Log Friday 12th August:
It's 8pm and I'm having a beer (Cerveza) overlooking the surf.
Made it to Portugal today. Had a great surf in Spain this morning and then a great surf this arvo in Portugal.
Glad to be out of Spain as the weather was very average and its crowded. Plus the customer service is woeful. I can see why the GFC has hit so hard there. In between siestas, clients are seen as a pest - amazing. Even the tourist bureaus are closed from 12 - 3pm.
Portugal is on the west coat so the weather is like Perth. Morning offshore breeze, then afternoon seabreaze but the surf is okay with a breeze. But the water is freezing. And I mean freezing! Middle of summer and I'm wearing a 4/3 wetsuit plus booties. There's a contest tomorrow where I just surfed so the hotties were out there practicing with me - the old fart getting in their way.
Last night the campsite I was in was evacuated as a fire started about 3am. It was less than 20m from the van and raging in the pine trees. I think the clowns next to me didn't extinguish their campfire properly. Had to drive out through the flames. Very exciting. Found another beach at 4am then woke up to good waves, so all good.
Chris is in Zurich with her folks visiting her sick Aunt so it's just me for another 2 days - 4 in total. I know she's loving having a bed and hot shower, plus a toilet on hand. Spoilt rotten! I'm basically just cruising down the coast looking for waves. Quite enjoying being a hobo with no responsibilities at all and I've had some great surfs. And only spent $50 in 2 days. The simple life is brilliant.
Was going to eat at 1 of the 2 restaurants at this beach tonight but both have shutdown because of the GFC.
We spent a day at Santiago De Compostela a few days back prior to dropping Chris at the airport. Amazing buildings and cathedral there. It's were a famous pilgrimage finishes and there were heaps of World Youth Day delegates mingling around prior to heading to Madrid.
I'm not missing Perth yet. When does that start happening? Even the crash on the stockmarket seems minor. Life's good.