Time in Portimao was quite pleasant. Back to civilisation, almost like the UK, all foods available with our friendly market stall holders who remembered us from the spring. As it was the tail end of the season there were plenty of tourists in Praia de Rocha—without the noise late at night (and no Shearwaters to wake us up !)
A job list was finalised and the long toll began. The Staysail was checked and packed ready to take to Canvas Mike for minor re-enforcements. The offending guardrail was removed ready for the rigger. At this point Our dear friends Anton & Denise turned up to take us for lunch! Wow what a treat we combined a full blow (The Thai mint and coconut dressing was so good with the Prawns that I asked for it with my LAMB chops ( yes lamb after almost a year without !)out with a pleasant walk to view Denises favourite windmill and returned home happy and replete.
Our next visitor was Simon who had returned from Spain a day early and noticed we were around. It being Friday he suggested Pappa Jorges and then a classical concert in town. Jobs then overrun and dinner was needed before a late night concert so Pappa Jorges held over ‘til next week. The Concert was superb (as usual) and we were joined by some new friends for a nightcap afterwards.
Sometime here we realized that we could no longer ignore the fridge/freezer problem . We asked the American long term residents Bill & Marylyn who the could recommend and set about fixing an appointment. Meanwhile Malcolm had googled a sewing machine mechanic who lives in Lagosh to come and fiddle with it. Another Ex-Pat who really had a feel for his work. He was very impressed with the mechanical changes (motor) and bobbin winder which had been done in the past. Only a very minor adjustment was needed to the bobbin mechanism and it was behaving as it should. After making some new hatch covers to match the new Bimini I now realize why Jerry said that the Top-Gun material was so hard to work with.
It was good to catch up with the Follies over dinner (& I managed to use up some more meat before it went off) they have spent the summer doing their 10 year service and are almost ready to go back in the water.
Another walk around a Barragem (in blazing hot sun) with Anton & Denise followed by dinner in another mountain Hamlet on the way up to Monchique. Traditional Portugese 'Wild Boar'. To the chirping of a large Parrot - see Picasa.
While rechecking the joints on the loo system we also checked the bilge and found that the automatic pump had been left of (during generator repairs). Next we needed an obscure item from a locker and eek discovered a leak ! From the hot water pipe …(whatever next you ask…) so off went the water pump and I set about drying bits which had got wet. Meanwhile we searched the spreadsheet to see if we had items to fix the problem. YES good ‘ol Yan HAD thought of everything. We found a hose connector and new piping and a repair was soon made! Phew!
The job list got shorter and shorter and still no sign of a fridge mechanic so we called another chap who assessed the situation and scratched his head before adding some more gas and taking many readings (pressure and temperature) He returned a day later and flushed the system to replace said gas with some from his own supply. Yes this worked and the system is now ready for filling again.
Meanwhile Anton & Denise had been trying to phone us and couldn’t so had made a surprise visit for lunch and another walk. It was a cool day and far better for walking which this time took us to Alvor and a traditional Portuguese Restaurant. Followed by a long walk to the harbour entrance. On the way we are pretty sure that we spied the ’Flying fish’ at anchor but too far out to shout a greeting. Back along the beach and as the photo (© Anton) shows a washed up polythene bag (NOT)
So today being Friday and the main jobs finished it is time to start looking at the weather and conditions for Rabat. The Follies are being re-launched today and they think the wind is good for South. I write this before I really know but am anticipating leaving tomorrow so wanted to get the blog and pictures done for this stopover.
9 NB self -Must remember the OOO setting on the email...)
