We’re Walking in Sunshine

About five minutes drive from our Portugal home is a hike that has become one of my favourites over the many years I’ve been wintering here. It’s call “A Walk to the Spring” and if I started to list all the wonderful people I’ve hiked it with, this blog would be simply a list of names, all folks special to me. Today I got to add Debbie and Fred to that list!

I noticed a number of significant differences this year compared to others. First was the amount of active water throughout the entire 3 plus hour hike. The path itself had flowing water in many sections as well, the gutters and sluice that line the many trails were full and flowing, and every reservoir we saw was full to over flowing and active with frog life. Secondly, the numbers of blooms on the wildflowers was substantial compared to other years. Clusters of iris, orchids, cistus, cyclamen, calls, and peonies, kept us company all along the trails. And finally, the obvious inactivity of the trail as in places it was less than single file as the shrubs and flora had grown up on both sides and is taking over.

The trail winds along a network of ancient paths between the “barrocal” (the section at the low base of the mountain) and then the “serras” (small mountains) which are plastered with orchards of carob, olive, holm oaks, and orange trees. Eventually we wind our way down into the Vale de Bengado, where of course we have to stop and admire the view before heading down that final slope.

We passed along beside many properties where folks were outside working on the vegetable gardens and properties. They are cultivating for their own use tomatoes, peppers, cabbages, sweet potatoes, and frequently, large plots of a sort of broadbean.

We passed along by terra cotta sheds where the red clay is used to make Moorish tiles, glazed tiles, and red brick. Stacks of them were lining the drive and property and I was so enamored, I forgot to take a photo.

Debbie and Fred are great hiking companions and, like me, that love to poke in and out of old ruins, small roads, explore around the bend and get off the beaten path. It’s great fun to share in these hikes with them. Today I think they found an old fixer upper and might just stay here……how to tell their kids back home!!!

From this point we head up, up,up, out of the Bengado Valley and towards Desbarato and finally, bck to our car in Mesquite.

I am one happy human being as I sit here writing and reliving my day. One funny little admission. Several times today I was quite certain I was hearing the lovely tinkle of the bells the sheep have on their necks. I would search, to no avail, to try and find them and finally, after a significant period of time, I realized that in fact there weren’t any sheep, it was the ice cubes in my water bottle!!! Later I learned, and I felt redeemed, Fred had heard it and though the same things!!!

In closing, my last shot of the day, and I think a favourite. It was right at the end of the walk and it literally presented itself to me. Enjoy.