Niord Gets a Spring Clean!
Niord's Big Adventure
Tony Gratton
Thu 3 Aug 2023 16:32
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Mon - Wed 31 July to 2nd August
Lagos
We have a glorious lie in on Monday followed by a lazy
breakfast at Quay just by us in the marina. We call into reception with a list
of questions. While there, we meet Alan and Margaret, who have done over 200,000
nm in their Bowman 40. They are 76, and are just about to head over to the
Azores with their grandchildren. Respect! Karen does the washing, while Tony
checks the engine and transmission. Thankfully, it's all good. We have a massive
tidy up. Niord is caked in salt after our last battering, so she gets a good
wash down. It's really windy again, but is hot too, so we put up the bimini to
give us shade. We've both had enough for the day, so we grab a shower then go
for a beer at Quay. We run into a couple of locals, who are very friendly, and
swap stories. One beer turns into two, and before we know it it's 10pm. Too late
to eat now, so another meal missed! We've both lost weight on this trip! We
console ourselves with an ice-cream, not up to the standards of La Coruna, or
even Povoa unfortunately.
Another lie in on Tuesday, then we set to as we're
leaving tomorrow morning. We give Niord a deep clean, then prepare her to be
left alone while we return to the UK for medical appointments. By the time we
finish it's mid-afternoon. We go for a walk to the local chandler, and wow, what
an amazing chandlery! We find courtesy flags for Madeira and the Canaries, and a
couple of soft shackles. Then finally time to be tourists as we wander around
Lagos, stopping for a beer in the shade of wind and sun. Incredibly, it's
windier today than yesterday with the promise of more to come. Time is marching
on, so we return to the marina to shower and change, then back into Lagos old
town for dinner. We find a nice restaurant, and splash out on a tasty meal with
a decent bottle of Douro Red as it's our last night. Tony can't resist a
port with dessert, but we are sensible, and take the remains of the wine back to
Niord.
Our berth is tucked away in a corner of the marina. A
big tripper catamaran leaves with punters twice a day from the adjacent berth.
The wind has been howling since we arrived, and when he comes and goes, he
misses us by a whisker. He gives us a wave and a smile each time he passes. Boy,
can he control that thing! He has no bow thrusters, but turns it on a sixpence
in the wind just using the engines. I wonder if he has a sneaky set of side
thrusters somewhere, as he seems to have double engine exhaust outlets, at least
on the starboard side. No-one can be that good can they?
Up early on Wednesday to finish the last of the jobs,
grab a quick breakfast, then head over to the train station next door to the
marina for the trip to Faro. We were going to get the bus, but the walk to the
bus station is further, over the bridge, and the bus drivers were on strike on
Monday, and on a work to rule until 8th August, so the train seems like the
safest option. We say goodbye to Niord. Let's hope there are no mishaps while we
are away.
To be continued...
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