Water babies

To be on the sea again – a 50ft yacht and a bunch of people we had never met! Jill and I were picked up by our new friend Gill and Lawrie and met 5 other ladies 2 blokes and a couple of kids, captain and his daughter deckhand!

Leaving Ta Xbiex marina (the largest marina in Malta) a little after 9am and under power out past the city of Valletta

Sun blocked and hats off as there was a bit of a breeze…bikini clad 60 somethings up on the bow and the rest of us hanging out in the comfy seats…

We set sail, we’ll the sail was up but the motor still running –

Up the coast past the high rises of Sliema and st Julian’s to a bay on Comino – the smallest of the Maltese islands (in the middle of Malta and Gozo….Swim time

It was all overboard – water slightly cooler than the shallow waters of the beaches! The others had all bought masks and snorkels and Jill and I our swimming sunglasses! Just as we were getting back on boat, me first, followed by Jill the infamous Jellyfish got her! It was a quick scrape with credit card to remove the stingers and a magic ointment and the after effects were next to nothing!

We headed out again and over towards Gozo and the southern bays. I must admit I was getting quite hungry by now – all the punters had brought a plate and I was looking forward to the shared lunch (our contribution was bacon and egg pie and fresh fruit)

We pulled into a bay just around from Mgarr and the feast began! These English ladies sure know how to cook – salads, chicken quiches, followed by fruit and homemade chocolate cake and lemon cake!

The sea here was full of Jellyfish and no one was game to risk a swim so we powered back to Comino and another bay, where only the odd one was swimming past! Most got in, but I decided not to tempt fate as I have been sting by these guys before and it wasn’t a pleasant experience! I donned an over shirt having had enough sun for the day and downed a couple of bottles of water!

Late afternoon – under sail and motor we headed back, Gill and Lawrie dropped us back to Paola around 7pm – a day a sea sure takes it out of you and showered and clean into bed for a early night!