Two for the Price of One

A friend sent me this today……(thanks J)

Another perfect Algarvian day to head off for a hike and leave Marc to his writing project, he loves the tranquility of no distractions and goodness knows I’m nothing if not a distraction!!! (Interpret as you will).

Debbie and Fred, game for anything at anytime, with little notice, were waiting for me when I arrived just after 9h00 and we headed for the tiny hamlet of Peral, our goal to try and complete a hike that I had attempted a few years ago and not accomplished as the signage was confusing and lacking. Today we discovered all new markers and what turned out to be an amazing 4,29 km hike that will certainly be placed on my list of places to revisit, often.

I love how it was described on one of the sites I visited: It’s plain and charming landscapes reveal dry orchards, small gardens, and rich broad bean gardens. Here and there are brush strokes of natural vegetation. How I loved that, brush strokes of natural vegetation. I think Mother Nature would love that they called her work “brush strokes”. I’ll let the photos tell you more but in my opinion it was breathtakingly beautiful.

The path finally wound into the hamlet of Peral, quiet and very calm feeling. Some people working in their fields and gardens. I chatted with a very old man who explained to me (in Portuguese) that he was pinching back sections of his tiny vineyard to ensure a good crop…..at least that’s what I’m fairly certain he told me.

As the day was simply perfect, 25 degrees, an ever present light breeze, it seemed a shame to head home after only 1h15 minutes of hike and so I dug into my memory bank and remembered there was a new trail I wanted to explore near to where friends will be staying next year, and so off we headed to Azenheiro, about 10 minutes “up the road”.

A very interesting walk and a deceptive sign. From start to finish it was 5,97 kms and although it’s not indicated to be a “loop” we made it a loop, which always makes the walk more interesting as we get to see and experience new things. This too ended up being very varied landscape, mostly asphalt and gravel roads, but through fields, mountainside, into a small valley, and along another road to return. I need to go back and figure out one area that I think I somehow missed, but I do think my friends next year will make this a recurring hike as it’s so near their “home” and not a long trail.

All in all, a grand and glorious day and according to our weatherman (whom we don’t always trust) we have only more of the same from now until we head back to Canada on the 25th. Here’s to hoping!