I leave the campsite in the morning, after saying goodbyes to Peter and Vanessa, and Martin and Angela. The campsite costs me €65, and it says I stayed 26 days. That’s good value. I drive to Lourinha, and buy a chemical toilet. They don’t have the blue fluid, so I cant’ use it yet. I drive to Porto Novo, and Santa Cruz, where I stop for a coffee. Both places are nice, very quiet. The surf is very big today, too big for me. I decide to drive onto Ericeira, which I had initially intended to avoid and maybe see on my way up.
I pass several of the breaks mentioned in my guide book. I see the sign for Ribeira d’Ilhas and pull over. Big waves are breaking on the outer and inner reefs. I take many photos of the guys surfing there.
I carry on driving towards the town of Ericeira. I stop at the north beach, which looks the closest to town. I park up and notice a white van, which looks like its parked overnight, with its levellers out and blinds up. There is no one around. I take a look at the local shops, and then head into town. I have a look around town, but it’s smaller than I imagine. It is a nice town though, so much nicer than Peniche, which seems so grey and industrial now. Ericeira is definitely a resort town, with many nice apartment blocks and hotels around. I walk to the end of town and watch some surfers catching some smaller waves.
I walk back to the van, and decide to drive back to the north beach car park. I park up close to the van I saw earlier. I sort out the storage for my new toilet. I guy appears and I hear his sliding door. I go out and chat with him. He is Michael from Oostende in Belgium, but he has English family, and he speaks English very well. So well I gave to ask him about his accent. We chat for a few hours. He tells me he has been here for 3 weeks.
The big waves lash the coastline, but the wind drops.
I think that tomorrow I will move on and go to Sintra.
