1st September

Yesterday was Lucinda's birthday. Congratulations and commiserations were gratefully received. Today was hot and windless. We motored back north and ended up in Castillon. Outside the harbour was a collection of smallish tankers and floating oiling buoys to service the tanks lining the shore just short of the harbour. The outer harbour was a sizeable freight facility where containers were being unloaded. There are two marinas in the far corner. We moored stern to where directed by the marinero at the Royal Club Nautico. We got settled, put out the passarelle and headed to the office. They said we could stay but only if we moved pontoons and paid a large fee. I decided to try the marina a short distance away. This was almost deserted and nearly as expensive. The town is some 4km from the port. We waited 40 minutes for a bus then wandered aimlessly round the deserted streets unable to find a restaurant. On the outskirts of town I had spotted a Wok which several people had recommended to us. It was a vast cavern of a Chinese restaurant serving help yourself, and help yourself again, Chinese buffet. We waited 30 minutes for a bus that didn't come. I called for a taxi which, given my non existent Spanish, miraculously arrived where we were waiting. The marina gates were shut. We pressed the bell and waited patiently for the night watchman to appear. He looked at us quizzically, raised his eyebrows and slid the unlocked gate aside.