Olhao and the end of the journey. 8th to 12th October 2009

Left 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. Hauled out by tractor, barely enough water for the manoeuvre despite being almost high tide. Feels very strange to be at the end of this year's journey. This is probably a good place. The downside is that the town is a bit of a trek (although with bikes not a problem), there is no washing machine, W hates staying on the boat when it is ashore (getting up in the night means climbing down a ladder and going across the yard to use the marina facilities!). The upside is that there are 3 good supermarkets very close at hand that will be useful for re-stocking on our return in the spring, and full boatyard services and workshops should we need or want anything done.

There are again other foreign boats here. It is Nutters Corner II! Margaret and Roger will know exactly what it is like, having spent a few years with their boat in Nutters Corner at Universal Marina in the Hamble. There are big boats, small boats, in good condition and bad. Most of them have seen serious sailing, all have crossed oceans and back. 1 German singlehanding on his 2nd circumnavigation came a cropper 350 nm south of the Azores and was dismasted, losing all his rigging and sustaining other damage to the boat. He is here for as long as it takes to sort things out - difficult as he is not insured!

We feel very small and very inexperienced in comparison!

It has turned blazingly hot. We have spent a couple of days cleaning boat top to bottom, taking sails off, servicing engine, doings normal checks, etc in preparation for leaving. Spent a lot of time talking to the various nutters here and a bit of time sussing out the local area for when we return, and then treated ourselves to a last bbq of Gambas and Sardines. Last minute rush Monday morning to be picked up by taxi at 9am for the trip to Faro Airport.