Looks as though I am going to be here until the 2nd December - no wind until then but no hurry it's a great place to be.
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A view through an old building window with the Guadiana river Warrior and Vila Real de Santo Antonio in the background
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I had a great fish soup with John on his trimaran on the night before leaving the Guadiana.
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I am heading off for pastures new - more about this soon. I arranged with friends Tony & Jan to have my 'farewell to the Guadiana' BBQ at their place on the bank of the Guadiana.
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The dinghy park was getting rather full
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Martin - he isn't an alcoholic honestly
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Gabriella baby sitting - well after a few red wines she didn't notice that the baby had been transplanted!
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Chris handing out some goodies
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Later that evening - Tony & Jan's new puppy trying to get at Tony's grub. L to R Jan, Jay, Tony & Elle
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Robert Black, musician, artist and autopreneur - just one cool dude with his partner Monica in their hideaway pad on the banks of the Guadiana. They have wined and dined me royally on numerous occasions and here I am again getting ready for the party - thanks.
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Roberts's studio with a couple of his paintings on the way
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The lovely Monica & me, I have been giving her some photography tutorials as she has been trying to get her head round Photoshop.
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Chilling-out with some very good wine at Roberts pad near Sanlucar on the Guadiana
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As you can see - the night just got better and better
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Monica and Diana during the evening do.
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Another occasion at Robert & Monica's
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I have been scrubbing off and antifouling the last 4 days absolutely knackered but job well done me thinks and back afloat. I found a great way to stop the antifouling sticking to me - oiled all exposed parts with a combination of sunflower oil and sugar the only problem was that I smelt a little like a chip.
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The little bit of an exaggeration but the shower did run red!
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Yesterday most of my friends from last year reappeared at Alcoutim so as you can see we all gathered to swap stores and tell tails, it was good to see them all. The weather has just changed, colder in the mornings but it soon warms up. I am planning to do my antifouling next week but there is a forecast for rain so will have to see.
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Here I am at Gail's in Rugby with Ozzy. I got back to Warrior on September 13 with the new water pump for the engine and a few other bits and pieces ready to do some antifouling on the next spring tide and then head off. I am going to explore some of the Portuguese coast and then - will say later.
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While I was in Mazagon my engine cooling pump started leaking badly so I decided to head back to the Guadiana to short it out. I had a long motor sail back with a strong head wind so it took me some 8 hours to make the Guadiana but Warrior takes it in her stride - no problem. I had a great sail up the river the following day with no motor this time. I put Warrior on her mooring at Alcutim and sourced a new pump in the UK which I will pick-up when I go on the 13th.
It was Thomas's birthday during the Alcoutim festival a few days ago so Belen & Thomas had a meal with me and then we enjoyed the festivities. Thomas with his bottle of the 'strong stuff' celebrating & which he did share we also had some cake to go with it - and a beer or two!
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A sign near the monument that gives you some idea of what the trade-off is for bringing in massive amounts of metals.
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A massive monument to Christopher Columbus which lies Seven kilometres south of Huelva city where the Tinto and Odiel rivers meet
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As massive gas tanker discharging its cargo Canal del Pedre Santo
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One of the up-market residences at Mazagon
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Next was just a few miles west the Canal del Pedre Santo and Mazagon which is the town that lies at the mouth of the river. Fantastic, it's a real working river with commercial shipping coming and going all the time. I just love working rivers don't know why but I just do. The last one I spent some time on was the Thames when I lived in the Royal Albert Dock but that was many, many years ago around the time when Ben my eldest son was born. As I headed into the river I counted 10 tankers of various sorts waiting to make their way up.
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The massive fleet of fishing boats at Punta Umbria
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It's me again I did go for a few dips in the river at Punta Umbria
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I think it's a mule because of its large ears.
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Her two beautifully marked kittens
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