We pulled up our anchor on Sunday 4^th October at 9:37AM and headed off to Olhao 37:01.45N 7:49.88W  We did not arrive until 16:00 because we caught the ebb tide down the river and waited at the mouth until it was flowing a rate of knots back in to help us back up again.

While we waited for the tide to change we headed over to the weirdest little holiday town that had no cars or shops from what we could see. It was like a scene from the series Lost that Fiona and I just finished. Anyhow we jumped back in the boat and sailed up the river which was a welcomed change.   It is beginning to feel as though we have been motoring much, much more than sailing lately so even the few miles we did sail it felt great once again.

It was Saturday night which meant it was “eat out” night so after we had found a little anchorage just off the main strip of town we headed in with Den and Sadie to find a little restaurant.  The town itself was an absolute surprise because it was the first town we had been to that was not flooded with British tourist’s.  It felt as though we had found a little bit of unspoilt Portugal.

We walked around for a while until we stumbled across a little restaurant in the back streets so we sat down and ordered meat all round and some grilled sardines to start with. All of it cooked on the hot coals in front of our table. To add to the excitement we ate given olives, salad, chips and a couple of liters of wine - as you do.

After dinner it was back to Graceful for a coffee before heading back to Silky for the night.  However once we had arrived home and just about prepared ourselves for bed the stupid dunny blocked once again. Seeing I had had a few wines I thought better to get the dirty job of inspecting the poor little marine creature over and done with so after an hour of swearing and cursing I thought I had done the trick. But I was not so lucky. In protest I jumped in the shower and then went to bed.

Special comments by Fiona:.  Olhao was the first Portuguese town that we’d come across that felt like we were in Portugal.  Most of the places down the coast of Portugal are tourist towns, which is great, but did not give off a feel of what Portugal was about if you know what I mean.  Olhao was a bustling little town full of, well, Portuguese.  There was a town fete which we explored, with ladies selling jams and table cloths, and children every-where.  We walked down many windy narrow streets, enjoying the delicious aroma’s of cooking coming from the apartments above. 

Day 74

Destination – Olhao

Traveling Direction – East

Wind Direction – South East

Swell – Slight 1.0 mtrs

Average Speed – 4.8 Knots

Top Speed – 7.5 Knots Through the water

Total distance – 38.9 Nautical Miles

Travel Time – 8.2 Hours

Temperature – 29 degrees

Crew     - Fiona (Enjoying the town of Olhao)

Missing Work – Not Yet

Expenses –  Dinner out €25

Next Destination – Mazagon