Leaving the Ria

After 10 days we had decided and paid for six months of winter berthing at Cangas, this would begin in October. ,We left Jim and Megan exploring Vigo and we sailed out into the Ria heading south for Baiona. We took a long leg out towards the Islas de Cies, both because the wind dictated it and the extensive reefs off the north of Baiona insisted on it, also I wanted a closer look! It isn't possible to land or even anchor near the islands unless you have a permit to navigate, something I was in the process of doing. It can however take some time. The permit that is....

The beach behind Lynnes head was voted by the Guardian in 2008 as the best beach in the world. It's on Islas de Cies. The islands are truly beautiful and a haven for wildlife hence the tight control over visits by yachts.

We struggled a bit with the winds and I decided to try the inshore passage into Ria Baiona. This turned out to be surprisingly easy but the sight of the extenxsive reefs breaking for miles out to sea was a bit sobering. Soon we were anchored in the large bay of Baiona.

This was a lovely anchorage with extensive views out back towards the islands and the lush green hills behind white sand beaches astern. We put the dinghy in the water and went ashore.

Baiona is famous in maritime circles as being the first port of call of capitain Pinxon of the caravelle ' Pinta' who first brought news of the discovery of the new world, not Columbus, he followed on the ' Nina' having lost the Santa Maria on a reef in the Caribean. The Pinta can be seen in the above photo.

It's a replica of course but can be visited for a very reasonable 2€, we would do that later.

There is a very nice beach and park near the fortress of Monterreal. A mural shows the respective routes of Pinxon and Colon ( Columbus )

 The fortress again is open to the public but we decided to look around the old town.

The architecture is typically Galician however the prices in the cafes and restaurants were a bit eye watering, very expensive and upmarket.

The town hall is a fine old building in the oldest part of town and is near a small chapel that has a great collection of statues and a fine alter piece. The statues are all clothed as usual and to be honest some are downright creepy!

The weather was getting very hot and we only had a small window to explore, we were tired after  a week of festival and an early start. So decided an ice cream and then back to the boat for tea.

Lynne was taken by a shop that seemed to specialise in witches, they aren't actually witches, but in Galician folklore they are the next best thing.

Tomorrow we would see a bit more of this historical town in the last Ria before Portugal.......