Volta ao Algarve 2020

Friday we went uptimes to the highway and watched the Algarve bike race. it has been going on for 46 years. This year there have been about 164 bikers. Something around 24 off the top 100 cyclist in the world where in the 5 day race. It covers just under 800 kilometres.

Heard about the race this morning and thought it would be nice to see it. We drove about half way then walked up to the race course. We got there so early we decided to have a coffee. As we sat down I saw Ian walking along. We asked him to come for a coffee and he did. Last year Ian walked around England, about 4000 kilometres to raise money for guide dogs for the blind and was not in Portugal bowling. He is a very good bowler. Ian told us that he had spent 31 years in the British Navy as a cook. His claim to fame is he once cooked for the Queen Mother.

I film the race and hope the movie will show below. It is a very large file and is taking a long time to up load to Youtube.

Day 25 according to our camera

Yesterday we had a lazy day. We did completely by accident find our first english show on TV. It was a made for TV movie about a American lady marring a Prince. Nice to hear english.
Then I went our and practiced some golf, but that was about all. Well Kelly and I went for a walk and met Ian one of the bowlers down on the boardwalk.
I have been looking for birds and playing with the camera. I have a couple of pictures which at least shows I am trying.

I am not trying hard enough. The nice or at least somewhat nice Dove picture I took this morning turned out to be a 1 second video. I had set the camera up or thought I had set the camera up to be higher resolution but had done it incorrectly. Just so you will have something here is a picture of Kelly on the walk yesterday.

Our first road trip

Yesterday I decided not to bowl and we went on a road trip. Before we left I emailed Tish and Clark to say we were out for a drive. They were lawn bowling so did not get back to us until we were home.

Our first stop was Vilamoura. I went to one of the golf courses, The Old Course, to check on prices. I had thought that the price might be better than the courses in the East. I was wrong to play one game at the Old Course is during low season which is now is 125 euros. I could join for 3 months but if I wanted to play on the Old Course, the one which I had thought was cheaper would be 2750 euros or about $4,000 Canadian dollars.

We went on to Portimao where I had remember incorrectly having lunch. We did park but found no where to have lunch so we came home. Today we may drive to Spain and see if we can have lunch there. We will also get gas which is a lot cheaper. I have some pictures of Portimao which I will show you. If you look closely you will see a green port hand buoy. In Europe you do not use the rhyme Red,Right,Returning going up stream the green buoys are on your Starboard side. It is not clear why, but Trish and I are glad we figured it out before we sailed to Europe.

We love you all and miss you.

It is Tuesday February 18th Finally house pictures

Good morning I will show you the house but not right now. I am just back from bowling and Trish and Kelly are just back from shopping. We are going out to lunch and then will publish the pictures.

We are back from lunch so now I will publish the pictures.

First lunch

Now the House

Our roof deck

View from roof

Living room

Kitchen and dinning room

Trish and My room

Kelly's Room

Yesterday Sunday Kelly and I went looking for birds.

We took a long walk about 4 kilometres  in search for birds so as I could send you pictures.

We walk for over an hour and saw one bir in the distance.

Fortunately I had Kelly who found a little Hedge Hog. It was very small and very cute. I got a couple of picture which you can see below. Other then that we had a very restful day. I did bowl but not very well so it is best not to talk about it much.

Good morning on Day 20

Yesterday Trish and Kelly went to groom the horses which they had been riding last week. Trish came up with the idea after riding. Kelly likes riding, but mainly likes doing something and being around the horses. Riding for 45 minutes costs $120. Grooming the horses for and hour is free.

I drove them to the stable and went next door to practice golf. When I got back in about exactly one hour they were waiting fo me so no pictures yet.

I have tried to get pictures of birds which you hear all the time and see flying, but not standing still.
I will continue to try and improve the bird pictures. For now here are a few.