We are looking forward to our first hike in La Gomera. Claudia and Bernd of the SY STILL CRAZY invite us to a common hiking tour. Only we have to cancel because Hans Peter caught a summer cold, but on Friday it's off in the morning on the bus. Udo, a German who lives here has heard of a fiesta in the village of Benchijigua, a 12-strong place. He is a great guide and knows every move plantlets, which corresponds very Lilian. It determines our tour and we start in the middle of the island at 1074 m above sea / ocean.

After 2 hours of hiking through a beautiful Barranco (ravine), we arrive at the right time, the Ermita de San Juan (small chapel) above Benchijigua. The service will soon be over and the two beautifully decorated with fresh flowers saints are carried out to the chapel. The small community is going to be a procession through the valley's. Musicians play drums and huge Holzkastagnetten and accompany the procession. After half an hour, the saints will be returned and the festival takes its course. Now a band plays hit island, people stock up on drinks and grilled. A peaceful gathering of young and old, locals and foreigners.

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The Midsummer, the celebration of the summer solstice, is celebrated on La Gomera. Even the Indians lit fires to thank the gods for the harvest and to drive away the evil.
It is celebrated with a combination of Christian and pagan traditions. First, we mention all processions of the Holy San Juan to the evening to light the pyre later.
On the beach three large fires were kindled. Live music plays. Performances by fire dancers and fire-eaters will be presented. The village choir sings traditional songs, which strongly remind us of the traditional Ticino songs like Oh bella ciao, bella ciao ....... Spanish families sit together and enjoy their fine home-cooked dishes, it is grilled and everywhere is a wonderful feeling to feel.

Because of the notorious nozzle between Las Palmas and Tenerife, Las Palmas, we want to happen in the north. This means first of all show up against the wind. After so long in the quiet harbor makes us the Atlantikschwell to create genuine. We both fight against the seasickness and are glad to have got a place in the marina Radazul the east of Tenerife to 60sm at 21.00 clock.

The second 60 nm we do in two stages, as we want to have more time. In the late afternoon we arrive in the embryonic built Marina San Miguel in the south of Tenerife. The next day we sail with light winds the remaining 28 nm up to Gomera. We look forward to the school of dolphins which accompanied us for a short distance and sift through for the first time families of pilot whales, which bask on the surface.

10 nautical miles from the island, the wind up to 7 Bf (60 km / h) increased. We fight to the last 1 ½ hours against wind and wave and we're thrilled to San Sebastian from our sailing friends Claudia and Bernd to be welcomed.

We rent a car to finally see something of the island and of course to make bulk purchases in the coming months.

About beautiful hills we reach the small town Teror. The road to the old town is locked and we also see the same why. In all town roads road images are interpreted. With natural materials and colored the salt-consuming, elaborate mandalas are designed.

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Las Palmas
Here in the marina we want to take all the important unfinished work in attack. So to say our to-do list work off. Then you continue. We soon set to work.
First, the passage is renewed by the Salon to the rear cabin. The old vinyl cladding dissolves everywhere and hangs down, the makeshift repairs do not last, everything must come down. We have to move in the forward cabin, covering the tear down, grind the foam debris and scrape filling and strung with new leather or carpet. This sounds easy, but it is a huge work and mess to a murder. Despite covering and dirt trap the dust penetrates into all scratched from the ship. How glad we are that we have all the other parts already reupholstered on the ship. Dead tired we fall evening on our "construction site" to bed. But wait first or rearrange everything and make the V-berth free. Who has not experienced this can not even imagine how hard it is to pull through a small space such a project. All days are mattresses, tools, etc. rearranged and in between should be cooked in the kitchen feigned! Rebuild a house while living there already has its pitfalls (we also have experienced) but on a boat it is a thousand times more complicated. But what joy when after work can put everything back in its place and for this it still looks beautiful. Hans Peter has done a great job again.

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