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Monday, August 23, 2010
Las Palmas 23 August 2010
Have not done much sightseeing since arriving here - we have been more involved with getting the boat ready to be left on its own for a few weeks. Fly to Bristol 24 August to see family and friends in UK and Holland. So blog unlikely to be updated till end of September.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Sail Madeira to Gran Canaria 16 to 18 August 2010
After filling up the diesel tanks we left smoke covered Funchal, Madeira at 09.30 am Monday 16 August. After a few miles we left the wind shadow of the island and the wind picked up to a steady NNE 5 beaufort, a perfect wind for our trip to the Canaries.
With just one reef in the main, Dutch Link was easily making 8 knots SOG on a broad reach. However, as we only needed 6 knots to reach Las Palmas by daybreak 48 hours later, we decided to take the strain off the boat, the crew and the autopilot and put in a second reef and partly furled Genny. By 0930 the next morning we passed the Selvagem group of rocky islets which, in the past, has claimed many wrecks.
Our invaluable AIS once more proved its worth as we crossed the busy channel between Gran Canaria and Tener
At 0930 Wednesday morning we
More Madeira
During our stay in Madeira, we visited the old Blandy Wine Lodge - one of the places where the famous Madeira fortified wine is still made.
The island must provide one of the most challenging circuits in the world - most of the roads
A straight stretch of road more than 100 meters long is hard to find except on the relatively recent expressways which tunnel their way through the mountains.
Everyday we passed a restaurant at the side of the marina whose centrepiece is a yacht which used to belong to the Beatles pop group.
Had a lunch (had Espada, the sharp toothed deep water fish which looks like a black baracuda and is very popular in Madeira) in the
Several small fishing boats were hauled out on the slipway with fish hanging on lines to dry in the sun and wind.
To the west of the port are the 580 metre high cliffs of Cabo Girao, reputed to be the second highest cliffs in the world (Norway holds the record).
Several butcher's stalls provided the favourite dish Espetada, skewered chunks of prime beaf.
After purchasing, one barbequed one's espetada over wood fires.
Before making the pilgrimage to the church up the 74 decorated
The vendor had devised an ingenious way of making money out of
Friday, August 13, 2010
Madeira on Fire, Friday 13 August 2010
We are told that t
The sun appeared as a small red orb through the smoke.
Dutch Link is beginning to be covered in black wood ash / charcoal.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Madeira Wicker Sledges Monte, Funchal 7 Aug 2010
One of the tourist attractions in Funchal is to take a ride in a wicker sledge from the hillside village of Monte towards Funchal, a distance of 4 kms which takes about 20 minutes. The sledges were introduced in 1850 as a convenient way to descend to Funchal.
Click on bottom left arrow to start video:-
At the end of the ride, the sledges are loaded onto a truck to bring them back to the start.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Madeira Hike Pico Grande 1 August 2010
I (Mike) caught the 0710 hrs bus 96 from just outside marina here in Funchal to Jardim da Serra then walked 3 kms up a steep road to the carpark at Boca Corrida.
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From here one is rewarded by a superb view of the sounding mountains and the village of Curral das Freiras nestled 600 meters lower in the valley below.
Unfortunately, Pico Grande, the objective of the hike was covered in cloud and cloud could be seen pouring over the ridges into the C d Feiras valley
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Click on bottom left arrow to start video clip
Also there was a tape stretched across the path and a notice in several languages warning hikes not proceed any further - all in all not a very encouraging start.
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However, having slaved for an hour up a somewhat boring road and with the local weather being fine, decided to continue and find out why the path had been closed.
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About a half hour later found that the only problem was two small landslides which had damaged part of the trail. In weather this could have been treacherous, but everythin
g was dry and it seemed stable enough to continue.
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Partridge
As Pico Grande was a
pproached, the cloud started to lift and so decided to hike to the top of the 1654 metre peak from which had great panoramic views.
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Part of the path scrambles over steep rock but is well protected with a fixed steel cable.
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The trail then descends steeply at times to Cural das Freiras often through Chestnut tree woods.
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On the way down, my knee started to be painful - have not been able to walk without pain for the following week - I think a common problem here in beautiful, mountainous Madeira.
Caught the 81 bus back to Funchal.
From here one is rewarded by a superb view of the sounding mountains and the village of Curral das Freiras nestled 600 meters lower in the valley below.
Unfortunately, Pico Grande, the objective of the hike was covered in cloud and cloud could be seen pouring over the ridges into the C d Feiras valley
Click on bottom left arrow to start video clip
Also there was a tape stretched across the path and a notice in several languages warning hikes not proceed any further - all in all not a very encouraging start.
However, having slaved for an hour up a somewhat boring road and with the local weather being fine, decided to continue and find out why the path had been closed.
About a half hour later found that the only problem was two small landslides which had damaged part of the trail. In weather this could have been treacherous, but everythin
Partridge
As Pico Grande was a
Part of the path scrambles over steep rock but is well protected with a fixed steel cable.
The trail then descends steeply at times to Cural das Freiras often through Chestnut tree woods.
On the way down, my knee started to be painful - have not been able to walk without pain for the following week - I think a common problem here in beautiful, mountainous Madeira.
Caught the 81 bus back to Funchal.
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