Thurs 22nd April 2021 Lagos
Feeling refreshed after a great night’s sleep. Nick and l went for a walk, over the bridge, along the front past the river we entered, and to the beaches we passed on the way in, absolutely beautiful.
Fri 23rd April 2021 Lagos
Had a terrible night. Kept getting mozzie’s in the forepeak. Nick climbing the walls with itchy bites, wakened twice, my arm all swollen with the bites. Still awake at 5am. Both of us feeling awful all day, l had to lay down at one point, as was feeling awful sick.
Sat 24th April 2021 Lagos
A better sleep last night. Went up the town alone to find the vape shop. Was closed, opening hours on door were Mon to Fri, will come back Monday.
Sun 25th April 2021 Lagos
Went on an afternoon explore to the other beaches further up with Freja. Spectacular views, Nick and l went swimming, very big waves, no good for snorkeling.
Mon 26th April 2021 Lagos
Nick and l went a wander up the town, l needed to go for fluid to the vape shop, Nick wanted to go to the meo shop. Vape shop shut till 6th May, no other vape shop in Lagos 😯. Nick managed to find one opened in Albufeira, got fluid ordered to be delivered, said would be posted tommorow, should arrive Wed.
Tues 27th April 2021 Lagos
You don’t want to know what happened today. I’m very low.
Wed 28th April 2021 Lagos
Had a shower, vape fluid (two bottles) ordered from vape shop in Albafera arrived around 2pm. Found out tonight from Mum Maureen was taken into hospital yesterday. Headaches, nausea, chills, and aches not going away since she got second jab. She is on a drip, waiting a CT scan, don’t know any more. Phoned Margaret, she was was taken into hospital yesterday as well, Pleurisy, got out today.
Thurs 29th April 2021 Lagos
Angela got back to me. Said when Maureen got bloods taken on Mon at gp practice, they phoned next morning (Tues) to say bloods abnormal and sent her to clinical assesment at hospital for more tests, she was obviously admitted, they said her kidneys were struggling a bit, been on drip, keep taking bloods, done xrays, scans etc. Kidneys have improved enough so they’re doing CT today at 1.20. Freja left today. We took her to the train station, she was getting a train to Olhao to meet up with her friend Mika. Went to the lighthouse bar in the marina for Tapas. Phoned Tony in evening to see how Maureen was, no CT results yet, but she is to get an MRI tomorrow for head and neck, no more news.
Fri 30th April 2021 Lagos
Beautiful warm day, went snorkeling in the afternoon.
Sat 1st May 2021 Lagos
Nick took up the laundry. Phoned Tony again, scan results clear, Angela told Anne hospital told Maureen she had AKD, acute kidney damage.
Sun 2nd May 2021 Lagos
Did a big load of shopping, leaving tomorrow to go to Alvor.
Mon 3rd May 2021 Lagos to Alvor
12 days spent here in Lagos, time to leave. Left at 1.10pm, bobbed about outside the bay to each lunch, Prawns, crusty bread, and salad. Sailed very, very slowly most of the way. Arrived Alvor 5.10pm and anchored, very calm night. Anne phoned. Apparently Margaret had to be taken back to hospital again due to the pain. She was sent home with morphine and told to go to RAH tomorrow at 8.30.
Tues 4th May 2021 Alvor to Culatra
Up at 7am to leave for Culatra, raised anchor and managed to be away by 7.50. Not much wind, had to motor most of the way, got sailing the last three hours. Arrived Cultra about 6pm. Phoned Margaret, she was at hospital today, waiting on CT scan, told me hospital not happy with Maureen’s BP, not doing what it should be doing, low during day, high during night.
Wed 5th May 2021 Culatra
Anchor alarm went off twice, we looked ok in relation to distance from other boats. Nick always worries about anchor dragging. Two anchored boats gone in morning, our position looked fine. Blew up dingy, went ashore, explored round the little island town, had a beer, went to beach and had a swim. Got ice and back to boat for mussels, and salmon with philadelphia on oatcakes, dingy had deflated at front.
Thurs 6th May 2021 Culatra
Lovely day at the beach. Last night in Culatra.
Fri 7th May 2021 Culatra to Rio Guadiana
Our big trip today to go up the Guadiana. Left Culatra 7.15am. Got some sailing in. Going under that bridge was scary. Arrived at Guarreiros do Rio at? Disaster rafting alongside another boat. Three boats on pontoon, another two rafted on end ones, we were to raft alongside middle one. Nick wanted to go in side ways, but everyone there insisted on rafting to end one, and they would move us along, didn’t go smoothly, a few hairy moments. Had a shower at Nick’s friends, Andy and Sally. Had soup in evening at Andy and Sally’s. Stayed two nights. No phone signal here, but eventually got an Internet signal.
Sat 8th May 2021 Guarreiros do Rio.
Went a walk along to the next town Laranjeiras, had a bite of lunch in the Guadibar on the riverbank, grilled pork pieces, and fresh orange juice. Then went a walk up, and over the hill with fantastic views. Leaving tomorrow, going further down the river to Alcoutim.
Sun 9th May Guarreiros do Rio to Alcoutim.
Left around lunch time, motoring with tide, Nick noticed speed was slower than it should have been. Arrived Alcoutim just after 1, alongside pontoon. Met a lovely couple on a motor cruiser, Steven and Aya. Went for a meal with them, but everything was closed. I heated the rest of the veg stew, made stir fried rice with fish and spices, and potatoes, we ate it on Stevens boat.
Mon 10th May 2021 Alcoutim.
Nick discovered one of the new engine mounts had broke, disaster. Spent the next few days getting it sorted, with Andy’s help, temp fix to get us to Bruce’s yard. New engine mounts to be made, Andy said they were shocking. Invited to Paul and Maura’s for meal this evening, had a fantastic night! What a lovely couple.
Tues 11th May 2021 Alcoutim
Steven gave us a dingy ride over to the little Spanish Town on the other side of the river. Walked up to the old windmills, and a wander round the town, everything was closed but found one pub opened to get a chilled beer, two shops also opened, so we got Spanish beer. Evening meal at beach bar with Steven and Aya.
Wed 12th May 2021 Alcoutim
Nick went a walk round town with Steve and Aya. I stayed on boat, heat getting to me, went for drink with them when they got back.
Thurs 13th May 2021 Alcoutim
Went a trip over river with Steve and Aya, then evening meal at beach bar again with them.
Fri 14th May 2021 Alcoutim
Steve an Aya left. Went for a wander around town, Nick wanted to find a river path, couldn’t find it. Nick went up to the ruined Fort, l waited at the bottom, too hot, and struggling.
Sat 15th May 2021 Alcoutim
Last night in Alcoutim. Ate out in the evening. Early night as up early to leave.
Sun 16th May 2021 Alcoutim to Guadiana entrance
L eft Alcoutim 09.20, anchored just North of the Guadiana bridge at 12.30pm for an early start of the final trip back round to Alcoutim tomorrow. Started blowing a hooly after anchoring, boat kept going round in circles, eventually settled down.
Mon 17th May Guadiana to Culatra
Up just after six, feel awful, couldn’t get to sleep last night, think worried about anchor dragging as wind was forecast to be even stronger, it was fine, and boat very stable and comfortable. Left Guadiana 7.25am, arrived Culatra 3.40pm, anchored.
Tues 18th May 2021 Culatra
Blew up dingy to go ashore. Had lunch in a cafe, beach and swim, stocked up some stuff from shop, then went for a meal before heading back to boat.
Wed 19th May 2021 Culatra to Faro
Left Culatra heading to Faro, anchoring overnight to be lifted out tomorrow. Ran aground on a sandbank (should have gone round that green boy). Managed to pull our selves off by taking the spare anchor out in the dingy, but lost anchor and rope.
Thurs 20th May 2021 Faro
Was led into yard through the shallows. Lifted out with hoist, boat very clean, no growth, just thin layer of slime. Nick booked flight home and Covid tests. Leaving next Weds.
Fri 21st May 2021 Faro
Nick removed the propeller to take measurements of the taper for the new propeller, Paddy who lives aboard here helped him. Kirstin video called, took her round the boatyard, and the water front to see where we were. Later Nick and l went for a walk down to the water front, watched the fish jumping, then went for a walk round the boatyard.
Sat 22nd May 2021 Faro
Got the train to Olhao to go out on Steve’s motor yacht, Aya was away shopping. Steve took us to the beautiful little island of Ilha da Armona. Went a wander round the island, then had a lovely meal in Aroma 4, lovely restaurant overlooking the bay. Steve gave us a run back to the boatyard. After coming through the gate, Nick realised he had left his phone in Steve’s car, Steve’s number was only on his phone, so couldn’t contact him, also all our documents, including flights, Covid tests etc were on the phone. Nick got the train back to Olhao to try and get his phone. Was very lucky he met Aya right at the marina gate, panic over, phone retrieved, and got last train back to Faro 🙄.
Sun 23rd May 2021 Faro
Steve and Aya came to the boatyard. Went into the old town of Faro and had a cooked breakfast at the marina. Met Paddy from Conachair (in the boatyard), and John who Nick knew from YBW.com forum, but had never met. Went and met them for a drink after eating, Steve and Aya left after a drink, last time we’ll see them till we’re back in Portugal.
Mon 24th May 2021 Faro
Went to Faro Airport to get Covid tests before flying home on Wed. Waited almost two hours in the queue 😳.
Tues 25th May 2021 Faro
Our last day in Portugal. Went a walk up the old Town of Faro. Bought souvenires for Kirstin, Callum, Katie, and Kaden. Got hussled by a young English guy, gave ua a sob story about getting his passport and money stolen. Wanted a hundred euros from us to pay for a new one for him, aye, right.
Wed 26th May 2021 Faro to Scotland
9.30am flight home, from Faro to Edinburgh). There were only five people on the plane (including us)! Jeff and Zelia collected us from the airport, and drove us home, got back to Seil around 5pm.