Leaving Portugal

PROGRESS
Andrew and Hilary Clark
Fri 16 May 2008 15:19

We left Cascais on Monday 12th May. Passing Cabo de Roca the sea was in a much more benign mood that it had been on Saturday, and as we stood offshore we came out from under the cloud cover into brilliant sunshine and a gentle NW breeze. That evening we stopped at Nazare, which came as a complete contrast to Cascais.

Nazare is a working fishing harbour, with a small facility for visiting yachts at the head of the harbour. On the west side is a long quay and facilities to receive the trawlers, whilst the eastern part of the harbour is given over to jetties for the inshore boats to use, complete with lock-up facilities ashore. There is a sizeable boatyard, a scrapyard of abandoned boats and projects, and a large colony of stray dogs, who seemed completely satisfied with their lot. I guess that they eat a lot of fish!

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Although we arrived after the marina office had shut, we had visits from the maritime police and immigration officials before we had finished securing. I then had to hike across the site to find the security man at the main gate in order to pay for our berth. But as everywhere in Portugal, they were all polite and charming.

An early start the next day saw us on our way, with a real mixture of sunshine and showers. As we come further north, we are beginning to question whether we have enough warm clothing to see us all the way back to Plymouth - so far it has been an extra level each day.

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Tuesday night we arrived in Leixoes, intending a short overnight stay before going on. But the arrival of heavy showers with the forecast 37 knot gusts kept us in harbour. We still managed to get soaked walikg back from the the town. The delay gave me a chance to reflect on the changing costs in Portugal as we came north; a night in Cascais marina was 53€, Nazare was 31€, and Leixoes only 20€. It seems to be a question of Location, Location, Location!

At 0200 the rain was lashing the deck, and wind was rattling the rig. But, to my surprise, by 0600 things were looking much better, so we escaped whilst we could. But once out at sea, apart from one shower, we had a good run all the way to Bayona.

So it is farewell Portugal, for the time being at least. We have really enjoyed the last two years, and have met lots of nice people, but it is time to try somewhere new.

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