Cascais

Sunday 21st October

We spend the morning on Octopus trying to locate a noise that is disturbing Katy and Justin. It turns out a fan in one of the converters has suddenly got noisier and turning it off then on seems to solve the problem. In the afternoon we walk to the local beach and the children go swimming and play in the sand. I am persuaded to go in the water up to my thighs and return to the beach pretty fast, the water here is very cold, warmer then Arran, but I still need to go further South before I go up to my neck!!
On returning to Octopus we find Wandering Dragon just mooring up next to us. It’s good to see them again and we invite them over later for soup, fresh rolls and a bottle of wine.

Monday 22nd October

A good day for trying out the Kayaks, we get one of them set up and the children take it in turns paddling up and down the marina until they are told water sports are not permitted. Not to perturbed they go back to their new favoured pass time ‘fishing’ only to be told that’s not permitted either. The one poor ‘Pig fish’ that was already caught and taking up most of a bucket was reluctantly released. We spent the afternoon in town investigating an enormous hyper market to replenish our fresh supplies.

Tuesday 23rd October

The children spend the morning with their paints making birthday presents for Lizzie and Katy who both have their birthdays in the next few days.
We got the rib in the water, but as Octopus is moored very near the stern we decided to take the rib between the two hulls. Susie says she has already been under Octopus in the rib at Bridport so this seems a better idea then moving all the warps. I get in the rib and decided more weight is needed so Chris climbs in follow by four children who all want in on the fun. I decide we can’t fit, Chris decides he will push anyway…..Ann and Stephen from Wandering Dragon arrive with a camera to take photo’s of their mad neighbours who are stuck under their catamaran in a now half inflated rib. Needless to say we managed to get out once we stopped laughing. Susie then tells us she never went all the way through!!

Once re-inflated and the outboard in place the children loaded the rib with body-boards, fins and snorkels and we went to the beach. At the beach we meet up with a nice couple with three children aged eight months to about three and a half, who are travailing out to the Caribbean too. It rained!! It’s the first time since we got Octopus that we have been rained on…..I have to add it didn’t last long, not like at home.