Day No. 103 - Luck in misfortune ... - Storm at Praia de Loulé

...tonight we are woken several times by the howling wind, interrupted again and again by pelting rain. In the meantime, we consider closing the pop-up roof. - But we're not sure what the greater danger is. Because the roof is probably most vulnerable during the closing process. For once, we decide to trust the motto "Never change a running system". It works well.

Again and again we hear branches cracking. Now and then it cracks louder. Falling trees?

But we remain unscathed, at least from falling branches and trees. But it does drip in. We are reminded again and again that we have a tent on the roof.

Only in daylight, as far as one can speak of light, because everything is grey in grey, do we realize how lucky we have been. A tree has fallen in the immediate vicinity. But our neighbors were even luckier. You don't want to ask yourself what would have happened if the tree had fallen in the other direction. - But if it's already lying there, it can also be burned directly.

Today I also start my day with a quick dip in the Atlantic. Although I should have saved myself the trouble, because I didn't actually want to exfoliate. The waves are so strong that they pull my legs away within the first two meters. These breakers carry so much sand with them that I don't wear my swimming trunks in the shower today and am mainly occupied with rinsing the sand off. Just as I'm about to wash the foam out of my eyes, a rescue service vehicle drives up to me. They take a look to see what's going on. They decide that the naked guy is beyond help and slowly drive on. - I am always surprised by how tolerant the Portuguese are towards the people in cars. The fact that they also show concern goes far beyond the expected hospitality.

Shortly afterwards, Torgit and I are sitting together in the van, mucked in and looking out into the forest. With a cup of coffee in my hand, I try to get back up to operating temperature. It's often the little things that make you happy. It's the two of us here and now. A few weeks ago, were we worried about what it would be like to spend a day in the rain in such a confined space? It's not just fine, it's fine, very fine. - It also gives me time to write a blog.

In between, I go to the fire to warm up. Then I visit one of the two Scotsmen from the previous day and take a look at his old Airstreamer. I immediately have a few ideas of what I could do with such a vehicle. There would also be space. But on the other hand, it clearly restricts mobility. A place on the cliffs would not be possible. So on with the Spector project.