The Sea, the 70s and the Spelling

I walked up to the top of the gangway. There was a board wedged in the taff rail and chalked upon it were the words:

Depart 14:00 hours 5 January 1970
leaving for Las Palmas.

I didn’t have a clue where that was.  But it sounded wonderful.  A superb trigger for a great adventure, it sent my mind reeling with images of sun, sea and palm-fringed beaches…