Still in Figueira da Foz
Graptolite's Sailing Log
Martyn Pickup & Heike Richter
Fri 28 Sep 2007 09:21
'Graptolite' is still on the Rio Mondego over two weeks after arriving but
it has been fun so far.
A highlight was the wild evening at the 'Paintshop' Hostel with Lori and her
daughters Hannah and Leah on their brief house-buying visit to Figgy. Ben
the owner and his dad Roger did a huge barbecue in the courtyard and poured
way too many drinks at the bar later.
"Barnacle" Bill Grooms left the berth next to me early this morning to sail
single-handed down to Madeira in 'Spangle'. Bill is one of the saltier dogs
of the cruising tribe. An ex-Navy stoker who can fix anything, which is just
as well given the engine-less state 'Spangle' arrived in. I've had many
sardines and beers out on the town with Bill and his visiting partner Clair
over the past couple of weeks. As is the way with this nomadic life, I
expect I will meet up with Bill again further south in Madeira or the
Canaries. Last night we had Bill's pre-departure drinks with our other
neighbours, Jeff Plummer and Carol Preston, onboard their enormous old boat
'Akka' and then had dinner with them later at the Yacht Club.
Photos and some video for the UK and Spain legs have now been uploaded to
the main page at www.graptolite.eu .