1st Oct 2020, Cascais
Did not have a good night. Couldn’t get to sleep, weird dreams all night, and kept waking up, not feeling good this morning, so tired, and still upset about Zhans birthday. Simon and Jenny tied along side us, and gently guided us from the anchorage to the marina fuel berth, to check in, get a berth, and see how we will get into berth without engine. Had to get marina to tow us in, as Simon and Jenny’s outboard packed in, €70. Got tied up in berth safely, tidied up boat, went fo a wander, Simon and Jenny came aboard for drinks, and we had a very late tea, 10.10pm! 11.20 and l’m off to bed, l’m shattered, and need sleep. Engineer is coming to see us tomorrow morning about the engine.
2nd October Cascais
Engineer came just after 10, water in the oil, head gasket gone, he is coming back next Thursday to remove it, and see if there is any other problems. So we don’t know yet how serious the situation is. Not feeling good today, not enough sleep, sore legs, lip cold sore, and very tired. Some shopping got for boat, laundry tomorrow.
3rd October Cascais
Awake at 7, dozed a few times, then got up at eight, showers, then did laundry. Over to Simon and Jenny’s boat for drinks, ended up eating carry out duck and rice with them, had a great night, and great laugh, didn’t leave until just after 11. And the journey continues on.. Our engine crisis 😲😳🥺😩😢
4th October Cascais
The beginning of what would turn out to be a long, and very expensive stay here in Cascais (marina), €18 a night, came into marina on the 1st October. Did some site seeing today, Cascais is beautiful, a visit to a beautiful park, and three museums, including a lighthouse.
5th October Cascais
6th October Cascais
A day at the beach today. Very hot, went for a swim, water baltic, watched seagulls fighting over a dead fish at waters edge on the beach.
7th October Cascais
Very hot today again. Took a trip up to see Boco Do Inferno (The Mouth of Hell), an area high up on the cliffs with a view point, where the power of the sea and waves has created caves below. Apparently its quite spectacular to see when the sea state is very rough, but disappointing today as it was too calm, cafes and gift shops galore.
8th October Cascais
Joao came to the boat with his apprentice, took cylinder head off, lot of water in cylinder head. Removed half the engine and took it away in a bucket. Contacted us later, and came out to the boat to look, and explain there had been too much water in the engine to risk just replacing the head gasket, recommended the engine would need to be rebuilt. Rest of the engine scheduled to come out on Tuesday (13th)
9th October Cascais
Went to the beach. Bought an enormous beach blanket from a very nice African lady on the beach for 7 euros!
10th October Cascais
Still here. Just the same (mostly boring) daily stuff, breakfast, dishes, lunch, dishes, dinner, dishes, cleaning, tidying up, laundry🙄.
11th October Cascais
Still here.
12th October Cascais.
Still, still here 😳.
13th October Cascais
Engine removed from the boat, we now have no engine 😭. Engine needs to go into a specialised workshop for tests and measurements to be done, this is to establish whether it is economically worth rebuilding. Joao said he would phone us on Friday (16th) to let us know whether the engine could be rebuilt.
14th October Cascais
A quiet day, think we’re still in shock. Things seem to be going from bad to worse. First thinking engine could be fixed, new gasket, head, and maybe a few other things, to then going into thousands for an engine rebuild. Little did we realise things would get even worse.
15th October Cascais
Still here, yet again. Can’t remember what we did today other than stuffed our face with marshmallows 🤭🤫
16th October Cascais
Joao did not phone, Nick eventually phoned him around five, apparently workshop had not even had time to look at the engine. Will now be either Saturday (17th), or Monday (19th) at the latest before we hear any news.
17th October Cascais
Still no word about the engine, so stressful. Need to wait till Monday for (hopefully) some news. Had another wander round Cascais. Beautiful day, gorgeous sunshine, roasted chestnuts, Pina colada, and chicken and chips, perfect! 😊, fairly cheered us up.
18th October Cascais
Only so many times you can do the same thing, the beach, site seeing, going where you have already been, seeing what you have already seen. Cascais is such a beautiful place, but we will be glad to get on the move, it’s also getting cold here now, and marina is running up too much of a bill we’ll end up having to pay.
19th October Cascais
Found out today engine is knackered, cream crackered, can’t be rebuilt 😭, only option is a newly rebuilt engine (very little chance of that), or a brand new engine 😮. Duck rice for dinner.
20th October Cascais
Working on what do about the engine over the next few days, where to find the money for new engine, engineers bill, marina bill, lift out, boat yard bill etc.
21st October Cascais
Guess its a new engine, we have no choice, just working on what to pay what with, and trying to raise some money.
22nd October Cascais
New engine for boat ordered today, Beta 16, £4,600 (including extras), will be delivered in about two weeks to Joao’s yard.
23rd October Cascais
Went a walk up to Boca Do Inferno (Hells mouth), then had coffee and traditional Portuguese custard tart. Started trying to promote Nick’s book, to raise some well needed cash.
24th October Cascais
Went shopping to Auchan. Found a great shop, a Chinese shop that sold everything. Made lamb chops for dinner.
25th October Cascais
Invited to Ians boat for drinks at three. Made Paella for dinner, phoned Mum.
26th October Cascais
Nick got locked out the marina. Power went down, and Nick got locked out the marina again. Chased Nick to Ians boat for coffee while l finished in the boat (cleaning, tidying up etc) . Spoke to the three young guys off the French boat, they lost part of their rudder in high seas, and had to be rescue towed into marina. Went a wander up the town to the Chinese shop, spent three hours in it, to Nick’s horror! Got chicken and chips for tea on the way back to boat. Nick also ordered an engine service kit today. Nick’s book has sold 28 copies in the last four days, raised over £90.
27th October Cascais Nick is installing the light switches for saloon lights today. Cloudy today, a little sunshine on and off. Light switch instalation went well, Nick chuffed as he feels everything is going wrong just now 😔. Not much else happened today.
28th October Cascais
Went a walk up to Boco Do Inferno again today, but it was closed. Lovely day, and very warm, had a wonder around, then went for a beer, and toasted sandwich in the cafe at the lighthouse while watching the waves smashing into the marina’s breakwater wall.
29th October Cascais
Stayed on the boat today. Bitten all over again, and my arm is in a terrible state. Used netting we bought as mosquito net on companion way hatch, not got anything for forepeak hatch yet.
30th October Cascais
Vodafone at it again, says they’re disconnecting suresignal cause its not being used 😡, Nick on chats for the last two days trying to sort it. Other than that it was a very good day, Had video call with Kirstin. Found out new engine being dispatched Monday 😁. Posted Darren’s aurtohelm, got a monthly reduction in marina fees, whoohooo! Went to town beach, water too cold to go in for a swim. Got chicken and chips, Nick went for a drink on Ians boat, had an early night, wakened around 2, Nick locked out of marina, got up at 3, made tea.
31st October Cascais
Lazed about the boat mostly, other than re-suplying boat with water. Went out for an Indian meal in the evening. Watched UK Goverment briefing, England going into lock down again, Schools, Colleges, and Universities are to stay opened though, which does not make sense.