Peniche

Baleal Beach, on a not so sunny day!
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We arrived in Peniche in the afternoon, about 2 o'clock, after driving from Faro.  The journey didn't take as long as I expected, on the map it looked miles but the huge well maintained motorway system meant we made really good time.  You have to pay tolls to use a lot of the bigger main motorway type roads but if the quality of the road and the ease of driving is anything to go on, it was well worth the money.

When we arrived we headed straight for the beach, it's hard to describe it's position; because there is an outcrop of land sticking into the middle of the Atlantic there is almost always good surf, regardless of tides or weather patterns.  If it isn't breaking on one side it will on the other.  Obviously a surfer could explain this much better than I can being a total beginner...  The point being, the surf there is some of the best in Europe and well worth a visit.

Better weather
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The beaches are beautiful, because of the time of year we went it was very quiet compaired to how it might be in mid-summer, they stretch for miles and although the weather wasn't great all the time we were there they have a wonderful wild quality about them that makes you want to spend time there.

After having our first surf of the holiday, my first time ever, we got changed and decided to head for the campsite.  By this time it was raining heavily and getting dark.  I don't recommend putting a tent up in the dark while it's chucking it down, not even for the sake of a good story when you get home...  The campsite was basic but very clean and great value for money.  Considering it was my first camping experience it went amazingly well.

Early morning spent in cafes hiding from the rain
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We spent the majority of the holiday in Peniche; mainly on the beach, either surfing or sitting watching the waves, evenings we ate out and then played backgammon or reading in the tent, aside from a couple of day trips to go climbing and one over-night stay further south we pretty much based ourselves there for the whole time, although initially we had toyed with the idea of travelling about a bit more.

We climbed for a day in Sintra and another at Rocha de Pena, both beautiful crags and places I'd happily visit and climb in again.  Sadly because of the weather and the fact Tom had to be dragged from the beach we didnt do as much climbing as I'd like to have, but it just means there is more for next time.

The beached ship
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We drove south one day and stayed overnight in Ericeira, again on a campsite, this one much fancier but also a lot more expensive.  Ericeira is a larger more touristy resort but still with beautiful beaches and great waves.

Probably the most exciting event (and this says something about the level of excitement on the trip) was when a huge ship got washed up on the beach, it took them three days and a whole team of men and tug boats to move it back into the sea.  We spent a good 4 hours one night sitting watching them, eating chocolate chip cookies and drinking warm beer out of the bottle - it was probably one of my favourite times.

The beached ship
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The weather while we were there wasn't great, it rained torrentially for the first 3 days, thankfully the tent held up and your pretty wet when you go surfing anyway so it didnt matter too much.  Later in the holiday it brightened up a bit and the last few days were glorious, all in the weather was a milion times better than back home, so no complaints.

Written down it doesn't sound like that amazing a travel experience but it will stick with me for years and years to come, it had everything I want in a holiday, fun, excitement, relaxation, new experiences, time to think and all in a place that will always hold a special place in my heart.  Peniche might not be the most beautiful or exciting place in the world but it has a certain charm that means I adored it, it's one of those places that just has a great feel about it, what that is I don't know, maybe next time I go back I'll find out...