Our earliest plan had been to go straight from Bari to Vieste - it's a longish hop but it's a straight line. With the delays at Bari though, we would have got there in the dark - which is not normally a good idea in an unknown harbour, especially if you are planning to anchor. But we did want to get out of Bari! A quick look at the Pilot fingered Barletta - 6 hours up the coast and with a huge anchoring area.
It was cloudy and there was little wind or swell so we had an easy motor. The sky was grey (same as usual) but we led a charmed life as rain storms passed us by on either side without actually hitting on us.
Barletta looked a pleasant enough place so we went ashore on Saturday (next morning). We chained the dinghy up securely then headed into town. The old town looks attractive although I'm sure it is a lot nicer in sunshine and when tourist season is upon it. L had read that there was a launderette though and had the bit between her teeth. After a lot of asking and tramping we found the "Lavanderia" in Piazza St. Antonio but unfortunately it turned out to be a full service laundry - €3 per tee shirt. But they were incredibly nice and helpful. Nancy - one of the owners - took us on a 15 minute walk to the commercial center where there is a "Lavanderia a Jeton" or coin operated laundry right next to a Hypermarket. We had left the dirty washing in the dinghy to save lugging it all around town so we trogged back to where it was moored - planning to go back to Rosa to get the granny trolley then moor on West side of the harbour - much closer to the Launderette. The bloody motor wouldn't go! I had to row nearly a mile.
We got everything done in 3 hours and just clambered back on board Rosa before the heavens opened.
We spent a comfortable night but in the morning a nasty swell was coming into the harbour and the wind was blowing us sideways so we were rocking side to side - not very comfortable! After a check of the forecast, it was clear that this was just the start, it was going to get a lot worse! We made a snap decision to brave the rain, swell and head winds to get to a safe harbour at Manfredonia before things really set in in the afternoon and made Barletta very uncomfortable and possibly dangerous.
What a horrible journey - 5 hours that felt like we were back in the English Channel in winter. But we made it and now we're safe and comfortable. We'll stay here for at least a couple of days until the wind calms down before we head for Vieste.
It was cloudy and there was little wind or swell so we had an easy motor. The sky was grey (same as usual) but we led a charmed life as rain storms passed us by on either side without actually hitting on us.
Barletta looked a pleasant enough place so we went ashore on Saturday (next morning). We chained the dinghy up securely then headed into town. The old town looks attractive although I'm sure it is a lot nicer in sunshine and when tourist season is upon it. L had read that there was a launderette though and had the bit between her teeth. After a lot of asking and tramping we found the "Lavanderia" in Piazza St. Antonio but unfortunately it turned out to be a full service laundry - €3 per tee shirt. But they were incredibly nice and helpful. Nancy - one of the owners - took us on a 15 minute walk to the commercial center where there is a "Lavanderia a Jeton" or coin operated laundry right next to a Hypermarket. We had left the dirty washing in the dinghy to save lugging it all around town so we trogged back to where it was moored - planning to go back to Rosa to get the granny trolley then moor on West side of the harbour - much closer to the Launderette. The bloody motor wouldn't go! I had to row nearly a mile.
We got everything done in 3 hours and just clambered back on board Rosa before the heavens opened.
We spent a comfortable night but in the morning a nasty swell was coming into the harbour and the wind was blowing us sideways so we were rocking side to side - not very comfortable! After a check of the forecast, it was clear that this was just the start, it was going to get a lot worse! We made a snap decision to brave the rain, swell and head winds to get to a safe harbour at Manfredonia before things really set in in the afternoon and made Barletta very uncomfortable and possibly dangerous.
What a horrible journey - 5 hours that felt like we were back in the English Channel in winter. But we made it and now we're safe and comfortable. We'll stay here for at least a couple of days until the wind calms down before we head for Vieste.
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