Lat: 38:40.8. N : Long: 028:12.1 W. Sunday, 29th June, 2014 in Velas Marina, Sao Jorge.
Sulana's Voyage
Alan and Sue Brook
Sun 6 Jul 2014 21:48
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Lat: 38:40.8. N : Long: 028:12.1 W. Sunday,
29th June, 2014 in Velas Marina, Sao
Jorge.
Unfortunately, unable to stay any longer in Horta, to
meet up with Joachim & Rosa, the Owners of "Mariela" as we
had hoped, we collected the last of our laundry and headed out
on a mission to keep another appointment, to meet up with David
& Annie Chatterton, and Torril and Guy Dodgson, on board the other
West Mersea yacht in the Azores, "Resting Goose". They were staying in
the neighbouring marina of Velas, on nearby Sao Jorge island, within
easy sight of both Faial and Pico. David had used his extensive local
contacts to secure us the last (or only) remaining berth for a 17
metre yacht for us. Only a very short 34 miles away, this was easily done as a
short day hop under motor, as winds were very light indeed.
Velas was also a lovely little marina, well served, very
cheap rates and provided with superb facilities, including smart,
clean showers and a modern laundry facility, all with water and electricity
thrown in for free, too! As we arrived a local festival was just concluding and
we just managed to get the last free lunches of the day, with fresh 'Lapas'
(Limpets) and a big bowl of fish stew. All this was provided by the local
community as part of their celebration of the month of the Espiritu Santo (Holy
Spirit). Their hospitality was humbling, quite frankly.
We went to sleep very peacefully that night, listening to
the hundreds of Cory's Shearwaters returning home in the dark, whistling,
cooing, cawing and making the weirdest of indescribable sounds, just like
so many parakeets on an excess of sugar drinks.
Sao Jorge
was lovely. A long, volcanic strip of an island, often covered with cloud.
David had to drive very, very slowly along the switchback mountain roads, in
heavy, dense cloud-like fog, on our return trip from visiting the North-Eastern
end of the island. We stopped along the way to admire the fabulous scenery
and visit the Canada family's local traditional cheese factory,. which was
situated in a large family house, near the church, in a small village
called Sant Amaro. Local island cheeses in the Azores are delicious and it is
well worth tasting all the different versions that each island produces. Sao
Jorge cheese has a slightly stronger flavour and is a bit like a better
young Gouda.
The
harbour master in Velas was once again incredibly friendly, helpful and
likeable. Proud to be in his position and enjoying his job as a
'people person' was more important to him than wanting to take up the
offered Management position he was offered, which was to run more
Azorean marinas. The Velas marina water was so clean you could easily
see the whole bottom. Annie and Torril went for a swim in one end of
it and said it was gorgeous!
We
watched a local man sitting on the steps down by the sea front at Ponta do
Topo and, in just a very few minutes, as we watched him hand casting a
small line into the swell near a large cave entrance, he pulled out no less than
15 large grey Trigger Fish as easy as one-two-three. Easy
pickings!
Everybody
in Sao Jorge had time to stop and chat, albeit some were clearly
working hard with their cattle most of the time. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW
A YOUNG MAN ON A THREE-LEGGED STOOL, SITTING IN A FIELD, HAND-MILKING 5 COWS ONE
BY ONE?
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