Yeah, it's orange in the Azores, too. Fantastic that the Netherlands has won from Brazil and that has made us decide to stay longer in the Azores until the semi finals and also the finals when the Netherlands enters. The weather to leave is good, but not very windy. Also this weather seems to last a little bit longer, so we don't mind staying here any longer and hoping it will still be good weather to leave in more than a week. The Azores are also so beautiful, that we don't mind being here longer at all. The temperature is fine, in the sun it's lovely, but certainly not too hot. Luckily Toine's toe goes a bit better every day and now another week the inflammation and pain is gone for three days now. So enjoy it to the fullest!

Saturday afternoon June 26th we say goodbye to the Herring Gull. They will return to the Netherlands at a slightly faster pace, but we will certainly see each other again in the Netherlands. The weather is a bit cloudy but it doesn't stop us from going BBQ with the Barbarossa and Valentine on the dock. Just when the meat is on top it starts to rain softly. It shouldn't spoil the fun because everything tastes delicious.

On Sunday we make a trip to the neighboring island of Pico. We go out early and take the ferry to the other side. We rent a car and drive around a large part of the island. Beautiful nature, rougher than Faial, especially the north coast with large lava fields full of vineyards and rugged rocky coasts with breaking waves. Via the north coast we drive over the middle of the island just past the volcanic peak Pico to the south side. That too is a beautiful trip with beautiful roads, flowers everywhere and deserted nature. We have lunch in Lajes, the village that lived from whaling until 1978. The factory is still there, and now it lives from tourism and trips with small fast boats to the sea to watch whales. We decide on the spot to do it anyway, and we don't regret it at all. First we get a lot of information about the species that live and/or migrate here and what they eat. The Sperm Whale (also called Spermwhale) 'lives' here and hunts large squids ('squatting') at a depth of 1.5 -2 km. They swim quietly for a while and take a breath which makes it seem as if they are spraying water. Then they go into hiding and their big tail is nicely visible, but then you also know that they stay under for 45 minutes and surface again 3 km further after catching cuttlefish. Dressed in a big green raincoat and life jackets we get into the fast boat and they are indeed sailing about 50 km per hour, so just such a boat trip is fun. But we are lucky, because we also see a group of white speckled dolphins and a few groups of female sperm whales. We see them from quite close, impressive sight, especially when they get ready to go into hiding and show us that big tail fin. The girls ask a hundred out to the Dutch speaking guide who is with them. In short, a very nice outing. Three hours later we are back in the car to the harbour from where the ferry leaves. By now it is cloudy and the Pico is not visible anymore. in the evening we return to Horta by ferry at 21 o'clock.

On Monday we look of course to the Netherlands - Slovakia. Again dressed in orange and armed with a big Dutch flag we sit with the whole group in the café of the marina. And with success, because they win again! The next day we mess around a bit. The last one was, shopping, and walking around the village in the sun to take pictures. The last evening we have dinner together (Barbarossa, Valentine and also Bonnie, a Swedish boat with Annie on it, Giel van de Barbarossa's girlfriend) at Peter's Sport Café. A nice farewell to Horta.

On Wednesday morning June 30th we leave Horta for Terceira with the three NL-boats at 8 o'clock. A trip of 75 miles. First underneath Pico because we know the Sperm Whales are there and we hope to see them there. We are lucky, a little one, but very close to the Valentine and later also to the Barbarossa. Qau wind and sail it is very changeable. Underneath Pico it is still going well, with a calm wind from behind and in clover mode. Once around Pico it is very changeable and in the last three hours the wind is completely gone (and the swell unfortunately not). Not really a nice trip, but we are on another island again. Just before dark we arrive in the marina of Angro de Heroism, the other two just behind us. Angro de H is a beautiful village, World Heritage, much more prosperous than Horta. There are some very nice shops to 'shop' and we do that especially with the ladies the days after. We come home with new shoes, clothes and I also have a nice leather belt and bag.

Friday afternoon the 2nd of July we are with the whole group again ready in the café of the marina for the game of Orange. Again an exuberant mood because of the victory of the Netherlands against Brazil. In the evening we have dinner with the whole group in the restaurant of the marina and in between we watch Ghana - Uruguay. We also decide to stay here longer.

Today we rented a car and explored the island with the four of us. Just as beautiful or even more beautiful than Faial and Pico. The south coast prosperous, the north coast a bit easier with farmers and agriculture, and the middle rough with volcanoes, rocks and flowers. We want to take a walk on the west side, but we can't find the marked walk twice and walk wrong. The third time we finally found one, but then we don't have the puff anymore (for a 2.5 hour hike). We have lunch in a nice Portuguese restaurant on the north side of the island and watch the 1st half of Argentina - Germany. Afterwards we drive back through the middle of the island and visit a beautiful cave (which originated from a volcanic eruption in which the outer layer of lava has solidified and the inner hot part has continued to flow). Very impressive. And we make a walk of almost 2 hours ... very tough over small paths, climbing and clambering over lava rocks, along lakes, through meadows and in a rough nature. A beautiful walk and at the end of the day we return to the marina, tired and satisfied. How beautiful it is here!

Today in exactly 6 weeks we will be back in the marina of Bruinisse. We've sent the monthly mail to the newsletters with the arrival date in Bruinisse. That will be Saturday the 14th of August around 3 pm. If you didn't receive the e-mail and would still like to be here ... you're welcome to join us for a drink! You can also stay for dinner in the marina's restaurant, but please do so at your own expense. Please let us know via email-reply if you want to stay for dinner, we will take care of the reservation.

The coming week we are going to enjoy the Azores and hopefully beautiful football! After that the last long trip to Ireland, about 8 to 9 days. From Ireland we want to anchor at the Scilly Islands, a small group of islands west of England, if the weather is good. Then 'quickly' via the south coast of England. Very nice to see you all again! All four of us are looking forward to coming home again, but we are still enjoying the last 6 weeks!