So Juliao, Portugal

This morning as the sun rose, we thanked the German for forcing us to move, as we think we may have ended up with the best view on the park up.

From our raised roof a clear view of the beach, cleansed overnight by the pounding Atlantic waves. Beside us were two vans from Finland. A man from one returned from an early morning surf. Removed his wetsuit and wrapped a towel around himself. Angela glanced across at him just as he raised his right leg to dry himself. Not sure who was more shocked. Him or Angela.

A first for us today, using a toll road. We've always avoided them, but wanting to travel a little faster we decided to use the one to Lisbon. Along the way we observed many white storks nesting on pylons supporting power lines.

We love seeing these birds, and seeing them in group like this was fascinating. On the approach to Lisbon the road crosses the Targus river estuary.

The bridge you drive over it on is sixteen miles long. Of course it was windy. No fun in the drive otherwise! By lunchtime we'd arrived at the beach car park at Sao Juliao.

Our arrival brought back happy memories from six years ago when we spent two nights here. The sea, with a strong westerly wind behind it, still in its winter state rolled, swirled, foamed and roared as it pounded the shore line. At times we had to beat a hasty retreat as we walked on the sand.

The beach car park is busy tonight with vans. There are quite a few younger people here and everyone is friendly.

A real plus for us, pizza available to take out from the beach restaurant. Yes please.

As lovely as they were, another walk was required this evening, and why not when there's another stunning sunset to witness. We watched it until the big gold sun hung over the horizon before finally slipping away.

Sines, Portugal

The English couple on the aire with us last night we think were living in another world to us. Staying on the aire they considered it to be wild camping. Yeh, right. With public toilets and showers nearby in the village. Talking of the showers. The doors were half covered louvre doors. In the ladies some of the wooden slats were missing. And there was no lock. That aside, a hot shower is a hot shower, and a free one at that. It was only half seven in the morning, in a tiny village in the Portuguese hills, so the chance of anyone walking in was minimal. After a very quick wash, Angela stepped back outside into the cobbled street. 'Bom dia', an elderly man in the traditional checked shirt, sleeveless cardigan and flat cap greeted her. Was he the culprit who'd adjusted the louvre doors? Back to the English couple. They've owned their van a year, and wondered where the waste water went when they drained their sink. Might want to empty your black water waste tank! After yesterday's long drive we decided it was time for Margery to take it a little easier.

So we took a slow drive over the hills back towards the coast to Sines where we've stayed before. Sines is on the edge of the South West Alentejo and Vincentine National Park. Stopping overnight in a van in the natural park isn't allowed, and the only available park up is by the power station on the edge of the park.

 We arrived at lunchtime, and now the place is full, with lots of vans having to move on. Where to, we don't know. Today is a bank holiday in Portugal, and every man, woman and their van is on the road. We thought Margery had bagged a great spot.

But the German who was parked opposite us in a very large motorhome covered in solar panels didn't seem to like us being across from him. He was a real poser. Moving his camp chair around to follow the sun. Behind his mirrored sunglasses we couldn't tell if he was watching us or not. And then the drum and base music started up. We really are a magnet to these people! To add to our frustrations our gas bottle ran out just as we were about to cook dinner. And to add to our stresses, Angela noticed our registration for Portuguese toll roads had the wrong vehicle registration number on it. That's now sorted after a phone call. What would happen next! As luck would have it a couple of the vans left around eight, and we were able to move.

Now we're on the front line of the parking area with a 20 mph wind due tonight. We're passed caring, tired from our early alarm from last night's cockerel, and our walk on the white sand beach opposite with beautiful flora and fauna amongst the dunes.

A beautiful sunset tonight over the port though helped to calm us. Tomorrow we are heading for an early start in the hope of securing a spot at another place we visited last time we were here. No doubt it will be busy on this bank holiday weekend.

Alferse, Portugal

Up before sunrise John was able to photograph the sunrise. The silent cranes on the dockside adding to a great photograph.

 Today we would be leaving Southern Spain and crossing the border into Portugal. First Margery had to negotiate us out of Seville. We had a long drive ahead of us, the dual carriageway that we sped along was quiet, but heavily potholed which made for a hazardous drive.

The sun up, we soon began to feel the heat of the day, and when we stopped at a service area for lunch it was 27c. 

Coincidentally there was a VW van similar to ours already parked. The owner, a Swiss lady asked if we'd been on the aire at Seville last night. Yes. She thought we had.

Our chosen site for tonight was up in the Sierra De Monchique above Albuferia on the Algarve. We stayed here six years ago and had fond memories of the aire and village of Alferse. Almost at our destination John noticed reviews of the aire seemed to put in doubt whether it was still open. Angela truly hot and bothered by now thought it best just to find a nearby campsite, which there fortunately was close by. The drive to it however was interesting. A rough unmade road, at one point flooded under a railway bridge. Angela hesitated. Margery hesitated. Were we really going to drive through water the colour of milky coffee. How deep could it be? Luckily for us a man appeared who was in charge of operating a pump and guided us through. But the fun didn't end there. Up steep narrow inclines, Margery's tyres slipping on the loose road surface. Hot and bothered Angela gritted her teeth knowing a nice warm shower awaited. Or perhaps not. The small, adult only site was Dutch owned. Two people wanting to stay one night, sorry no. Minimum stay two nights. Why exactly? Before leaving we asked if there was a better road out. Yes, slightly better, but it would take us four miles to reach the main road. Needless to say, we chanced our arm and headed up and over the heady heights of the Sierra De Monchique. Temperature now 29c. Stress levels even higher. Thankfully the aire was open.

There were three vans already there, and just after we arrived another English registered VW transporter van the same colour as ours arrived. In all the time we've been away we've seen very few English people. And today like buses, two arrive at the same time.

The aire is set by a lemon grove. In an adjacent garden chickens scratch, and a cockerel does what cockerels do best. Going to be an early alarm call we think. Thankful, there are no Spanish here, so all should be calm overnight. Tired from a disturbed night last night and the long day travelling in the heat, we took a walk out to the nearby Passadico do Barranci do Demo.

A boardwalk either side of a river with a suspension bridge connecting the two side. Of course Angela declined the invitation to actually cross the bridge. Well someone has to take the photos don't they?

Today started with a beautiful sunrise, and ended with a similar sunset.