Postscript 2011

We've returned to Colorado and the snowpack is already building in the mountains. A storm dumped two feet last night!! Winter routines are upon us as last season is quickly being reduced to memory.

But before the blog begins to suffer neglect, a postscript.

Ahh, Spain. What can I say? For the first time all summer, it seemed, we were warm and dry. From the barely bikini'd bodies on the Malaga beaches to the Moorish atmosphere of Granada, we took in Andalusia with verve. After enjoying a spa-like day and a half poolside at Kevin and Claudia's Malaga time share, we bused to Granada for a turista itinerary covering the Alhambra, the Parque de las Ciencias, and three glorious cathedrals.

But best of all was mealtime with friends old and new at the beautiful carmen of our country hosts, Don and Isabella Luther. Don is an old friend of our traveling companions John & Kelly Hranac who now lives in Granada with his Spanish wife, Isa. They graciously offered us accommodation in the guest quarters of their carmen, which is located in the Albaicin section of town.

The carmen is entered from a narrow cobblestone street. Once inside, artistry abounds, from the portraits of Spanish royalty, to the intricate Alhambra-esque tile work on the floors and walls, to the labyrinthine gardens. We were told portions of the foundation dated to the time of Christ, and many of the interior decorations have been preserved since 1918, setting a timeless feel.

After some effort, we were able to fashion a wheelchair ramp from two sturdy scaffolding planks, affording Kevin access to the front courtyard. There, we assembled a makeshift dining theater where, after gathering ingredients from a nearby open air market, we enjoyed sumptuous meals well into the Andalusian night, complete with live flamenco guitar serendipitously wafting from a neighbor's window. After the first such evening, we all agreed this was a "do-over" and the balance of our time in Granada was spent anticipating and engaging in these nightly repasts.

Finally, it was time to leave Spain and we jetted back to the Irish cool and damp. We spent our final ten days in Ireland prepping the boat for winter storage, following the steps prescribed a few posts back. Our pace was just right -- ample time to attend to details while allowing excursions each evening to the public house for continued sampling of Irish stout.

We left Windleblo in the capable hands of our guardian, Hugh Gibson, and the staff at Crosshaven Boatyard. She is resting quite comfortably on-the-hard behind a secure fence awaiting our return next spring to continue cruising.

I'll post our 2012 Cruising Plan in January. Until then, memories of the 2011 season will remain close as dreams of next season's Mediterranean adventuring become vivid.