After an hour and a half of motoring along the eastern side of the island,
and the light fading, Ken M helmed Finnrose into the harbour entrance of
Lajes das Flores, and across to the port and starboard markers of the tiny
marina entrance. He carefully negotiated the marina wall on the left, and
the rocks at the base of the cliff face to the right. The entrance size
reflected the marina size, and when we got inside it was crammed with boats.
Inch by inch, with no bow thrusters to help, Mark then skilfully turned
Finnrose around on her axis. We made our way outside the marina, and he set
her gently alongside the outer marina wall. With great agility, Ken W was
the first to set foot on dry land - he climbed onto the pulpit, strode
across the gap from Finnrose to the ladder, climbed quickly to the top of
the wall, caught the ropes and secured them to the cleats. The rest of the
crew followed him, climbing up the harbour wall ladder and onto the marina
mole - ashore for the first time in fifteen day. What a great feeling!
Even though it was dark, and after eleven local time, we had sundowners on
the deck, and a supper of spaghetti Bolognese to the vibrant chorus of
seabirds who roost on the cliffs at the entrance to the marina. A bottle
of red wine was used to toast Finnrose, Stuart and our safe return to
Europe.
This morning dawned warm but cloudy. We had some breakfast and then went to
the harbour master's office - being Saturday, there was no-one around, so a
kind man phoned him for us - he arrived five minutes later. What a great
young man - he went through all the formalities, showed us a map, talked
about the best shops and cafes, looked on the website of the marina in
Terciera and gave us phone numbers and prices, and then took us in his car
for a ten minute drive to the local shop to allow us to top up our
provisions.
We are now back at the boat, having had lunch. Liz is looking at how to
paint the Finnrose logo on the harbour wall, the two Ken's are off looking
around the boats and Mark has gone internet cafe hunting... just two or
three islands to go now...
