July 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th

Colin and Alison came walking up the pontoon in mid-afternoon. After arriving at Faro airport a shuttle bus brought them to Lagos. In the evening we went into town for a meal. The following day, the 9th, we motored along the caves just west of Lagos before slowly sailing the few miles back to Alvor. This time we anchored by the entrance for a few hours before moving close to the town in the early evening. We then had supper by the water front. Grilled sardines are the local speciality but I opted for chops. In the morning we took the dinghy ashore and walked along the dunes and then back via the beach. We then motored out of the lagoon and sailed the few miles to Portimao. Here we anchored just inside the harbour entrance. In the evening we took the long journey ashore to a great seafood restaurant. Colin went once again for sardines while the rest of us had other fresh grilled fish. Today (11th) we had a delightful sail for 20 miles down the coast. Some of it was wonderful, pristine and undeveloped. Most of it had concrete blocks which periodically blossomed into a group of concrete towers. We're now in Vilamoura, a brash marina surrounded by shops and restaurants and flats, gaudy and ghastly and grotesque. We plan to leave tomorrow.