Algares = Potholes in Sandstone Cliffs

Our return to Lagos proved a good move. Contacts in the Ocean Cruising Club quickly led me to the right man to sort out the chartplotters. Slowly and methodically they were brought back to life. Now they needed testing. We had to go sailing. We tried them under sail, under engine. We tried them with the radar on, and off. All seemed good. As a reward we popped into Portimao, and dropped the hook.



The river is big enough for small cruise liners to visit, and most of their passengers stay in Portimao, or visit the long sandy beach at Praia de Rocha. We headed for the sleepy east bank, to Ferragudo.



With the fishermen’s blessing we tied the dinghy at the side of the slip, between their boats, and stood watching, fascinated as they mended their nets on the quay, before meandering up the narrow cobbled backstreets to the church, then on along the cliff tops. As the sun slowly dipped the sandstone cliffs shone gold, amber, and ruby red. Surfers caught the rolling surf, and we caught a sundowner at the bar on the beach, our toes nestling in the warm sand.



More sea-trials followed. All works well –such a relief.