Sat 20th Vascao

 

Bol and I don't have much voice left; Harry woke with another headache (yesterday's didn't develop into a full blown migraine fortunately) so we had another quiet morning and there were calls from both bunks for more chapters of Swallows and Amazons “Peter Duck”. We tried reading it a few years ago but they didn't really click, now that we are afloat ourselves they have real resonance and all on board are gripped ~ we read for several hours!

 

Thankfully the headache pills worked again so we were free in the afternoon to go up into the River Vascao at high water, as promised all week. We began two hours before high water reaching as far as we could with the dinghy; at one stage all picking the boat up and carrying her around some shallows, proper 'portage' which was great fun.

 

We found ourselves in a very remote spot, padding quietly and seeing a terrapin swimming under the boat. The river then narrowed to more rapids so we halted there, floated, listened,  soaked up the moment and enjoyed the sights and sounds all around us.

 

As high water was approaching we paddled back, carried the dinghy around the shallows and reached the Roman weir at high water, it was amazing to see it one foot under water and to float over where we had sat eating lunch a few days ago. The whole area looked so different under so much water and again we just stopped and floated down slowly on the new ebb. 

 

We all felt it was 'mission accomplished' having achieved something we had looked forward to all week. The rain was kind in holding off until we were ready to return to TC.

 

Still no photos as this is being sent via satellite phone.

 

Will “Peter Duck” be finished tonight.....

 

 

 

 

Perhaps “Peter Duck” will be finished tonight....