As we are having breakfast we are alerted by a host of clanging bells and the occasional blast of a horn. We look to the far side of the football pitch and see a goatherd in a long coat and headscarf calling with the horn and leading about twenty goats to feed, their bells clanging as they walk and browse.

We leave the lighthouse and head up the N-393 and IC-4 through beautiful areas of cork and mimosa. As we approach Sines we pass a large power station, and in the distance we can see large port cranes and container ships lined up at sea.

We stop for lunch on the waterfront at Sines. There is a wide, neatly paved promenade and a golden beach curving around between two harbour walls with navigation towers on them. Above us is the cathedral which claims to be the burial place of Vasco da Gama. After lunch we drive into the town looking for fuel. It is very expensive but we need some so take €20 worth to see us on our way. Leaving Sines we come upon a huge Intermarche where fuel is 13 cents cheaper so we fill up and then go shopping.

The ride from Sines to our stop at Alcacer do Sal is pretty with more cork, flowery meadows and open countryside, but the roads are terribly rough.

We reach Alcacer do Sal and find the camperstop, a sandy car park just off the old steel bridge. We are soon joined by a couple of French motor homes and a group of stray dogs. Everyone is in fits of laughter at a small terrier trying to hump a labradoodle who keeps walking as the terrier is clinging on with back legs dangling in the air.

For supper we have fresh prawns with avocado and fresh fruit salad and a bottle of Sardinian white. We're certainly not going hungry on this trip.