July-August

We experienced our first Atlantic low pressure area settling just off shore at the end of July and found shelter at anchor in the Ensenada de Simon at the head of the Ria de Vigo. Apart from the entrance through a narrow gorge under the motorway bridge the bay was completely surrounded by hills on all sides. The high winds lasted for several days but we barely experienced a gust and remained calmly at

anchor in shallow water. As we were the only yacht there the locals all came and investigated us and said hello - by the time the weather settled we felt part of the community!
It was a complete change from our last anchorage which was a beautiful beach backed by pine forest. When we arrived the beach was deserted and there were only a couple of other boats at anchor. As the day progressed the beach filled up with nudists in very large numbers!

They had a very odd habit of power walking backwards and forwards along the water’s edge in droves. We were with a Swiss couple and their three year old boy in a French steel boat that he had built from an unfinished project. When they went ashore their son pointed at all the unusual bits on show all down the beach!
After the depression passed we moved down to Bayonna which should be our last stop in ‘Green Spain’. It is very much a seaside resort town for the Spanish and the old streets are narrow and lined with tapas bars and restaurants. The marina proved to be somewhat choppy as the large ferries pass in and out en route to the Islas Cies. The return of the Azores High has meant strong northerly winds reinforced by sea breezes.

The end result is the afternoon winds reach force seven or more and big seas build up down the coast. It looks like the weather will settle again shortly and it will be time to go down into Portugal.
The local fort goes back centuries and sits in a very commanding position at the entrance to the bay. It has been razed and rebuilt over the years. Now its design seems somewhat whimsical. The central part of the fort area has been rebuilt as a parador and looks very impressive indeed. The granite is of a paler shade than that used for the fort itself but looks generally in keeping with the original. We had great fun walking right round the ramparts in the strong NW winds and admiring the sea views.