37 04.6 N 008 07.2 W Vilamoura, AlgarveSaturday, 8th May.A week to catch up. We have said our goodbyes to Jane and Clive today, they are flying back to the UK, volcanic ash over Spain willing! We have had a great week with them. A good sail over to Lagos, wind really got up at the end and got a bit of a soaking getting the mainsail down. A day exploring the town, visiting the market (bought the live crabs), a load of sardines, and paying our respects to Henry...

37 01.6 N 007 49.7 W Olhao, Algarve Monday, 26th April 2010Good flight, clockwork arrival, brand new hire car, boat intact! That's a good start. The outside of the boat is covered with a thick layer of dust / sand and a few gungy bits, but that's easily remedied. A lot to do to get it clean inside and out and to stow things away. A major food shop is needed and everything is more difficult when the boat is out of the water. But clear blue skies and it feels h...

Postscript Devon 13th October This is one of 4 uploaded today - so see previous ones for last leg of 2009 We have been away now for 4 months. In some ways feels a lifetime, in others no time at all. We have come a long way (not quite to Caroline's as originally planned) and had an tremendous journey of cultures, places, people and sailing experiences. We are sad to stop, but it is also good to be coming home - to see family (including new members Lucas) and f...

Olhao and the end of the journey. 8th to 12th October 2009Left Faro on Thursday morning - hot and sunny day. So we went to the mouth of the Ria da Formosa first, to drop anchor, have lunch, a short stroll over one of the islands and a last swim of the season. At least R swam and, secured by a rope, went round the boat scrubbing the hull. But the current was very strong so did not stay in long. W dangled feet.Then on to Olhao, to be hauled out about 5pm. Haule...

Faro Tuesday 6th October to Thursday 8th OctoberWent to Olhao, had a look at the boatyard and decided that we would come out there after all. It looks secure, will probably do the boat good to dry out a bit and it will allow us to do things like change prop anodes,etc. Details later.As we had a few days before the lift we went over to Faro. Both Olhao and Faro are in an area called the Ria da Formosa, a national park of estuaries, lagoons, dunes and sandy low ly...