Day 434 to 440: 31st August to - 6th September 11th Wedding Anniversary, San Vito and Cagliari

Friday 31st August

I always imagined that our 10th Wedding Anniversary would be spent renewing our vows on a white sandy beach somewhere on our "Big Adventure". This time last year we were in Port Napoleon celebrating by our masts going up, not yet having been hit by the bombshell  that there was a crack along the centreline of our hull that would delay us for 5 weeks! This year we had the white sandy beach but I think looking back I had no concept of how crazy this liveaboard life would be. Despite not being "at work" our lives our full to bursting with keeping Laurin moving and the kids learning as well as trying to plan a little for our return. But despite the lack of vow renewal we are extremely lucky to have this time together and I will be forever thankful for it.

The day started with AJ asking to take Laurin off the mooring, a first for him in a Mediterranean marina. He did an excellent job and we motored out of the protected harbour of Palermo. It was an easy 35 miles to San Vito Lo Capa and we had a lovely trip, doing a little school on the way and then relaxing in the afternoon, with the kids having a new enthusiasm for connect 4 after it being a hit with Isabell on Wildest Dreams.

We anchored outside San Vito Harbour with the intention of saving the cost of a marina for the night and enjoying a swim in the crystal blue water. We all went for a dip which was very welcome however there was quite a lot of swell and it was quite uncomfortable. I very quickly decided that this was not how I wished to spend my wedding anniversary so we phoned the marina and half an hour we were tied up and moving around a whole lot less.  We headed into town to explore where we found the lovely sand of my wedding anniversary dreams, however renewing vows was overshadowed by the thought of a cold drink and some food!

After mooching around the town the kids found a square to run around in... I think this a European thing that they have readily and thoroughly adopted. Meanwhile I noticed the bar next door had a happy hour deal on where you bought any drink (including 6 Euro Cocktails), paid 8 Euros and this would then include seemingly unlimited trips to the snack buffet. Whilst not particularly inspiring the buffet housed enough food to fill us and the idea of a cold cocktail while the kids ran around the square was appealing enough for me to forgo pizza in favour of unidentified delicacies on a small plastic plate. They let the kids share so the total cost was only 25 Euros including an extra bottle of water and the kids delighted in sharing a mocktail. Patrick stuck to an ice cold beer. Somewhat miffed that we didn't get a nice picture of Patrick and I together but I love the one of the kids!

We then got sucked into going into a little arcade where the kids spent some of their pocket money and AJ made a friend before we headed back to the boat via the trampolines!

Saturday 1st September

After a lazy morning of enjoying the marina wifi we headed into town for an ice cream lunch. The marina guys had recommended "Caldo Freddo" a local ice cream speciality which he couldn't properly explain but we felt compelled to try. Having ordered 2 to share the waiter explained that it had coffee flavoured ice cream and would the kids like nut flavoured ice cream instead which they agreed to.  Rum soaked sponge with ice cream, cream, and hot chocolate sauce. I enjoyed it but I don't think it was a massive hit with the others once they got beyond the chocolate sauce!

Next up was a swim at the beach. The water was absolutely beautiful and although deserted beaches are great, it was lovely to swim again. The kids are out there somewhere.... promise!

We then headed in to town to get take away pizza which we ate overlooking a now somewhat deserted beach. Such a lovely day!

Sunday 2nd September

We'd had a message from a new family on a cat "Tatsu" to say they were anchored outside the harbour and would we like to meet up so we invited them over to say hello with the double whammy that they could tie their dinghy up alongside our boat to go ashore. While we caught up with the adults, the kids looked at our little project book of the moment where we are recording some of the stuff we've done. We have a page about all the people we've met and the kids were seeing how many friends they had in common which I thought was absolutely lovely. Kids spread all around the Med, originating from all over the world, but in reality such a small community.

In the afternoon we went for a walk to the lighthouse with the added bonus of finding a WW2 pill box at the beach nearby. We had an interesting conversation trying to work out if the Sicilians using this would have been shooting at the Allies or the Axis powers. AJ loved crawling through the tunnel to get into it where as Esmé really preferred climbing on top!

It struck me that we had just walked a couple of miles in flip flops... something neither I or the kids would have considered at the start of our journey! Back to the boat for tea which included birthday cake from Tatsu

and then we had a walk into town for a last mooch around as Esmé was desperate to spend hard earned pocket money on a 4 seater bike. Patrick was less enthusiastic but played along. It was quite hair raising as the only options of route seemed to be on a busy road (which we considered before doing a slightly dodgy U-turn) and the pedestrian areas which were bustling with Italian tourists out for their evening's entertainment. However Esmé loved it and we got to see a little more of San Vito than we would have otherwise have done. The plan was then to hit the little arcade but after watching some street entertainment and then getting halfway there Esmé was desperate for the loo so we returned to the fairground area and paid an extortionate 1 Euro to use the public toilets!

I really couldn't be bothered to walk all the way back to the arcade so I bribed the kids to do the little fairground instead which worked out quite well as we bumped into the crew of Tatsu and enjoyed the rest of the evening together before walking back along the beach to the boats.

Monday 3rd September

A morning of school and getting ready for our long trip to Sardinia before we finally departed at about 7pm. Soup for dinner on the run and then Patrick settled down for his early sleep whilst I watched the sun set.

Tuesday 4th September

Long day at sea.... kids had a movie marathon whilst Patrick and I tried to catch up on sleep although I was struggling. We managed to sail for most of the afternoon which was nice but lots of swell meant that meals were not too great and all too soon it was night watch time again, this time with Esmé to keep me company. 

Wendesday 5th September

We were making good time so it made more sense to head for Cagliari and a daylight entry rather than try to anchor at Villasimius so by 7am we were watching the sun rise as we motored in to Cagliari Marina Del Sole where we quickly collapsed into our bunks.

Patrick managed to surface first and look after the kids for a while. Once I managed to drag myself out of my bunk we had a quick (late) breakfast and headed down to the office to check in. I then realised Patrick was struggling so I offered to take the kids to a playground. It appeared to be about a mile away but what I didn't realise was it was up a big hill.

Both kids were complaining but I marched them on with the thought that all this exercise might bode well for an early night. Much much later and after a stop to buy water we eventually made it to the park entrance, and then 10 minutes later to the playground itself by which time the kids were so tired they needed a rest before playing!

After a while they perked up a little and enjoyed their surroundings.

After an hour or so we decided to head back via a different route, this time stopping en route for plasters to cushion feet sore from extended flip flop use, and a sugar hit to keep them going!

Back at the boat we had an early dinner followed by movie for the kids and bed for us!

Thursday 6th September

A day of jobs and schoolwork. Market, supermarket, oil change and lots of school so we could afford a day off to visit the museums tomorrow. There is lots of activity in the marina with dragon boats and much to Esme's interest, a canoe polo practice session.

Dinner and then late drinks with a new to us sailing family, the crew of Alesea. It was a late night for all but lovely to catch up with these guys and hang out, chatting about places we'd been and people we'd met and who our common friends were.