Sunday 28th to Tuesday 30th July

We left the marina at 14:33 just after low tide in order to catch the flood up the river. I held my breath as we passed under the road bridge. Looking up it looked as though the top of the mast must touch the bridge. When we got to Alcoutim/Sanlucar there was no room on the pontoons on either side, so we anchored. We took the dinghy to the Portuguese side for a drink and ate on the boat. During the night we swung back and forth with the current but seemed very secure. On the Monday a space opened up on the pontoon on the Portuguese side and we hurriedly pulled up the anchor and went for it before anyone else noticed. We looked round the town and stocked up in the Chinese store. Kennan was keen to have sardines so we had lunch in a restaurant. Sadly sardines were off but he consoled himself with chicken and chips. We then walked to the fluvial beach. The evening was fairly typical; drinks ashore and then food in the cockpit. We got chatting to some in the local community who are a 'rum' bunch whatever that means. Our guests left early on the 30th with a transfer direct to Seville airport from the top of the pontoon. We're not giving up a valuable space on the pontoon so will stay until tomorrow. While it was still relatively cool we had a walk. Later on we tidied up and gave the boat a good clean.