A pod of dolphins came alongside for a while, playing on the bow wave and occasionally jumping clear of the water. We are always delighted when we see dolphins, it's a privilege to sit on the bow and watch them playing in the water. Lilly has started getting very excited when she senses their presence, looking out of the saloon windows and begging to be allowed out on deck. After a magical sunset, we continued onwards into the darkness, with phosphorescence sparkling in our wake. Then the dolphins reappeared and we were treated to a memorable display, the phosphorescence sparkling behind them as they zoomed through the water - fantastic!
We rounded the southwest corner of Portugal as the wind increased and the seas became rougher, we were certainly glad to reach the safety of Lagos harbour and the marina.
Strong winds and breaking waves across the harbour entrance at Lagos delayed our departure for a couple of days, allowing us time to explore the town. We then headed east along the Algarve and anchored for a night at Portimao, arriving just in time to watch the sunset over the harbour entrance.
With shorter distances between suitable ports we we were able to enjoy more day sailing along the Algarve. Our next trip took us towards Faro, where we found a sheltered anchorage near the Ila Culatra. We spent an afternoon exploring the sandy island, where tractors are the only transport!
We continued east along the Algarve to the Rio Guadiana which forms the border between Portugal and Spain. We had heard the river was 'not to be missed', so planned to spent a few days exploring upstream. We found quiet pontoons and remote anchorages, with friendly locals and excellent bird watching along the river banks. The warm climate was evident by large cacti and numerous orange trees, with goats grazing on the surrounding arid hillsides.
