37 04.6 N 008 07.2 W Vilamoura, Algarve
Saturday, 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 the Navigator. Jane has been reading us snippets of Portuguese history whilst I have been trying to get the others interested in continental drift and tectonic plates. Never mind!

We visited the caves and grottos outside Lagos, went into little Alvor for a night for the quiet of the estuary, where we bbq'd all those sardines and then moved round to Portimao (still find it a strange place), where we walked miles just for an ice cream. They were preparing there for some Formula 1 boat racing so we were unable to go upriver and avail ourselves of the one little visitors place there is in the local marina in town.

Up to then it had been brilliant sunshine, a bit cool at times but nice. Friday turned cloudy with threats of rain for Saturday, so we headed east, goosewinging all the way, for Vilamoura (reputation as expensive and posh) - it was neither out of season, the marina cost less than Lagos or Portimao and it is Britsville full of golfers. Holiday resort pure and simple. But useful as a drop off point for C&J as Faro Airport only 12km away and they could go by bus. Treated by the food kitty and C & J to a meal out on their last night - we had the local dish of Cataplana - a stew made with various types of fish, clams, prawns, tomatoes, potatoes, garlic and coriander. It is named after the dish in which it is cooked, a round copper pot with rounded lid - looks like a sphere or ball when closed. Delicious.

Saturday the rain came - only drizzle. So after putting C&J on their bus, we went back to domestic chores of sorting boat out and finding the laundry. Not sure what next stop is. No wifi connection here so this will be uploaded as and when. On to Spanish border soon, then Gibraltar. North Africa?? We will see.

Adeus for now. Obrigado to Jane and Clive for a good week.

Tuesday, 11th May 2010 Vila Real do Sta Antonio

Postscript to J&C trip. They had a nightmare journey back due to Icelandic volcanic ash cancelling 60% of flights out of Portugal. Luggage still not there.

We spent one more day in Vilamoura, then back to Culatra where we toured the island (all sand, gypsy catamaran boats and tiny fishing cottages, and met up with a fellow HR34 - Anhinga - Frank Singleton's (ex Met Office) boat. They are en route to Seville.

We are now in the Ria Guardiano, in Vila Real. Across the river is Spain - we will go across tomorrow. Vila Real is the linen capital of the world - there must be at least 100 shops selling tablecloths, tea towels, bath towels and bedlinen. And they are all exactly the same. Do you think Spain is more expensive for these things and they come across the river as shopping tourists?

Cool, bright and breezy insterspersed with the odd shower. A romping sail here.

Love to all.