one handsome jump!

Land ahoy! 

Last of the dolphins

Soon to arrive

After arrival

Gibraltar

One has to cross an airfield in order to enter Gibraltar

Gibraltar is British overseas area in the south end of Spain. To me it came as a surprise that the peninsula was dominated with a huge rock filled with caves and monkeys! I spent the last five days here with Shawn and John from Britain Felix from Germany and their other guests Mick and Jo from Australia.

We had a day trip to the mountain which due circumstances did not include monkeys nor the top where you can see to Morocco. Next time I will visit Gibraltar I will conquer the rock.

During my stay I have already multiplied my hatred towards mosquito. These dark overlords have been eating my hands during the nights. Their proboscis leaves a sore far more itchy than their finnish counterparts. For that they shall feel my revenge. I must remember to acknowledge when I reach the malaria area.

Felix, Shawn and John (Mick is hidden behind Felix)

The tunnels were used during wars

This is me at mt. Everest

Returning to Spanish side (La Linea)

Some poker and whiskey during the powerout (John kept our money)

It took me two days to slouch trough the harbor area to find a boat ride to Canary Islands. Young Australian Couple had bought Ganga (Bavaria 43) from Spain and were sailing it to their homeland. The atmosphere on the boat could not be higher as Ben had asked yesterday Bridget to be his wife (congratulations will be forwarded from comments). I did not expect to be the oldest person on a boat for my first offshore sailing but the boat is well equipped and they seem to have good grip with the boat so I feel confident we will be having a really nice trip.

Navetta means barn for cows in finnish

Name Ganga has many meanings

Fist the size of my arm

When I started travelling I never thought that the hardest part would be constantly saying goodbyes to nice people I just got to know. I had great fun staying with S,J,F,M and Jo and it would have been nice to stay longer to fulfill my dream of playing ice-hockey in local hall. Things do not always go as planned and the boat to canaries was what I originally came her for so I am happy things worked out so easily.

I sadly will say goodbyes to my long time served Finnish army boots. This is sad moment for me since it will be hard to find shoes that can cover my loss. But foremostly this is sad moment for my dear hosts who yet do not know about my intentions of leaving my boots in the flat.

One seldom encounters such a fine pair of boots

Laces are cut, bottom is spilntered and heel is partly missing

Fuengirola (hitch-hiking in Spain)

The second day to Gibraltar started at 7:00 and after walking 5km to gas station a car with nice people took me and we headed to south. Unfortunately there was no good place to drop me off so I ended up in the gas station off the highway. After an hour i got ride 5km to nearby gas station that was said to be better, though it was just as bad. Few hours passed and I got a ride 10km to highway. There I waited two hours to meet an Arabic truck driver with whom I waited some time for his friend going to Gibraltar. When the friend arrived they had nice conversation in Arabic and I waited again for half an hour. Also it took some time for their praying towards Mecca. When we started going to south It turned out he was only going to Granada. I didn´t have to wait too long there before next ride to Malaga. From Malaga I got a ride 5km to better gas station and later on 20km to Fuengirola. At this point the clock was already over 21:00. I waited there for and hour with one guy threatening me not to look at his car or girl and also paid the gas station employer to watch if I do so.. I though it was time for me to look for a hostel to sleep in.

This was second time with Muslim driver and it was quite hard to have conversation about religion as I am not exactly religious and the conversation was in Spanish. Other topics were more simple and I learned a lot. Also I had my first rides from really rich people. It was interesting to hear how different the possibilities in life are for them and how they see the life.

Ahmed listened eurotrance

Windmills were as common as solar panels

Andalusia

Just when I was leaving the gas station one of the locals I had been talking to felt sorry for me and offered a cola. We talked about many things and had good conversation but when the conversation started to regard religion it got out of hands (from mine at least). He was a Jehova witness and really pleasant chap but he was persistent in neglecting any attempt to change topic or argument so I thanked for the cola and headed town.

Touristic paradise Fuengirola

In Fuengirola I had the other happy moment of my day as I saw a couple kissing passionately. They were probably over 80 years old. Right after them I passed group of suspicious looking Arabs. I wasn´t because they were Arabs but just the general feeling. I heard some whistling and another group of Arabs ran towards me with knives in their hands. I heard few gunshots behind and the knife boys fled. I walked to the other side of the street to avoid being shot but I think it was meant for the knives. Also I have feeling it was just blank shots but still quite exciting. (the happy moment wasseeing the happy couple, not the gunfight)

I found cheap hostel and went sleeping.

In the 3rd morning I went back to the same gas station and talked to drivers for half an hour. I also met Jaakko from Finland who told me how they bred froglings sometimes with his grandchildren back in my home country. I took a bus to next city and just when I was giving up I got a ride from three beautiful Spanish ladies and their crazy seven-month dog Baby. I think It is last time I will hitch-hike in Spain. 

Gibraltar here I come! 

The sea