Mosaic Sidewalk

Wednesday 28 July 2021

Drove around Sao Jorge today, which was captivating although with limited visibility as it was quite foggy. Two-way roads are twisty, steep and one-lane with occasional turnouts, so attention is required. Best place was forest preserve which could have been an eerie, perfect setting for Hansel & Gretel. You could almost see gremlins in the tendrils of mist that swirled around lichen and moss covered trees. One two-lane road extends length of island near its top and narrower roads snake down vertiginous hillsides to the few relatively flat areas that allow towns, often by the water. Corn seems to be a popular crop with fields anywhere the land isn't vertical or nearly so where nevertheless forests are amazingly able to cling.

Thursday

And so as the sun climbs tranquilly into a cloud-streaked sky at the unconscionably early hour of 0800 (shut up), we bid adieu to Sao Jorge and our Dutch mates from SV Zanzibar. May see them in Terceira next week, but perhaps we'll be gone. Can't allow lichen or moss to grow on our trunks. The operative postulation is that if you don't move quickly enough buzzards begin to take an interest.

Although currently protected along south coast of Jorge, very light wind and calm sea should continue until arrival Angra do Heroismo, Terceira, around 1700 this afternoon. We have that rare condition of slightly cool temperature balanced by warm solar radiation that somehow seems perfect. Would be a thoroughly pleasant sail without growling from necessary operations of iron, internal combustion, propulsion device and watermaker. Alluring smells of frying bacon and brewing coffee, however, bode well for upcoming breakfast with eggs and toast, making entire experience hardly suck at all.

Jack & Jan