Hiking and Heat!!

São Miguel was our destination this morning but not till laundry was hanging out to dry.  It’s important to take advantage of the heat !!  It was a hot one and this made the hike feel a bit more challenging than usual.  Nevertheless, we loved it.

Honeysuckle was everywhere and the scent was gorgeous.

wild fennel is in abundance and again, subtle but wonderful scent.

So many things in bloom, colour everywhere.

We like to stop at this old abandoned fig orchard and today…..WOW…..such richness of colour.

This went on forever…..yellow all down the side of the mountain.

These cistus are all over São Miguel. For some reason, probably the soil, the larger white and burgundy ones don’t grow here.

Our last photo at the top of the mountain for this trip.

WE don’t look too wilted given the heat and the climb.

Marc enjoying a much deserved rest before we start the journey down.

I mentioned recently that each day for the last few weeks we have been exploring at least one, if not more, unknown roads.  Today we came across an ermida (chapel) right in the middle of literally nowhere…….such a pretty and tranquil area, nothing near it that would give any indication of why it was there.  One of those unique mysteries that we stumble on from time to time while exploring.  We are loving taking all these new routes and seeing where they end up.

We had made arrangements to eat at Snack Bar Com Tradições, today Simão had pepared Frango á olhanense, a wonderful chicken and clam dish.  Beyond yummy.

Full and happy we wound our way home to spend the balance of the afternoon relaxing on the patio, reading, music, Marc is working on his website…….all was grand in the world.

This is part of our side patio.

The pomegranate flowers are popping out all over the trees…..they will open in a few days.

Oh!!!!! and while we were wandering home today, we think we might have found our car rental for next visit.