A Walk to the Spring……a favourite hike

A small contingent of our Canadian community here in the Algarve had decided to enjoy a hike a picnic not far from our village of Estoi. It’s called A Walk to the Spring and it’s one that some of us have enjoyed several different times over the years. Actually, the only person in our group today who had not done it before was André, and I think it’s one that he too will do again in future years.

Although a lovely temperature today 18 degrees, the winds were quite something. André suggested we refer to the hike as Gone With the Wind!!!! Nevertheless, we all enjoyed it immensely. A welcomed reprieve from what is going on in the world.

Don’t we look to be a motley crew?

Hounds tooth and some sort of daily. Colour was everywhere today in the form of wildflowers.

Peonies.

Miss Laurie enjoying the trail.

I love the thistles despite loosing my balance today and landing ass first in a large patch.

Such brilliant blue.

I love Mother Nature. She is constantly gifting us with beauty.

I enjoyed how the light was dancing on the blue and giving it the appearance of multiple blues when in fact it was all the same colour.

This peruvian lilly was plastered everywhere today, in various forms of development.

The hike meanders along old walled paths flanked by farmland. Many beautiful panoramic views and loads of carob, olive, and cork trees. We were surprised, given the extreme lack of rain, the lovely green of the land.

Wild peonies just starting to open.

The first peony bud we saw today, actually since the beginning of this trip.

Patricia, Gary and André. We’re waiting for Laurie to catch up with us.

The Pixie in the Peonies!

A view back up the hillside that we’ve just hiked down.

Someone has a great sense of humour!

Looking back part of the path we’ve just come from.

We pass through the “blink and you miss it village” of Desbarato. A few lovely gardens along the route.

So much freesia scenting the air today.

Patricia basking in the scent of freesia.

Laurie finishing her “sniffing” of the freesia.

I am not walking another stop. What time does that bus come by????

Tongue orchids……the side of the hill was littered with them for many meters.

A close-up…blurry but I thought I’d post it anyway.

Loads of frantically dancing poppies.

Poppies

Thanks for taking this snap Patricia.

A huge old rose bush on the front part of an abandoned property.

An abandoned property is home to this large patch of majestic calla lilies.

A view down towards the Ribeira do Bengado, which was dry!

By now we were all mentioning food, which was a good sign that it was time for our picnic. A lovely old field, shade or sunshine, take your pick. Dancing gladioli, Peruvian lilies, other small brightly coloured wildflowers and a picnic it was.

Gary looking quite content.

Sorry Patricia, I didn’t mean to catch you with a mouth full of fabulous curried turkey sandwich!

Laurie trying not to chew as I stuck the camera in her face.

André thoroughly enjoying his day.

Getting ready to head off again.

Doesn’t this remind you of fireworks?

By this point, we were probably just a bit more than halfway through the 10 km hike. Full from our picnic the rest of the walk was a tiny bit slower but no less wonderful.

Cistus everywhere along the route today.

Towards the final leg of our journey.

I can only imagine how gorgeous this must have been in its heyday. It still is for me.

Clusters of yellow rock roses all along the wall of an old house in the tiny village of Mesquite.

A perfectly marvellous day. And as they all do, this one came to an end. It may, or may not be the final hike of our visit here this year. That will be determined in the next couple of days. Tomorrow is to be a day of rain, which is needed, and cooler temperatures. If so, we have wood for the stove, potato chips and pretzels, vinho, and almost anything else we might require for a perfect “jammie day”.

And in closing…….I always mention that I love how the Portuguese use colour and now, with all the many flowers in bloom, it simply enhances that love. Stay safe and well.

8 thoughts on “A Walk to the Spring……a favourite hike”

Patricia March 16, 2020 — 7:16 pm

It was again an amazing hike!!! Love it; for me it’s my favourite. So peaceful, serene and a diverse countryside.

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1. (Post author)
  
  canadianboystravel March 16, 2020 — 7:54 pm
  
  And I love doing it with you!
  
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Joan MacLeod March 16, 2020 — 8:01 pm

Love the beautiful photos of all of you and thr beautiful countryside and flowers – especially the blue ones! Andre’s comment “Gone with the Wind” was too funny!

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  canadianboystravel March 16, 2020 — 8:55 pm
  
  Andre’ can be funny! It was a great hike and yes, like you, the blue flowers were quite breathtaking. Thanks Joannie
  
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Pat March 16, 2020 — 8:17 pm

What a wonderful hike…I would have loved it! The blue flowers with the sunlight dancing on them was magical!
The tongue orchids…don’t recall them but gorgeous! I have been dreaming about my peonies surfacing, so your peony photos today made me hopeful! Now, that Pixie in the Peonies was pretty cute! The freesia…OMG!
I smelled them from here! Such a perfect blog amidst our chaos and signs of our spring emerging daily..new beginnings! The robins, woodpeckers and cardinals are here to welcome you home to Canada! Thanks, Buddy!

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  canadianboystravel March 16, 2020 — 8:56 pm
  
  Yes, you would have gone mad, or perhaps I should say “maddder” with the gorgeousness of the flowers. Mother Nature is a wonderful creature,
  
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Muse & Views Bookclub March 16, 2020 — 8:22 pm

This hikes sounds wonderful and would have been 1000 times better than the power walk I did in suburbia with the chilly wind! Gym is closed, can’t do my high intensity intervals, no trainer to help me through my exercises. Boohoo why are you coming back to this??

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1. (Post author)
  
  canadianboystravel March 16, 2020 — 8:58 pm
  
  You make me realize I have made a colossal mistake and I should be staying here!!!! Sadly we’ve spent so much f…… money to get out of here we can’t change it again. It will however be wonderful to reconnect with our local friends. Perhaps, once we are done our isolation you might want to come and visit us?
  
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