After leaving France we battled against the prevailing current along the northern Spanish coastline past Bilbao and Santander to Gijon. While winds were light we were boshed around by the confused sea with waves and swell coming from all directions.

We’ve enjoyed Spain so far, very friendly marina staff with a warm happy to see you attitude, very nice. With a hop in our hearts we left big G behind and joined the party atmosphere of the cider festival goers dancing and chanting, all with Umbrellas in hand, around the perimeter of the harbour. We walk up and between the small old town streets to see cider, beer and cocktail bars on most corners, Gijon is about to become a lively place despite the intermittent heavy rain.

Our first Sangria in Spain is quickly served in a funky little bar on a back street playing Queen and other classics and before we get to the bottom of our drinks the bar is now packed as we move on to our second (and final) cocktail before heading out to seek an evening meal. It’s approaching 8pm but none of the restaurants are open until 9pm or later, so we grabbed a yummy take away and headed back to the boat.

We can’t get back to our boat as the electronic hotel style key card did not activate the pontoon gate lock. OH SH! The heavens opened and we’re now getting cold and wet with only one other activate boat on or pontoon, but they appear to be out. We go to take shelter and watch the pontoon hoping to flag them when they return, if they return. I give Janine my fleece sweater to keep her warm and leave her in shelter while I return to the gate, I try to jimmy the lock but no luck. After 30minutes of trying various things consider other options, the water is no where near the top of the marina so I can’t risk jumping in to swim, or trying to climb around the security fence. So it’s looking increasingly like we will need to find a hotel for the night.

I begin my return to Janine and a small car approaches and a young Spanish couple jump out and I call out “Hola, Mayday, Mayday” hoping that they’re sailors and take my plea for help seriously as a fellow sailor. I throw in a few pigeon Spanish words “Mi carta no finctionero”, “mi bota es mi casa”, they seemed to get it, but apparently they can’t open the gate to our pontoon with their card as they unique to each gate, “no problemo, yo nagiera” not even knowing the Spanish for swim I do a swimming gesture with my arms, the two look back at me with wide eyes like I’m crazy but take pity on me and lead me down their pontoon. I’m about to hand them my valuables and dive into the water. When Señor points to a dilapidated red dinghy half full of rain water jumps in a starts to bail it out.

I jump in to undo the mooring line and after several attempts to start the motor motion towards the rowing paddles, it is only 10m away to the next pontoon. So off we row, me with one paddle him with the other. My phone rings and Janine is wondering what is going on, “I’m in! I’ll call you back”. I climb out of the dinghy and Señor tries to start the engine again and I’m so grateful for his kind help and trust and feel bad that it’s now raining again and he’s getting soaked and needs to row back on his own, he makes it in no time at all as I walk up to the gate to open it from the inside and wave to Janine as she approaches much relieved that we have renewed access to our home. Lessons learnt for today: check gate key before closing it behind.