Ria de Arosa to Culatra

O Nazareno was back in the church, with St Peter outside keeping the keys -

We wandered up to the woods behind the town, taking leave of sweet Galicia for another while. 

That evening the fiesta ended even more spectacularly than it had begun.

Time to think of the sea again, not quite in the same way as the guys on this tuna seiner!

I got Fiona back into it with a gentle afternoon sail to the Islas Cies, considerably tried as we anchored there by the fact that we were wasting a lovely fair breeze.

However it was still blowing in the morning, 

and Fiona put up with staying out the next night, as we powered down the Portuguese coast at up to 8 knots. The breeze died the next morning (24th September), so we went into Nazare rather than spend a second night out.

      I had passed it by in the past, thinking of the famous waves that the surfing dudes love, but actually it is a very good harbour. It is quite extraordinary how the massive breakers just across the bay don't affect the harbour overmuch. There is great interest on the quay at what this nice old boat has brought it -

Thankfully the swell had at last settled anyway, so next day we were able to enjoy the light breeze that took us the 26 miles or so down the coast to Peniche. We anchored in the harbour there, and pressed on with a better north wind in the morning to Cascais, with the sky clearing and the sun getting hot again. Still I wasn't inclined to linger, even though there was hardly any wind as we rounded Cabo Espichel -

and so came to Sesimbra-

It was gentle sailing or motoring all the way round Cape St Vincent, anchoring for a night at Sines and then at Sagres- 

A very sedate sail at 2 knots or less took us on to Lagos, for our usual date with Tony Simmonds at the Adega Marina. Yummy!

A fine breeze however took us on to Culatra,

and even jizzed up the fishing line enough to hook a very bonito bonito, even if he was small. That's the size that suits us, actually!

And so here we are chilling at Culatra again- 

The dull sky last night gave way to wind and rain this morning, but it's warm all the time and one knows it will soon blow over. The temperature is just perfect here at this time of year....