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Sunday, July 31, 2016

Hike Sao Miguel Sete Cidades

0915 hrs Wednesday 27 July 2016, took a taxi from close to Ponta Delgada Marina to Empadadas - €20, arriving there at 0945 hrs.
 

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Walked through the gates to the Empadadas lakes
 

 
It was a very popular spot with several tour groups driving, walking around the beautiful lakes.

 
We then climbed along a wooded path to the Mirador above Lagoa do Eguas
 
View towards north coast of Sao Miguel from the Mirador
 

 
Lagoa Eguas
 
Views of the " Nine-Windowed Wall", an old aqueduct that used to transport water to Ponta Delgada.
 

 
Just before reaching the aqueduct we pass the start point for the PR4SMI - the Mata do Canario - Sete Cidades hike which we planned to follow
 

 

 

 
Our route left the main road and went steeply up a concrete track
 

 
Once at the top we started to get views of Sete Cidades
 

 

 
Had our picnic lunch sitting at the side of the trackout of the wind 
 
With super views through the gaps in the cloud
 
From here, our wide gravelly track took us round the lake on the top of the volcano ridge, with almost continuous superb views of the Sete Cidades lake and town on the left and the coast on the right.
 

 

 

 
Jeannette greeting the cows
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Some of the many hydrangeas en route
 

 
At around 1530 hrs we arrive in the village of Sete Cidades and pass by the church
 
Handy café
 
Caught the 1625 hrs nr 205 bus (arrived at 1640 hrs) back to Ponta Delgada after having had a thoroughly enjoyable 5 3/4 hr hike.


Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Sail Terceira to Sao Miguel 24 July 2016

The Grib files indicated that Sunday 24 July would be a good day for the 90 nMile sail from Praia da Vitoria on Terceira to Ponta Delgada on Sao Miguel
 
with the NEerly wind increasing as we would get closer
 
So at 0200 hrs we started getting the boat ready and by 0300 hrs we were motoring with the mainsail up out of the bay - the red arrow was our position at 0301 hrs .
It was a perfect night for a gentle start to our trip - the 2/3 rds moon was shining brightly with a light NNE2/3 Bft breeze
 
Sunrise starting at 0600 hrs
 
At 1020 hrs the wind had increased to a NNE 3/4 Bft and we tried sailing. However the wind became fickle and  were motor sailing again by 1215 hrs.
 
Soon however, the wind increased to a 4/5 Bft and we were able to sail the rest of the trip
 

 
Sao Miguel became clearly visible on the horizon when still over 20 nMiles awy
 
Getting closer
 

 
This photo was taken at the same time as the above screenshot - about 5 nMiles off the coast
 
Sailing about a mile off the coast. The last few miles of the trip, the wind increased to well over 20 knots and  very gusty 
 
At 2000 hrs 24/7/2016, Dutch Link was safely moored in Berth I-44 in Ponta Delgada's new marina. Red Arrow shows Dutch Link's position
 

 
Total trip 91.6 nautical Miles in 17 hrs - 6 hrs sailing, 11 hrs motoring

 
Views of Ponta Delgada