Offroading In A Motorhome!

OBIDOS.

Strange wandering in the night, I found myself wearing a dressing gown outside the van not knowing where I was. I can only assume that I was looking for the toilet.

Pleasingly, the crashing waves were relaxing not disturbing in the night. There was heavy overnight rain again and the skies continued grey this morning. So, we're in no rush to set off after breakfast. We need water so we head for the next aire in the book, at Praia de Quiaios. A bad move. The satnav sends us along roads which have deteriorated such that I rattle along at a maximum of 15 miles per hour. Then, we turn off along sandy lanes. The recent rains have left large puddles which we slip through. And then, we reach sand dunes with no exit so have to return to the rutted road. Exhausted at the end. To add insult to injury there was no water at the site! Commiserate with a coffee and a pastry in a local bakery. The staff look as miserable as we feel.

We next find services at Fugueira da Foz. This time we hit the jackpot. Water is free, LPG is available and diesel is the cheapest we've seen in Portugal. And, around the corner is a supermarket. Tomorrow is a Bank Holiday so we stock up with provisions.

There is a riverside site further along the motorway so we head for there. It provides us with our first view of the aftermath of Hurricane Lesley which hit Portugal a couple of weeks ago. We see much more of it as we travel south along the coastal roads because we decide the town has little to offer us. As we travel along, we see an old guy on a push bike holding a golfing umbrella in front of him. He couldn't possibly see in front of him.

Obidos is a walled hillside town. It's 5pm when we arrive and the light is fading. However, it means that our walk is illuminated and feels more authentic as a result.

Call for a drink in a local bar, Rosie has developed a liking for port. After a tawny one, which sermed more like a ruby, she tries a white one. This tastes delicious. It's obviously a tourist area. The prices are more in line with back home. People wander into the bar, chat and wander off again without buying a drink. It seems more of a social club. Except that an American couple arrive and ask what time the restaurant opens. The reply was roughly, now if you are staying! The guy chose fish and had to be shown how to eat an unfiltered one.