Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Tuesday we visited the Supermarket to top up supplies in the rain which had set in. We had a fairly quiet day a couple of beers in the Sailor Bar early on then back to the boat. As we sat in the saloon that evening a large cockroach landed on the table between us and we realised that we had left the hatch open. The cockroaches on the pontoon are rife, possibly exacerbated by the fumigation of the sewers the week before. Kevin quickly disposed of our unwanted guest but we realised we were going to have to get tougher to make sure we don’t get infested. We have very large stocks on board now ready for the next leg through the Cape Verdes which are apparently rather expensive and not well stocked then the Atlantic crossing. We decided that although most is in tins that we would go out and buy a load of plastic storage boxes to store all the packets in. We would also need to go through the entire boat to remove cardboard in which cockroaches can lay eggs. Finally yet another more thorough spring clean to make sure there is nothing for them to eat by removing any crumbs etc. It was the first time that I had ever seen a live cockroach and I really didn’t want to be living alongside them. We already have the boat moored 3-4ft off the pontoon, in order to make sure that it is not too easy for them to jump onboard, which is certainly making me a lot better at jumping ashore too, though is a little off putting for our guests who generally have to be helped aboard!