Day No. 80 - never stop playing - Praia da Luz

When we arrive at our spot yesterday, there is already a T4 there, as well as a small car. The two cars must have arrived shortly before us, because the final parking space has obviously not yet been chosen. - In the meantime I got used to greet our new neighbors always briefly by handshake. This time we meet Michele and Vincent in the van, as well as their friend Paul in the passenger car.

Since it is already dawning, everyone takes care of themselves first. - So first of all the blackout on the windows. Immediately Hector is less conspicuous. SUP and outside shower out and already we have a little more space. Then it's a matter of turning the passenger seat, boxes from behind on the driver's seat, backpacks also in the footwell and and ...

Afterwards we cooked first of all. There was mashed potatoes with salad for Torgit. - For me, the whole thing was supplemented with fried onions and chorizo . Delicious it was, but we also notice that the food becomes easier. Cooking on two small gas flames is special. You automatically try to make the process more practical. On the other hand, we still put as much effort into the salad dressing as we do at home. At least we haven't met any campers yet who make such an effort with their salad dressing. Olive oil and balsamic make yes many. But we supplement that with yogurt, freshly squeezed orange juice, a squeeze of lemon, soy sauce, sweet mustard, honey, lovage, paprika, curry, wasabi, dried salad herbs from Kleinwalsertal*, smoked salt, coarse sea salt, Kampot pepper from Hennes' Finest, sweet chili and Piri Piri sauce. In addition, crushed walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashew and sunflower seeds. I think now it was complete 😉.

* Johann, we would need a resupply, please. - Oh yeah, while you're there, please bring the world's best pickles too. - Thank you

After the morning shower, I once again get into conversation with Vincent, our neighbor. Michelle and Vincent are now half a year with their van on tour. Their T4 is spartan, but very personally furnished. The two also started in Holland, and France and Spain were also on their tour. But in between, they also made a detour via England and Scotland. Vincent tells quite enthusiastically about his mountain bike tours in Scotland. In addition to the mountain bike, the two have skateboard, SUP, as well as surfboards on board.

Vincent tells us that they broke up their apartment in order to pack their entire lives into the van. When asked if that would have made him or her really happy, he grins broadly. - It follows an unequivocal yes! - He would have been afraid of only one thing, to return to his old life. We talk about Daniel "Danny" MacAskill and his tours in Scotland. - I love his video Wee Day Out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_7k3fnxPq0

Vincent tells us that he has driven some of the tours. He strongly recommends us the North Coast 500, supposedly 'Scotland's Route 66' in Scotland. - The tip is noted. - Of course, the complementary reference to rain, rain and more rain follows. What his grin but does not break.

Paul, a friend of Michele and Vincent, has been a satellite of the two for five weeks. - Actually, he only wanted to transfer a vehicle for an acquaintance. But semester vacations can be better used, so he also became a traveler. Vincent confirms to me that they would meet only few campers in our age on their tour. And if, these would drive always only fat yogurt cups. I tell him about the Cologne couple that we met on day No. 28 of our trip, and who are on the road in the California despite their old age, with over eighty. - We agree that they are both a dream and a role model for us. Michele and Vincent's motto "never stop playing" is not only written on the back of their van, but is a good hint to stay young instead of getting old.

After breakfast, there is muesli with fresh fruit, yogurt and nuts, we decide to implement the coastal hike originally planned for yesterday today. - We first walk towards the sea and then follow a path up the cliffs. As the path becomes steeper and steeper, we have to realize that it is not a path but a washed out stream. Although more strenuous, we reach our destination faster. To our left is the Marco Geodésico da Atalaia. Torgit, our "old" surveyor explains to me that it is a geodetic vertex, and this sign indicates an exact cartographic position. Just like here, high and isolated sites with clear line of sight to other vertices are usually selected. Exciting, at least for surveyors 😉 (Note from Torgit: so actually I had said 1st order trigonometric point, but Marc had already explained the meaning of the word "actually" 😉 )

What I find much more exciting is that from here you have a wonderful view of the sea, the heath lying below us, thus on Hector and on the Bauhaus Villa seen yesterday from below. - But this one seems a bit buttoned up. Probably the owner is in New York, Rio, Tokyo or Berlin.

However, we find the architecture so exciting that we decide to follow a path through a pine grove. As expected, we arrive at the front of the villa. But here the property is even more protected. Eagle's Eye, the name of the villa, looks as imposing as the adjacent golf course. So we decide to march on parallel to the golf course. - I always find it fascinating that in regions where water is scarce, on the other hand, perfectly maintained golf courses can be found. The job of a green keeper seems to be well paid. - I myself have never been particularly interested in golf. I did quite well on the driving range. But when it came to putting, my lack of spatial vision got in the way.

However, what I find extremely good about golf is that you play against yourself and, as far as I know, this is the only sport where you can give yourself a penalty stroke. I also share with my nephew Moritz a soft spot for the golf movie "The Legend of Bagger Vance", directed by Robert Redford. - The cast alone with Charlize Theron, Will Smith and Matt Damon says it all, doesn't it? The movie quote "There is a real, authentic swing in all and each of us ... Something we were born with ... Something that is ours and ours alone ... Something you can't be taught or learned ... Something we must preserve and remember ..." certainly fits not only for golfers!?

In a large arc we hike along dirt roads back towards the coast - on the way we again encounter abandoned houses and a bit of graffiti. The contrasts are fascinating. On one side abandoned houses, on the other side, only a few meters away, million dollar villas. Whereby I sometimes don't know where life is more livable. One of the villas is so protected by a fence, NATO barbed wire and video cameras on the seaward side that the occupant can't even catch a glimpse of the beautiful cliff behind it.

A few meters away, someone has aptly commented on a sign PRIVADO. - Whether the owner of the German "colloquial language" is powerful?

After some time we meet the cliff again. - So slowly we get used to breathtaking views. Especially one contrast catches the eye. Here, the so-called Rocha Negra, like the gin* of the same name, black cliff to the directly adjacent, bright sand-colored cliff, gives an eerie contrast. - Black and White. When we reach the cliff, our hike also almost has its end. - Now we have also found the way down. So our descent is much easier than the ascent. - Halfway up, there are still the remains of a BMX trail, including a jump. I remember my conversation with Vincent today. This must have overlooked the jumps. Because as I estimate him, that would otherwise have been exactly his thing.

We let the evening end relaxed at the Bulli. From here you can enjoy the sunset wonderfully. - What we then also do.

*The gin we have yet to test.

Insight of the day: It doesn't matter how old the driver of a Bulli is. - In direct comparison to the yogurt cup driver, he always remains younger. (Note from Torgit: younger and cooler).