Moliceiro Boat
The moliceiro boat and I are homonymous, our life is to catch moliceiro in the lagoon and take it to any pier or stream that borders the estuary.
Whether it's rain or shine, the moliceiro boat sails along the Ria de Aveiro, and it is in Murtosa, its homeland, that it has its greatest expression.
I get up very early and head to Cais do Bico where, among many, There, waiting, is my boat, long and elegant. My friend does the same thing and we meet there at the appointed time. We get on the boat and, if we have wind, we raise the sail, as it will take us to our destination. When there is no wind, we climb onto the bow, which is very inclined, and gain balance to move it, using the pole, which “sits” at the bottom of the ria.
The boat glides over the serene waters of the ria. There's no time to waste, as there's a lot of mojo to catch. When, at low tide, the boat enters a narrower channel, I jump ashore and pull the boat from the bank using a cable tied to the bow, in a way of navigating that the ancients call “the torch”.
The estuary is our water highway and the ideal means of communication to reach all riverside territories.