S1.7 - A Seafaring Saga from Porto to Lisbon
June 8 - Docked Delights
Not much to report on June 8, mateys! Just a day filled with the thrilling activities of cleaning and shopping. Later on, 'the kids' treated us to a sushi dinner night – because nothing says high seas like raw fish on a plate.
Sushi Treat!
We are looking forward to... well, who knows? Maybe the excitement of folding laundry?
June 9 - Winding Through Porto
Exploration day in Porto! What a city! Winding streets that could leave you more lost than a sailor without a compass. You could spend weeks here in old town and see something new every day.
We indulged in Flame Grilled Portuguese Sausage right at our table, …
… embarked on wine tours at the WOW Center and Churchills (thanks, Mark!), and discovered the Burmester winery, a former jail turned into loveliness which we will certainly visit the next time we are out this way.
World of Wines Churchills Burmester
(WOW) Winery Winery
After a day of wandering, we took the cable car down the hill – because why use our legs when there's a cable car?
View from Cable Car
Then, we hired a most entertaining Rickshaw who toured us around for an hour. It was a lot of fun – maybe more fun than getting lost in the winding streets.
Porto - Santo Ildefonso
Porto - Vitória
PS: Happy 60th Birthday to my dear sister Della!
May your candles shine as bright as a lighthouse on a stormy night. xoxo
June 10 - Overnight Sail
Fueled at the mouth of the river in Porto, the same place we were touring yesterday. They have a really nice marina here. We will definitely choose to dock here when we come through with the 650.
Marina in Porto
Rest of the day was navigating through some pretty rough waters. This will be a long trip. That's all I've got to say about that, or my stomach might have more to say.
Wind: 3-13 KTS Swell: 08.-1.2 M Temp: 17-20 C Water Temp: 15 C
June 11 - Dolphin Serenade and Generator Woes
Ryan showed mercy, letting me sleep in after our epic struggle with the sea with my shift starting at 6am which was just in time for a couple of dolphin visits, an amazing sunrise, …
a little rain,and my First Rainbow! It was quite a peaceful morning.
However, soon after, generator issues arose, and it turns out certain relays (whatever those are) were forgotten to be installed at the boatyard. New plan: a maintenance team rendezvous in Aguadulce on June 19th, navigating the seas with a dash of urgency allowing for a sprinkle of Gibraltar exploration (coming up in next post).
The landscape coming into Cascais was breathtaking – a sight almost worth the turbulent seas.
Sporty docking with winds attempting to blow us off the dock – a dance only sailors truly understand. Boat cleanse completed, passerelle deployed – a day well spent before settling in for a rest.
First Time Using Lucky Enough’s Paccerelle
June 12 - A Day in Dock Heaven
A day to soak up the sun and ambiance in Cascais before setting sail once more. The sea calls, and we shall answer!
Join us next time for more sailing shenanigans and the never-ending quest for a fully functional generator.
Cascais at Night
June 13 - Departing with a Full Belly of Ribs and Fuel
Getting set to embark on the next leg of our journey, we indulged in the most delicious ribs, and played a delicate dance of docking as the wind tried to continuously blow us off. At 1:25 pm, we bid farewell to the secure embrace of the marina's fuel dock. As the clock struck 1:50 pm, with the main sail gracefully unfurling and engines silenced, a triumphant declaration echoed through the air - "Oh oh ohhhh ya!" exclaimed Ryan.
With the wind as our ally, we eagerly embraced the call of the sea, marking the beginning of our next maritime chapter.
Let the voyage continue with the rhythmic sway of the waves and the open horizon beckoning us forward.