Thursday 30 Sept Sao Martinho to Peniche

 Decided to return to Sao Martinho for a swim (10 mins drive north) but the cold North wind too chilly for me right now so Andy went for a dip on his own.We stocked up at Intermarche supermarket and drove on to Peniche , a working fishing port with a very pungent fishing factory near the beach  , and a shipyard , famous for its Praia de Supertubos ( big rollers) and Berlanga islands off the coast , a wild life bird  sanctuary.Walked along the beaches, and decided against a coffee at the beach  cafes as all the tables were covered in flies! Staying at the  very large and almost empty Peniche municipal campsite (9€ per night) very spacious pitches and quiet as  sandwiched between sand dunes and 2 lots of beaches.Very basic , v old facilities, no toilet seats, paper , soap , and  shower had no spray but was consistently warm and clean.Gratefully to bed as still feeling tired and drifted off listening to the crashing of the waves.

A quick walk around Peniche , lively and gritty , not closed up for winter so had energy .

Wednesday Foz De Arelho, Buddha Eden garden , Obidos

 Andy went for a morning run along the cycle path and I went for a walk along the paseo for one last time. We met for a swim in the lagoon ; the tide was coming in and the current so strong that we only managed 20 mins, very bracing ! 

We drove 15 k south  and inland   to a vineyard in Balchoa  to a 35 hectare garden called Buddha Eden , dedicated to the memory of the giant Buddhas of Bamyan destroyed by the Taliban. It was a beautifully laid out  garden with sculptures from all over the world , tranquil lakes with koi carp, many Buddhas and Bodhisattvas,  and my favourite exotic flower Birds of Paradise. Highly recommended. €5 entrance fee.  We didn't get to see everything in 3 hours. On to Obidos , a Roman fortified hilltop village , very pretty, full of bookshops arts and crafts  and  also very popular with coach parties sampling the ginjinha  -sour cherry flavoured liquor ( cherry brandy  ) 

We stayed at a MH site right by the  very long Roman aquaduct just 2 minutes walk from the walled village itself. The site  costing  6€ per night, with  water and grey waste disposal, but no toilets or electricity. We said hello to the Norwegians next to us ( from Kristiansand , they bring their large MH down in Sept , spend a month or so in the Algarve, fly home for Xmas and return in January until March , leaving their van here   for 50€ per week during the Xmas break  . This is possible  if you live in the Schengen area;  UK motorhomers  can  no longer consider this option now the UK is no longer in the EU.

 

Tuesday 28 Sept Foz de Arelho

 A short bike ride along the cycle path , breakfast on a bench in front of the autocaravan park by the river estuary and then we spent the day in ( me)  and (Andy)  around the MH whilst I recovered from a 4 day virus ( LFTs all clear) 

We walked up to the top of the cliff early evening to see the Berlenga islands, a bird sanctuary in the distance.

Monday 27 Sept Paredes, Sao Martinho praia and Foz da e Arelho

 Feeling a little better this morning.We travelled  40 mins down the coast ,and 

stopped off at a Miroduora, overlooking the deserted beach at Paredes , with  another shorter boardwalk along the dunes/ forest  and a  wooden launching stage for para -gliders. Juniper bushes next to the boardwalk . Moved on to Sao Martinho beach  10 mins along the coast and found a v calm sea in a sheltered shell - shaped bay ; we went for a wonderful 30 min swim at the quiet end of the beach in glorious sunshine . We walked  back into town along the paseo , decided not to stay at the campsite on the edge of town , walked past the small marina and through a tunnel carved in the cliff to the rocks and crashing surf at the far end of town  and

the bay . I was astonished to learn we had stayed overnight here three years ago , I had very little recollection of it . I bought an umbrella to use for shade on the beach .We moved on to Foz do Arelho and an overnight stay at a motorhome camper stop right by the beach, 6€ per night without EHU, very quiet . We sat on the beach and watched the waves crash onto the shore.