Liam’s Take:
Waking up to a calm marina in Bilbao and the soft hum of a city coming to life felt like a reward in itself. If you’d read our previous blog, you’d know why!
We spent close to two weeks in Bilbao, planning our route and stocking up on supplies for the next leg of our journey.
The Mercado de la Ribera was a good shout—a market overflowing with food, fresh veggies, seafood, and every kind of cured meat you can imagine.
I love trying new things: plump figs, some chorizo that looked too good to leave behind, and a couple of jars of pickled peppers. Ryan grabbed staples like pasta, rice, and a stack of vacuum-sealed tins of tuna.
“You’ll thank me when we’re out in the middle of nowhere,” he said, waving the tins like they were gold bars.
Ryan’s Take:
While Liam wandered the market with wide eyes and an overflowing shopping bag, I had my own checklist.
The sail to A Coruña isn’t the longest leg of our journey, but it’s still over 300 nautical miles and will take a couple of days. That means everything on La Sirena needs to be shipshape.
So I spent most of my time in a chandlery near the marina. Chandlers are like sweet shops for sailors, and I always end up spending more time (and money) there than I plan. This time, though, I kept it focused.
Here’s what we picked up:
- Spare shackles and cotter pins
- A tube of marine sealant
- New fenders
- A spare gas canister for the galley stove
Liam’s Take:
Once we’d stocked up and loaded our haul back onto La Sirena, the real work began.
Ryan immediately got to fixing the hatch leak, muttering something about how saltwater finds every crack. Watching him work with sealant and tools in hand reminded me just how much of this trip is about maintenance.
ou can’t just sail off into the sunset without putting in the effort to keep your boat in top condition.
(Thanks Ryan!)
My job was less technical but just as important: stowing everything we’d bought. On a boat, storage is an art form. Everything has to be packed in a way that’s secure and easy to access. I even impressed myself with how neatly I managed to tuck away the loot.
Only takes a storm though….
Ryan’s Take:
The hatch took a lot longer than expected. Close to two weeks. But finally La Sirena was looking ready for the journey ahead.
The rigging was checked, the deck washed down, and the galley stocked.
There is a kind of satisfaction that comes with knowing your boat is prepared. I do love tinkering with cars. A boat’s similar but you’re also betting your whole life on it…
Our next destination, A Coruña, is a chance for something a bit more normal. Some old friends of ours, Eoin and Ciara, moved there a few years ago with their two kids. We haven’t seen them in ages.
Until next time,
Ryan & Liam
The Ocean Bois
