Picnic packed….check; sun shining……check; seven bodies in two cars…..check. Hike, here we come.
Pat M and Joan opted to stay home and challenge each other to a crib game (or two), but the rest of us headed off to Mesquita to enjoy the 9 km hike that Marc, Pat, Gary, and myself have done in other years. It was a perfect day for it.
Here we are, fresh as daisies, about to head off.
Have to make sure we are all in the photos!!!
This is the start of the trail. Tell me you don’t find this inviting and beautiful.
It was pointed out that I am not in most of the photos on my blog so……Marc made certain I was in one today!!!
The trail, which today was well marked, took us through a couple of tiny hamlets, active farmland, abandoned farmland, cork forest, along old dirt roads and a section of asphalt road. Very varied, which made for great photo opportunities and kept us interested and engaged throughout.
A couple of lovely wall tiles inserted in the cement, usually near the front door.
Second wall tile
I love that they used the fence for a clothesline……why not?
Look at all these tiny olive flowers. What an amazing tree the olive is.
Many beautiful flowers on the walk today. At a couple of places we stumbled on wild peonies, some open, many about to pop. Also orchids…….I am saddened that my camera is not functioning properly and consequently most of my close-up photos were trashed today. I did, however, get a few beauties.
A wild peony
One of many breathtaking vistas we experienced.
I love the valley with the rolling hills off in the distance. Imagine the tranquility at night for those folks living in this “tucked away” environment.
Caught the back end of Diane and Pat as they lagged behind and we had rounded a huge bend in the road.
Clever “art”?
We spent about 10 minutes or so on this well worn gravel road passing along a tiny ravine on one side and farm land on the other.
Laurie, Marc and Dawn heading down a much appreciated hillside……..of course, what goes down eventually goes up!!
Patricia and the cork tree…..doesn’t that sound like a great title for children’s book?
Mirror Orchids
Mirror Orchid
White Rockrose
Yellow Ophrys
We did see another couple of folks enjoying the hike but for the most part, we were alone on the trail. Probably a good thing with all the giggling, chatting and laughing we were enjoying!
Came upon an old abandoned reservoir and when I looked down I saw this tortoise and frog. Seemed to me they were sort of keeping each other company. I couldn’t figure how they got in there but they certainly weren’t getting out. Thank goodness there are lots of bugs around to keep them fed.
Passed a roadside building that had this lovely vine of wisteria in bloom.
Doesn’t she look like a Hobbit on the roof of this house???
For Patricia
This cyclamen growing wild all along the patio of an abandoned old house.
And there is the abandoned house. Note the freesia in the doorway.
This rather large plot of calla lilies is growing wildly all along the side yard of the old house.
Patricia….drunk on freesia!!
By this point in the hike we were starting to get a bit hungry. The plan was to find a lovely old field, sit back in the shade and relax for a bit. As it turned out, we found the ideal spot and our chicken sandwiches (I roasted two chicken last night and Marc made us all sandwiches this morning) were delicious. We had carrot sticks, radishes, turnip sticks, olives, figs, almonds, walnuts and I think an orange or two may have been devoured.
There was so much to see and enjoy on this particular hike. Every turn in the path and every backward glance provided new optics.
Lovely house high on the hillside looking over several valleys.
Remnants of an old vineyard.
This cross, in what is now the middle of nowhere, dated to 1860.
Scilla peruviana
Scilla peruviana detail
Bumblebee Ophyrs
If you look carefully you will see the sea off in the distance.
A tiny house near the end of our walk had a lovely flower patch all along the wall.
Freesia
Look at that orange.
I simply loved the colours and angles in this photo.
The roses, which normally come in April, are just starting to open.
Another cross near an old home on the side of the road. It was dedicated to somebody who had died in 1860!!! Wasn’t anywhere near the last old cross but coincidence on dates???
My husband, enjoying the hike and posing for me near a wall of rock roses.
I liked the design on the top ledge of the house. I could live here!!
And all good things must come to an end. By the time we finished our walking and sidebar wanderings, we had accomplished 10,5 km. Not bad at all especially given not everybody is an avid walker/hiker like me. I think it was a wonderful hike for one and all and in all our estimations, deserved a reward. Photo taken by Marc.
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Marc and Randys Travel Adventures 
I loved today!!! Mentally, I was on that hike with you all. I’m here giggling outlaid at the comments about Patricia and the Cork Tree book as it does sound like a great children’s book lol and the hobbit comment. The flowers and the views are glorious!! I’m jealous. I just got in from a 2 hour power walk with my fur babies.
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Yes, you would have been in your element on this particular hike. Such a variety of sights and landscape. I think I’ve done this trail every year I’ve been here, and sometimes twice, since the very beginning.
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Out loud. not outlaid lol
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There’s so much in this hike…only missing the ocean. As always a wonderful hike!!!
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Twas a marvelous hike mon amie……..and the company made it even better!!!!
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We sure are lucky folk.
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Randy, you captured a most beautiful day with your lovely photos and you also captured a very special camaraderie between friends with common bonds…love of the outdoors, nature, hiking and exploring! And rewarding oneself after such an accomplishment! Great job!
Thank you for the photo of the poppies…gorgeous! Added to my collection….hoping to spy some myself very soon! xoxo
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I am certain you’re going to be rolling in poppies soon!
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Ohhhh, stunning header picture!! Just beautiful.
What a beautiful starting place for your hike. It looks like a wonderful place to start exploring.
LOL, It looks like that cork tree might be holding Pat up.
Oh no! You guys should have rescued that turtle and frog!!! They will die down there. 😦
The wisteria growing on that building is gorgeous.
Oh man, how I wish I could be there smelling the freesia like Pat is!! Lord have Mercy.
The Portuguese squill is so lovely. So many little details to each flower.
More Freesia…. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…. and wow at those deep orange flowers!
I could live in that beautiful yellow house too. Very sweet.
What a lovely day for you all. So many beautiful views to see and a huge variety of flowers. A wonderful lunch with friends, who could ask for more.
Love to you all.
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We couldn’t have gotten down into the reservoir even if we had wanted to rescue them. It was inside a very high spiked locked gate and fence the about six feet deep. You could have slept in a bed of freesia!
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