Surreal surroundings

I have seldom encountered a Marina that tries harder to make visitors welcome than Quinta do Lorde. We were met outside the Marina by a rib which showed us to our berth and took our lines. The young lady in the office was most accommodating offering advice and giving us a voucher for 15% discount in the bars and restaurants (as visiting yachtsmen) and a 30% discount for ARC participants. The facilities were excellent and with a supermarket and several bars and restaurants what could be wrong with the place? Well, it is a little strange.

It is a purpose built Hotel, Resort & Marina complex which has been quite nicely designed to incorporate some ‘olde worlde charm’ as a coastal village but the periphery is neglected and unoccupied. The location is well removed from any other conurbation being out on a limb at the far eastern point of the island and, unfortunately a surge finds its way in and I understand it doesn’t need much for the entrance to be untenable. For us though, it was a very welcome refuge!

We had the obligatory dirty beer on arrival followed by jobs, lunch and a shower. A late afternoon walk took us around the complex, returning to the marina for an early evening meal alongside the dock, watching the yachts surge back and forth.

Returning to the yacht we all enjoyed a game of dominoes before turning in for what should have been a quiet night but sleep had to overcome the symphony of creaking warps.

Stephen writes:-

After the 500 miles passage I am glad to report that I did not fall down at anybody’s door and most disconcerting was my disequilibrium on going ashore, I had to resist the urge to get back onto a moving platform. The village around the marina is a Portuguese version of Port Merion and very pretty for it, even if most of the houses have yet to be sold. None of us took the opportunity to go into the `I am not a number…` speech( clue `The Prisoner`)and we did spot some golf buggies. We are soon to set sail and will be on the look-out for menacing white spheres.

The crew remain in A1 condition and the skipper`s great toe has not caused any further concern.

Bob writes:-

I should like to make it quite clear that my reference to ‘massive passage’ in yesterday’s blog should in no way be misconstrued as a reference to any one person’s alimentary canal, although other members of the crew’s union have been heard to mutter something about what they might like to insert in the skipper’s! Thoughtfully, they have restrained themselves and the skipper continues to walk normally!

Barry writes:-

Barry says he can’t find his reading glasses!

So, jobs done, it’s ashore for the final provisioning, a hearty breakfast and ablution before slipping lines and heading off on the 300nm passage towards the Canaries.