33:03.727N 016:18.962W
Whisper
Noel Dilly
Sun 9 Sep 2012 09:03
|
"A Small World - Saturday 8th
September"
We arrived at Porto Santo on Thursday evening with
just enough day light to see that the island is surrounded by sharp rocks, is
obviously volcanic, with quite incredible peaks and gullies, coloured a reddish
brown and very little vegetation visible. As we approached the harbour we
noticed that one of the yachts at anchor in the bay was a boat we knew from the
Walton and Frinton Yacht Club which we had last seen at Ramsgate. Once
moored up we called Defiance on our radio but did not receive a reply and
assumed that his radio was not switch on. We certainly slept well after five
days at sea!
Yesterday, we had another lovely surprise when our
two friends on Taniwani arrived on the pontoon. They had seen us arrive
from their anchorage in the bay and heard us call Defiance and had tried to call
us but we had not heard them. We had thought that our radio was not working
effectively, but also thought that we had fixed it. It was obvious
that we had not, it was able to transmit but was not receiving. Harold, who
is an electrical technological wizard offered to have a look at it for us so it
was whisked away. We were invited to drinks onboard later on and there was our
radio, not only repaired but a photograph of the inside annotated with
notes of the broken part and a printout of information that Harold had found on
the Internet about our model of radio and this particular problem! What a
guy! A radio check was made this morning and it works beautifully.
Harold and Beate had heard us calling Defiance when
we first arrived here, they made contact with the
skipper Bob to say that we were here in case he did not know. Bob
was also invited for a drink on board, so the sea stories flowed as we caught up
on each others news of their trip so far. Time passed quickly and we decided to
go ashore and have dinner. We all jumped into Harold's rib and pounded across to
the beach. As we approached the beach Harold lowered the two wheels on the stem
of his rib and we motored up the beach; everyone leapt out in varying forms of
agility before the breakers were able to get us. We had a most
enjoyable meal in the main square, full of families enjoying the cool of the
evening. A young band played on the stage erected in the centre of the park to
entertain or maybe it was just to practice!
To-day we took an open bus tour around the island
it was fun, we went to several viewpoints where we looked down on the
marina and across the whole island. The landscape is best described as
lunar in appearance. Some parts are basaltic rock, some is sand, whilst some is
like clay or even mudstone. The high peaks are carved with erosion so the
gullies cascade down showing various shades of browns, golds, greens and greys,
it is quite different from the other islands we have visited an our travels.
Despite being so dry, the gardens are full of colourful tropical
flowers.
The breeze on the bus was most welcome as it has
been a very hot day. I think our friends have the right idea to be at anchor in
the bay.
"Sunday - 9th September"
A quiet day to-day, gently preparing for our onward
journey to Madeira. it is only about 25 miles away, so only a day passage. We
could just see the lights of Madeira twinkling in the distance last night,
beckoning us to come and explore.
Photograph: "Isle of Porto
Santo"
|
