Lisboa & Esperil/Cascais

Before leaving Murtosa I had a lesson with Boris. I'd suggested headsets would be a good idea since I'm quickly to far from the instructor to hear what they say. Adriano went one better and sent me up to Bestida with instructor Boris in the rib. Not having to worry about how far I had drifted was great fun, just keep going, Boris followed in the rib with instructions. Even with no concern over where I was, I still have trouble gong upwind, I just don't feel the resistance of the board against the pull through the harness. Even though we started at Bestida, I had drifted well past the school.

It was sad to leave Murtosa and head south to Lisbon, but not before getting out on the water for a last time. The wind was light and it was nearing high tide and I had to work the 12m kite hard to maintain enough speed for the board to stay afloat. Still, I'm determined to get as much time on the water as I can, so marginal conditions are part of it.

Here are Sergio and Mercedes leaving to go back to Madrid and Rose and Adriano (centre) who run Clube Nortada

Off to Lisbon

Google gave the 280km trip 3 plus hours and I left around 18:00. I wasn't expecting to arrive until around 22:30, the bus doesn't go that fast. This was one of the longest single trips I have done and I made Lisbon pretty much on time with no problems, the engine stayed cool. I used the toll roads and apparently failed to take a ticket going instead through the transducer lane. The guy on the exit booth threatened me with a Euro 70 fine but relented suggesting I should always take the right hand lane. Taking this advice at the next toll I found myself diverted off the motorway. I then took a wrong turn at the round-a-bout and the next 2hrs disappeared without trace! Anyway I get the bus parked up around midnight

Lisbon

In the morning it's a walk along the front Monte Estoril/Cascais and a local restaurant for dinner.

Saturday Lisboa by train. The line runs from Cascais along the coast, very cool. We find somewhere for lunch and then I take the tour tram. It's a slow odd journey, I can't work out who has right of way, pedestrians/tram/cars - I think. It's also no hopping off and back on again, so I didn't get to explore as much as would have liked.

Santa Maria Maior King Joseph I Praca do Comercio

Saturday 6th July I'm in the Irish pub in Cascais to watch England play Switzerland in the Euro footee. I find myself on a table with New Zealanders and South Africans watching Ireland play away to South Africa on the screen behind me. This was way more interesting and the crack was good too.

Sunday I'm on the road again heading south to Costa de Caparica, specifically Praia de Nova Vaga.