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14.10.20

MARINA SAN MIGUEL

 

MARINA SAN MIGUEL

Craig rode past the security guard, ignoring his shout, and cycled through the marina, admiring the yachts with a connoisseur’s eye.

The A VENDRE sign seemed to be aimed directly at him, but as he leaned his bike against the lamp-post a head popped out of the hatch. ‘You can’t leave that there.’

Craig grinned. ‘Not even if I’m a buyer?’

The man barked a laugh. ‘Oddest-looking sports car I’ve ever seen.’

‘Appearances can be deceptive,’ Craig said, pulling a supermarket bag full of cash from his basket. ‘I’ve just won the lottery – want to show me round?’

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There are many marinas in Tenerife, where we lived for fifteen years. Our friends owned a lovely old ocean-going boat, so this story is a tribute to Knotts Gypsy, in whom Dave sailed single-handed across the Atlantic. For 40 days we had no word - no indication whether he was alive or dead - then he came within mobile phone signal range and we watched from the beach in Las Galletas as he sailed past to San Miguel.

Thanks to CEAyr for the photo which prompted my memory and this story, and to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers. If you want to read other stories, or even to join in, go to her blog and click on the frog.  https://rochellewisoff.com/

28 comments:

  1. Fun story. Appearances can indeed be deceptive. I knew someone years ago who dressed so scruffily no one would have believed he was worth millions. Interesting to read your postscript about Dave too.

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

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    1. Thanks Susan. How Dave managed it I shall never know - he was dark brown and thin as a rail when he arrived.

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  2. Don't judge a cover by its book

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  3. I hope his grocery bag wasn't the see-through variety :). Nice twist.

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    1. And why was he carrying it all in cash anyway? Not the sharpest knife in the drawer!

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  4. Never, as they say, judge a book by the cover.

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    1. No, and he can always repaint the boat!

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  5. A bit different from my supermarket bag this morning! Thanks for sharing the story about Dave. That must have been a worrying time.

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    1. His wife was trying to hide her concern but failing!

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  6. Dear Liz,

    What a relief that must've been when you finally heard from your friend. I have some friends who went to buy a car and the salesperson looked down at them for their mode of dress. Wasn't he surprised when they chose their car and paid cash? Good story.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. We danced for joy when he finally got in touch. He was supposed to phone from some island en route but the weather stopped him from calling in there. I typed up his journal of the trip for him, and told him he should self-publish it for his grandchildren, but he never has.

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  7. I need one of those bags.

    That's quite a journey on which Dave embarked, and, I'm sure, scary for everyone waiting with no communication.

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    1. You can't have the bag, it's mine! And yes, that was quite a journey.

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  8. Hahaha the owner shouldn't have judged him so harshly. Still it sounds like it might be an easy sale

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    1. The bike man looks keen, and with cash he should get a discount!

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  9. People shouldn't assume. All types of people ride bikes. Not sure I would be game to carry that much cash around.

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  10. i was hoping it wasn't counterfeit money. :)

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    1. Oh plaridel! You have a criminal mind!

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  11. Isn't is true that our assumptions are often wrong. A nice tribute to Knotts Gypsy!

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    1. She was a lovely wooden boat and served Davie well.

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  12. I like your fictionalized story. Lucky duck won the lotto. Good for him.

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    1. Lucky indeed - I could use a small lottery win too!

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  13. One must never judge by appearances alone... ;-)

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    1. Although we often make snap judgements, the trick is to take another look.

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