We are here in Lagos, Portugal - October 3rd

Sorry I didn't get this posted earlier, but we are safely settled into the marina in Lagos, Portugal.  We had a fabulous day yesterday, Oct 2nd with great winds and with a hull speed averaging at 6 knots.  The sun was out and we knew this was our final day before reaching land.  About 4PM we were welcomed to the Portuguese coast by a pod of dolphin.  They gave us a great show for about 15 minutes - what a treat going under the boat and jumping all around us.  Just a few minutes later we could see the coast of Portugal.  What a welome!  Just because we could see the coast however did not mean that we were getting to land soon as that happened around 4:15PM and we didn't arrive into port until 1:30AM.  The seas calmed down as we were coming into the harbor which was helpful and we had a beautiful full, orange moon to guide us in - what else could you ask for!!

 

As soon as we got tied up to the reception dock we got some sleep - we couldn't believe how calm it was and how the boat didn't move at all as the marina is located up a river and away from the movement of the ocean.  Hard to believe the boat could be so still. 

 

This morning, October 3rd we had another treat in being able to see our friends, Kay and Dan from Ithaca - we had been hoping that it would work out to see each other and it did - we are so pleased.  Again, another great way to come into a country.  We went out to lunch with them which was a treat as it was definitely more than a one pot meal that we have been eating on the crossing.  Getting together again tonight as they leave this area to explore more of Portugal.  We will then take our time to explore Lagos and get some of the basics done like laundry and turning the boat back into a home for the time that we will be here. 

 

We will be returning to our regular blog and will not use this one again until another long crossing which won't be until next year.  We will be here in Portugal until mid-December when we will be flying back to the US for 3 months.  We are looking forward to getting a chance to seeing some of you when we do. 

 

Take care and best wishes to you all from both of us!  Hard to believe that we are finally on mainland Europe and got here by our own sailboat - quite amazing if we do say so ourselves!