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Date: 10 Aug 2010 19:40:00
Title: Cascais - Sines
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We arrived home to our boat yesterday (Monday) after popping back to the UK for a surprise birthday dinner for my mum - I won't say how old but it was a big one!! Weather a bit of a shock but getting used to the heat again now.
When we got back our boat was absolutely filthy! We had missed a storm when it had been basically raining clay according to the marineros - the boat was coated in a thick layer of mud which was horrible so the first job was to get the hose on her and tidy her up. We got the worst of it off so at least she looked respectable and as we had a longish sail today thought splashing through the sea water would help wash the rest off on our way to Sines.
Sines is the last port on the Atlantic coast of Portugal and about 55 miles from Lisbon, and half way to Cabo San Vicente where you turn in towards the Algarve and eventually the Med.
We set off relatively early this morning and the weather was as expected, hot sunny and no wind.
A definite routine has been established on board ship when we sail, after about an hour once all the fenders and lines are away and we are out in the open, John takes over watch duties for 2 hours while I snooze and then we swap, John has yet to really learn how to sleep when off watch (nothing to do with leaving me in control - honest!!) and gets very jealous that I can sleep at the drop of a hat. I have tried to teach him but keep falling asleep on the job!
At lunchtime we decided on a change of menu and fishcakes and peas fit the bill. Proper English food - yum. However this plan went seriously awry when the oven refused to stay lit for more than about 5 mins - eventually we gave up relighting it and had tomato soup - the perfect food in 35 degrees.
On arrival in Sines (surprisingly pronounced Singe), provisioning was required so we set off to find the supermarket. After trying 4 shops and walking round most of the town, we managed to find a lettuce and 2 tomatoes that looked edible and a melon as well. Result. Most of the shops here have very poor vegetables because the locals don't seem to eat much of it.
As we had been fiddling with the cooker and changing batteries and testing bits and pieces we decided to try it again and after an hour and 2 relights, we had delicious skate wing with capers and lemon. The oven just so you know hasn't worked since - but we live in hope!

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