Well, I finally decided to get my arse into gear and start sailing rather than just loitering at Alcuotim. Lifted the anchor on Tuesday 2 Nov at 1.30ish and had the most glorious sail (no engine apart for the first few yards and the last ¼ of a mile) in brilliant sunshine, had to sun block at it was a clear blue sky and in the 70's. Mike, who I had met a few months back was also heading down river to take his yachts Simo to a yard for a refit so I followed him down. Dropped anchor just down river from Vila Real de Santo Antonio about 6.30, what a day.
On Wednesday morning Frances, who lives in Cumbria and has a house in the Algarve stayed over night. We had a short sail in the estuary before making a meal and drinking too much red wine. Dropped him off in the dingy in the morning so that he could catch his flight back to the UK. As there was going to be a change in the weather at the weekend, strong winds from the north strait down the river and not the place to be at anchor, a little uncomfortable especially as it was spring tides. I decided bring my plans forward and get my fuel and water on Friday rather Monday so that I could get away on the Sunday morning tide. Moved over to the Spanish side and anchored just outside the Ayamonte marina. Went and got one of my spare gas cylinder filled and a few extra provisions. Left the anchorage at the start of the flood at 8.30 and just as the wind started to pickup. Motor sailed about 7 miles and anchored in the lee of a couple of derelict houses on the Portuguese side, absolute calm but I could hear the wind-whistling overhead. Went ashore in the afternoon and took some photos then headed back up river the following day.
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The view from the derelict house looking down river
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Keeping out of the wind
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The suspension bridge between Portugal and Spain
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Frances looking cool before we drank the wine!
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Fishing boats at Ayamonte
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Ayamonte from Vila Real. Ayamonte is the westernmost resort in Andalucia.
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Isn't she cute, some friends have a new pup called Baloo. The vet thinks she could keep the blue eyes
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I do have friends see, I know he / she is only after some grub.
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Some of the local wildlife
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Warrior on the pontoon - water and electricity for £7.00 per night. Getting a little chillier now and having to put some heating on first thing. What did I say in my earlier bloggs not needing the hot air heating - woops, I do now. It starts to warm up about 11ish and by mid afternoon back in tee shirt and shorts till 8ish.
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Early morning back at Larengeras
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A little bit of excitement on Thursday night, at about 1am I was woken as the anchor started to drag, on investigation I found a small tree that had floated up river had attached itself to the anchor chain. I had to get a rope around it and with some effort I got it unattached and Warrior came to a stop about 200 yards up river, no problem and I went back to bed. In the morning I re-anchored, then the wind started, 26-knots at times with absolutely torrential rain which lasted on and off the whole of Friday. When the rain stopped I went on deck to have a look around and found that the dingy had flipped over with the outboard attached. As I was struggling to get it back over some friends from a yacht up river came by and gave me a hand. Got the outboard on-board and after some remedial work and a liberal quantity of WD40 it was working again with no ill effects, thanks WD.
On Saturday another Warrior 'Nobel Warrior' (different size 38 feet), was heading up river to Pomarao about 7 miles and as it's a little tricky first time I asked if I could tag along. In the end there were 4 yachts representing America, New Zealand, another from the UK and our leader from Ireland. In its heyday Pomarao was a very busy mining town with some sizable ships coming to load oar. There are still the remains of the industry notably 7 tunnels that took the trains from the mines to the river port. On Sunday we walked these tunnels and got very wet as it bucketed down when we were between two of them but we dried out when the sun reappeared. After getting back and recovering we all went for a meal at one of the two restaurants, barbequed chops salad and chips washed down with a large quantity of red wine all for £10. Monday morning we headed back down to Alcoutim.
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A misty morning at Pomarao
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The tunnel walk
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Early morning with 'Nobel Warrior' at anchor at Pomarao
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Pomarao
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Just another quiet night on the Guadiana ....
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Just another quiet night on the Guadiana - they even tried to get me to sing!!
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See I do get in the water sometimes!
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Looking across the Guadiana from Sanlucar Spain to Alcoutim and Portugal
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Gail when she visited
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Just much too hot - not coming out in August or early September next year apparently most sensible people go to cooler climes till late September.
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The former owner Nigel working in the engine compartment fitting the new gear box, after spending a number of hours down there he named it 'the hole' - thanks Nigel.
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Natural sandstone sculptures in the bay Las Gaviotas
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