Vila Nova de Milfontes, Zambujeira do Mar, Praia de Monte Clerigo, Arrifana and Praia do Amado

I drive to the supermarket and buy some provisions as I may be a few days before I get to a supermarket again. Having had to move in the last few days because I had run out of water, I don’t want to do that again. I was going to check in the local mobile phone shop to see what computer internet access options that have, but they are shut.

I drive onto Zambujeira do Mar.

I drive to the supermarket and buy some provisions as I may be a few days before I get to a supermarket again. Having had to move in the last few days because I had run out of water, I don’t want to do that again. I was going to check in the local mobile phone shop to see what computer internet access options that have, but they are shut.

I drive onto Zambujeira do Mar. It is a pleasant little town. The beach is small and the waves a little ragged. A guy is paddling out whilst I am watching. He is dwarfed by the waves, which look much bigger once he is in the water for comparison. There is no obvious free camping option here, so I drive on. A couple with a motorhome pulling a caravan (some people just can’t have enough space hey?) who I left in Vila Nova drive by. It’s a small world!

I drive onto the Algarve. I climb the scenic mountain roads. I drive on the windy road out to Praia de Monte Clerigo. It is a nice spot, with several people free camping in the car park there. Some bodyboarders are surfing the massive pounding waves. A few people are sunbathing on the beach. I have a hamburger lunch there and decided to see if the smaller coastal lane goes to Arrifana, which is supposed to be more sheltered. The coastal lane is twisty and goes through several little settlements of houses which I am surprised to see. There is a good deal of building going on. I get a few looks from the builders. There are no signposts on the roads. The lane is not on the sat nav system, and I rely on it telling me how far away Arrifana is to find my way. I eventually see a sign and find the beach.

Arrifana is stunning and I am taken-aback by it. I park at the top of the cove and look down the steep twisty lane. I see a van parked down there, but decide to leave my van at the top. I take a walk down to the beach. There are a few guys surfing a nice clean looking wave on the northern side. I notice a UK Mercedes ex-ambulance that I saw in Peniche. I take a walk on the beach. The sun is strong which makes the setting even more beautiful. I see the beautiful girl from the ambulance and walk back up the hill and stop to chat. We talk for a while and her boyfriend returns. We talk more. I go back to the van, get changed, and take a beer back and talk to them more. Eventually we agree to meet up at Praia do Amado, which is about 30 minutes away.

After a lengthy drive in the dark, the first long drive I have done in the dark here, we get to Amado. I park up. We drink beers, in both vans, and smoke a little. They are Tom and Flo, and they are such a nice couple. Tom is from Bristol and Flo from Amsterdam. They are an inspirational couple. For the last 8 years they have worked their way around the world. Working in ski resorts, Australia and New Zealand, for a year in each, but mainly working on yachts and motorboats in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Only once have they returned to the UK. They lived in Cornwall, but only lasted a couple of months before they realised that they where working lots of hours, spending all of their money on accommodation, and where not happy. They then got back on the road, working and travelling. This is a valuable lesson to learn. They make a good deal of money, but work very hard doing so. They really have me thinking, and we talk about lots of things until the early hours of the morning. They are both doing RYA courses in Faro after their trip.

Posted by Darren

I'm a huge campervan enthusiast, and the maker of CampervanLife.com. I believe everyone can convert their own campervan, and enjoy a great lifestyle with it.