And we all had a dance - that did include me
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My port lazy jack parted a few weeks back so I took advantage of having Nigel around and he winched me up in the flat calm - some view as well.
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On leaving the Rio Guadiana I headed east for a little place called Tavira. Its just 10 miles down the coast and I have anchored there before but just overnight on route. I took a walk into the town and what a surprise its lovely. The following day it rained for a full day and a half and I got 20 litres of water from the dinghy but I am please to say it improved. There is a great sailing club with a very friendly manager who just can't help you enough. There is only one other occupied yacht here Aqua Regia owned by Nigel & Yvonne who invited me on-board for a meal. She is a 42ft Southerly with a lifting keel which as you will see makes her very handy for shoal waters.
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The weather did improve and Nigel let her dry out to do some maintenance. It's a little strange to see a monohull upright on a beach like this but very handy. It was back to 72 degrees again and we were back in our shorts
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Looking down on Tavira
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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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