Landfall at Flores
39:22.7N
31:09.9W
13
June We
arrived off But the
guide book told us that “the friendly Azoreans are renowned for their readiness
to help others” and we were not disappointed. Charlie and Richard arrived on the
quay just after 7.00am and within minutes were in discussion with Rogerio, a
local fisherman. After initially saying everything was closed for the weekend,
they set off in Rogerio’s 20 year old pick-up with Charlie in the cab and
Richard, dressed for his arrival in Seattle, standing up in the open back with
the fish boxes – the objective ‘to find the customs man’. They first went to the
Custom man’s home but there was no sign of him there so then it was off to the
Custom man’s mother’s house who confirmed that he was away on holiday. After a
stop at the police station (closed after the previous night’s disco) Rogerio
pondered which of his nine siblings to ask for advice. The brother he
unfortunately chose must also have been to the disco as, despite loud banging on
his front door, he could not be roused. So then it was back to Rogerio’s house so that he could unload the fish
and change his clothes. Then it was off again in another car to find the Police
Chief this time in We feel
comfortable that customs at Horta will accept our explanation of where the
fourth crew member is. They can always ask the police chief in Later in
the day we went on our own taxi tour of the island – very green, steep with long
waterfalls and lakes in the caldera of old volcanoes, and with small flat areas
at the foot of vast rocky outcrops on the coast where the people live. There are
hydrangea bushes everywhere just about to come into bloom. It’s a
lonely corner of
14
June We are
now motor-sailing to Horta, on the |