Sundowner II log – 2005 update 13 – Island bound



Sunday 15th May
Well, over 3 weeks later and we are still here. The Twins left on the Monday afternoon and due to wrong winds and rough seas didn't arrive back in Portimao until 4.30 the next morning which was a shame. We stayed at anchor and fitted the new solar panel which is working splendidly. After a weekend visit to Olhao in the new unfinished marina where we restocked and filled our water tanks we then came over to the island to anchor and dry on the beach where we have been busy 'ish' cleaning and polishing. Due to the tides our working hours are restricted – time seems to have stood still in this deserted inlet. Just the sun, moon and tide depicting the daily routine and having taken a position on the edge of the beach we will not float again properly until Friday - last Friday being the last time. We are keeping a check on the weather which at present although sunny there has been a big increase in wind and sea over the last few days so the decision to stay put seems justified, also it's the cup final next Saturday which we had half planned to watch in Cadiz but we are not ready yet - the boat is but not us.

Unless you want an hour or two walk at high tide to the small fishing village you have to go at low tide and the other day we did it in 20 minutes. We messed up on Saturday night when we went to see Benfica V Sporting the title deciding match which Benfica won and as 80 per cent of the population there seem to support them there was one hell of a party even at midnight kids, grandparents and all salsa-ing into the night. Being by now high tide we made our way in the dark and found our way to the beach which we fell into, the swell having carved a metre and a half edge all along the coast, unharmed we continued on our way and then turned inland through one of the dried out inlets only to find ourselves an hour later having gone through the island to the far edge - an hour away from our boat! Duh! We did retrace our steps in the daylight today for a short walk and a bit of exercise and returned exhausted 2 hours later – nice walk though! And we sussed out the exit sandbar channel for when we leave. We did catch the ferry across for a short visit to Olhao last week to use the internet and post office not recommended when you are so chilled out. Having the time we re-read our log updates and there are some things omitted and not included in Ewoud's e mail reply one being the completion of the rigging of the local boat which proved to be quite a caper! Dave gave us the nod to return as he had prepared the mast and boom, well I am no ship right but a mast should not snap in half when dropped 3 foot off a workbench amusingly it was our fault, so if you are ever in Ferragudo and see a nicely painted local boat with shortened mast keep walking. One of the reasons we didn't leave at the end of February was visits by our son Alex and his girlfriend Tania and our parents which was great. Alex stayed on the boat and the parents had a lovely room at the marina complex hotel with their balcony overlooking our pontoon. The weather still perfect and on the last morning we were determined to show Alex and Tania Cabo Sao Vicente which was in the opposite direction to the airport. After nearly an hour Alex enquired if we had to return all the way back along this road and informed us that Tania was prone to car sickness but she was still ok when we arrived at the airport 2 hours later. It was nice to see the Cape from the land. Due to the amount of football being played we also spent many hours in the bars and made lots of friends in the Classic, Bartz and Boogie Bars, also the Twins own 2 bars one in Praia da Rocha and the other in Alvor where they insisted we did not pay in their company which resulted in some spectacular late nights and hangovers and falling down dancing. Our main bar being Glup so close the our pontoon in the marina, and on the day before departure Julie, our regular Dr Doolittle, found a baby parrot which was given to Jorge the owner of Glup as he had always wanted a parrot but the proviso was it had to be called 'Bob'. Just before we left when we said goodbye he had been advised that although beautifully coloured Bob wasn't actually a parrott and without a mate would die soon as they mate for life. Karl returned to Portimao last week and was happy to see 'Bob' in his cage in the bar with his proud mate 'Marley' - two little love birds singing away.

Sunday 22nd May
We are now proud owners of a bimini (Sandra is well impressed using the sewing machine powered by the solar panel) and just a couple of coats of anti-foul and we shall be on our way next week to Cadiz. Ewoud texted us on Friday with the great news he was moving on from Brest to Beaucette, Guernsey where all the resident bobs are waiting to greet him today. It's funny for the first time in over a year I felt homesick and could just jump on a plane and join in the fun and games which will surely be something to remember but we are in paradise except for the football which finished as the season had begun and continued with not enough goals being scored and yet another defeat but we're used to that (26 years in the 70s and 80s) and not bitter at all – he he!