One month to get there, 3 hours to get back

Here are my favourite photos of the trip. It is difficult to pick my favourite as they all represent highlights of different aspects. It was a real privilege to be able to travel during the pandemic. Living on a yacht is a good way to live in a bubble, the risks are going onshore and the flight back. We had plenty of masks, hand gel and we always tried to keep a bit of space.

Thanks to Marcello for the opportunity, and good luck with getting back to Australia, which is not easy at the minute. It was good to get to know you again after all of these years.

Thanks to the rest of the crew, Chloe, John, Viv and Lukas. for their company especially in the dark watches of the night.

The yacht had a nice sound system on it and I managed to play a lot of my playlists (not sure Marco was that keen on some of them) of the moment. I think these were my favourites that will remind me of the voyage.

Details of last day

So I got up early and packed my bags. Everything fitted perfectly, even the massively thick rope I got for Sam. I walked out into the man cabin and there were my crocs. Bugger, they are not exactly small. Any way I crammed them in.

The next challenge was to print out the carhire agreement and my immigration quararntine details. Marcello was off at the marina loos , so I eventually found it buried in one of the many storage compartments. It took ages to get it going, and in the end Marco had to print them all out for me.

The hire car was due to arrive at 9am, but this is Portugal so 10am it turned up. Not to worry, I had allowed a lot of time. Marco kindly drove and I directed, although it was signposted all the way. It had been raining during the night, and it didnt hold back on the journey. Preparation for the UK? The weather there was looking good and for the rest of the week.

Mask on (breifly off to check it was really me at checkin) and I breezed through the bag drop of and security, ghe old travel routines were still kicking in. A quick coffee, sandwich and some natas at Costas and the I was able to board straight away.

The flight was about half full and people well spaced unles they were travelling in a bubble. They put people in the wndow seats where possible, which makes sense. On skyscanner BA was given a 5/5 rating for covid procedures and I can see why.

Sue was waiting for me in the long stay car park looking lovely in the sunlight. She had driven the van up and we would have a socially distanced ride home, with there in the back, windows open and masks on. I took a call from Matt at GW Networking just as we pulled up with a possible piece of work for another website, could be useful while quarantining. However it was great to see Sam and he cooked me a great steak for dinner.

The flight time is 2 hours and 45 minutes. Quick but bloody boring. Ill take the month long trip anytime! Slow travel, if we can we should all do more if it, covid allowing.

David Gibson

Travel Blogs