Luz is flat in the morning. The winds are northerly, and I decide to take the long drive to Arrifana. I figure there will be more swell at Arrifana, and it is sheltered from northerly winds there.
After 40 minutes I arrive at Arrifana. The waves are massive and blown out onshore. Damn. I call Flo. They are not sure what to do yet. Flo says that she will text me when they find somewhere good. I decide to head south a bit. When I get to Vila do Bispo, I take a small diversion to Castelejo. I don’t go right down to the beach, as the lane is very steep, but park up with a view over the mountains. I have a coffee. Flo texts me, they are at Cabanas, just next to Luz, where I started this morning.
I drive towards Cabanas. The beach isn’t signposted, but I get to the next village. I follow some tracks, and eventually find a sign for the beach. I end up on a terrible muddy lane, where there is a lot of construction. The lane seems to go on forever. I decide to turn around and head back down the lane, thinking I have missed a turning. As I pull into a drive way to turn around a Brazilian guy asks me for a cigarette. I give him one. He chats a bit but I don’t understand what he is saying. I ask which way is Cabanas, he says the way I have just come.
I turn around and head back down the lane. I get back to the sign for the beach I saw earlier. I check the lanes running off here, but there is no beach. Cabanas must be down the muddy lane I first went down. I head back down the muddy lane, going further this time. I eventually find Cabanas. Tom and Flo are parked up. Tom has just been in for a surf. The waves are big, too big for me. Florian is also there with another German guy. I chat with him. It is windy here, which makes us cold. Tom Flo and I decide to head to the village of Salema.
It is a pretty village and we park up. There is a nice wave at the beach. Flo and I go in. Tom gives me a quick surf lesson, with some great tips. I try them out, but still have confidence issues when going over the top of big waves. Flo sees some eels in the water, and bails. There are lots of fishing pots in the water, so we figure there is a lot of sea life here. We decide to stay there for the night. Tom and Flo chat to a Swiss fisherman they have met before. He has an amazing 1976 Mercedes van, which is impressive.
