Tuesday 8th July at anchor outside the entrance to Faro lagoon

Spellbinder
Tue 8 Jul 2008 11:36
Thursday and Friday in Lagos passed quickly with domestics and boat cleaning jobs, enlivened with drinks with our neighbours John and Rosemary Brown in their Rustler 36 "Arctic Tern". A number of mutual friends/contacts emerged in our conversations, including the extraordinary French single handed sailor Daniel, who we met last year in north Portugal, and who John and Rosemary had also befriended - and been told about us. Small world afloat.
Friday evening Anne duly arrived, and on Saturday we introduced her to the delights of Lagos, visits to the excellent markets, a stroll around town, and grilled fish for supper in a simple restaurant overlooking the fishing harbour. On Sunday Henry and Anne drove down to Sagres and Cape St Vincent, while Martin chose to remain in Lagos and watch the Wimbledon men's final. All enjoyed their day.
On Monday it was time to get going again, but with lightish winds we only made it as far as Albufeira before anchoring for the night. Nothing to tempt us to get the dinghy out and go ashore. Off again on Tuesday morning, but again the northerly wind was soon overcome by the sea breeze, and we more or less came to a halt off the entrance to Faro lagoon, so we have anchored there. Tomorrow we hope to make the next 25 miles to Vila Real de Santo Antonio, on the Rio Guadiana which marks the boundary between Spain and Portugal. From there it is on to Cadiz, and then to Gibraltar by 18th July, after which we make the final leg to Denia in Spain.