West, as usual = wet wet wet. + relatives.

"Goodness Tanya, wet it may be but we are not freezing cold and sat in 300mm of snow like in the UK."

This was said as once again we managed to reach Sadie just before the heavens opened up with the latest shower. The result, according to the weather forecasters, of the same changing weather patterns that are also viciously affecting the UK at present. I also know personally how vicious it is as my agent confirmed my new tenant is now safely installed despite 300mm of snow affecting the house on moving in day.

Despite the rain we have managed 3 days in a campsite at 'Quarteria' where, thanks to Sadie's generous 4.5m awning, some rope and the two sheets I carry, a good laundry was accomplished plus Tanya now smells and looks better.

For the first time too we witnessed and were harassed by the atypical 'English lout'. The afternoon was giving notice of brightening up with prospect of a pleasant evening. Out comes bike and off we go, for miles seeing as it is seafront promenade most of the way. 'Vilamoura' marina complete with it's line of floating plastic Millionaire yaghts is soon reached. As we slowly cycle round the busy touristy bars and restaurants a drunken voice rings out loud and clear. 

"hey, will ya getta fu****g look at this fu****g dog on rhe back of this fu****g prats fu****g bike!!"

 Whereupon about six of them piled out of the bar and began chasing after me accompanied by group rendering of various obscenities which have already been alluded too. The front was crowded. I could not speedily pedal out of harms way. Happily they were so drunk they could hardly stand never mind engage in vigorous pursuit.  I think a guy I passed walking with his family quietly tripped one of them up as when I looked back from a safe distance all I could see was a melee of drunken male bodies trying to extricate themselves from a heap of their own making. They did not resume the chase and probably could not even remember what they were chasing. I returned by another route. So sad though and made me ashamed to think they were from the same country as myself.

At present it is another wet, wet, wet evening in a park alongside other motorhomes overlooking the main beach at 'Sagres'. We 'spit tarmac' once we left the Quarteria campsite arriving here yesterday. We have visited ''Cabo Sao Vicente' the most South Westerly point on the European mainland. Very impressive with its sheer crumbling and very high cliffs the base of which are continually pounded by the relentless swell of the Atlantic. I could very well imagine how, in earlier times, this place was viewed as the end of the flat world.

Equally impressive were the Portuguese fishermen who perched atop the very edge of this 'end of the world'. With their long flexible rods they hauled fish out from the foaming fury hundreds of metres below them. I watched as one short, wiry, Mediterranian brown local hauled 3 good sized fish out in as many minutes. One nearly hit me as the wind caught his line plus accompanying wriggling and sparkling silvery fish and swung it way out behind him and right over my quickly ducked head.

A quiet meander along the delightful back roads of this Algarve coastline has brought us once again back to the golf resort of 'Vilamoura'  I will remain for a few days as My x brother in law Ian and his charming wife Aju have a villa in one of the Condominiuns here and Sadie is snuggled up to their hedge just outside their gate. They are regular visitors and a couple of very pleasant days have been passed in their company.

Watching the Skyfall James Bond movie on their big telly last night was a real treat. A wee (rather large 'wee' actually) whisky with it and I slept like a log last night. Mind you; rascal Tanya still woke me at half seven this morning wanting her early morning walk. Hmmmmm!!