Geoff Brock & Bruce Gamble
         
     
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A full day of sailing from Pinhão to Porto
Tuesday 21st November 2023

Our ship slid quietly away from Pinhão at 6:30am without either of us being aware of it. Being so early we also missed seeing the Bagauste lock (also known as the Regua Dam lock), but we had seen it when we sailed up-river so we weren't too disappointed. Next stop would be Porto, late in the afternoon. There was a full programme of activities listed in the daily programme, but on such a beautifully warm and sunny autumnal day, we spent most of our time on the top deck taking in the scenery.

The mist came and went during the morning which added to the calm, dreamy atmosphere. What a lovely way to spend our last full day of sailing.
 
We had a long distance to cover, sailing from right to left on this map.
 
Once again, in the context of the whole trip.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
More trainspotting!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Carrapatelo Dam.
 
We were slightly ahead of schedule and were therefore able to enjoy the experience of seeing another ship as it rose to the top of the lock and sailed out passed us.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At 11:15am, almost exactly on schedule, we entered the mighty Carrapatelo Dam lock. We remembered it well from our voyage up a few days previously, but were still fascinated to see it all again on the way down.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Twenty minutes later we sailed out the other side.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three views taken from the dining room as we enjoyed our lunch.
 
 
 
 
By 2:30pm we were in the Crestuma Dam and heading towards the lock, the last one before Porto.
 
 
As we got closer to Porto, there was a lot more development on the river's banks.
 
Ponte do Freixo.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ponte Dona Maria Pia, an arched railway bridge, with the white Ponte de São João behind it.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Luís I Bridge.
 
Ponte Infante Dom Henrique.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We sailed past our docking location, on the other side of the river. We presumed it was because we needed to get to a suitable point (almost where the river flows into the Atlantic) before we could make a turn and come back. Alternatively, perhaps it was just to allow us to see more of the city.
 
 
 
 
 
By around 4:30pm, we were approaching our final docking location... back where we started!
 
After dinner, some passengers went to a concert in a church nearby.
We simply stayed on board and admired the lights of Porto.
 
 
 
©Geoff Brock and Bruce Gamble