River Guadiana
Thursdays Child
Robin & Joanna Minchin
Sat 7 Mar 2015 21:36
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37:28.056N 007:28.092W We are all delighted to be back at anchor In the middle of the River Guadiana between Portuguese Alcoutim & Spanish Sanlucar after a cracking sail. The wind held, just, and we ghosted the last few miles but it didn't matter that we had slowed down as we were unable to enter until it was half tide due to a bar at the entrance. Blue sky all day and at one stage we had three fishing lines out but sadly nothing was caught. Once at the entrance we flew up the River and arrived at Alcoutim, 24 miles away, only 3hrs later. It was a very wonderful feeling to have the full spring tide under us, pushing us in the right direction. The temperature rose dramatically the further up river we came, and it was very lovely to be returning to such beautiful, familiar surroundings. It is so amusing to hear the striking of the two town clocks an hour apart again, we left two months ago on a really grim chilly foggy day and today was absolutely beautiful. The scent of blossom, eucalyptus and lavender is hanging in the air and once we were at anchor the temperature was shockingly hot so up went the bimini and sunshades and we all collapsed in a heap. It doesn't matter whether you fly the Spanish or the Portuguese courtesy flag whilst at anchor here, but we voted to go Portuguese so the flags were duly changed, and our watches reverted back to Portuguese / UK time. At Happy Hour we celebrated our 2,000th mile being sailed today and relish the thought of being here for a few weeks. |
