Jo’s Monday walk : Sunrise on the Salt Pans

I sometimes do daft things!  When I saw a sunrise walk featured in Tavira, in Todos a Caminhar, I just knew I had to do it.  I’ve always wanted to live beside a beach, so that I could slip outside into that beguiling early morning light.  My reality is far from that, but a 20 minute stroll will bring me to the riverside, and beyond, a world of salt marshes and oyster catchers.

Trying not to disturb a certain person, I tiptoed down the stairs at 5.45, gulped a few mouthfuls of coffee, and out into the mild, morning air.  I thought I had made good time down to the Praca, but when I got there the place was deserted.  I hadn’t been sure how many other enthusiasts to expect, but the streets of Tavira were Sunday morning sleepy.  Just as I was deciding what to do, a lady in joggers sprinted into the square, threw off her jacket and made off at speed.  It was 6.18am!   I had missed the start by three minutes.  And sure enough, the sun was just starting to rise.

I had no intention of hot footing it after them.  I had all this to myself!  In lazy pursuit, I ambled out along the river.  The soft light pearled the water, the stillness unbroken.  Even the birds were enjoying a Sunday snooze.

As I reached the edge of the salt pans I smiled to myself.  There in the distance, lycra clad figures sped towards me.  All of this seemed wasted on them.  I continued to stroll and snap.  As they straggled past me, in twos and threes, I smiled ‘Bom dia!’ but most were focused on home.

Across the salt pans there was just enough light to reflect Tavira in the water.  Ahead, the small marina and boatyard of Quatro Aguas.  It’s a place that I love, but I had never seen it in such opalescent light.

Enjoying the early morning mellow.  Gently I retraced my steps, in the ever increasing light.  Mauve crept into the heather and bronze lit the sandbanks.  I played at being a birder for a while, an obliging chap posing for me.  The wrecked mill drew closer.

And then I was back in town, and crossing the flyover.  A fisherman, releasing his boat to catch the tide.  Passing the common, a strange sight caught my eye.  An inverted Minnie Mouse, remnant of last night’s festival revelry, perhaps?

An elderly gentleman with a nice smile had also observed the balloon.  As I stopped to take the shot, an agitated shrieking filled the air.  Body taut and wings beating rapidly, it flew overhead again and again.  I supposed it must have had young close by.  Feeling like an intruder, I wearily returned home, where all was still silent.  Time to put the kettle on and start the day.

I hope you enjoyed watching the sun rise with me.  I’d like to add it to Cathy’s Photographic challenge at Wander.essence.  She’s doing some fine work over there.  I tried to bring the salt marshes alive for you.  I’m half-tempted to add this to Tina’s Soft too.  I hope she won’t mind.  The light on the water was so very soft that morning.  Are you following the Lens Artists?

Many thanks to all of you who accompany me each week.  My wanderings would be nothing without you.  Join me here any time.

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Let’s start with Lady Lee and an outing to the park :

Skywatch – our day out

Alice invites you to ‘smell the flowers’.  It’s that time of year, isn’t it?

Delaware Park- Buffalo NY

Some people say I have too many of these, but Jackie’s a lady who knows all about food :

Tea Break

A world far removed from my experience.  Let Janet take you there :

Monday walk…. sites and sights of Sheridan

Nothing I like better than going adventuring with Drake :

Bay of Kiel

Geoff rediscovers the delights of the Kent coast :

Thanet, a Walk on the Not so Wild Side #walking#kent

And Eunice shares some local history and a pleasant walk :

A local walk to Hall i’ th’ Wood

The heat has been getting to them in Norfolk, I think, but Janaline makes the most of this garden tour :

A walk through West Acre Garden in Norfolk

Fancy walking a race circuit?  Let Jaspa take you to Monaco!

Walking the Epic Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix Racetrack

I always love Aarti’s style :

Walk in a Monasterio

A very different monastery experience from Banactee, dipping back into memory :

Climbing on Mt. Sinai

And finally, another enthralling outing with Cathy.  The scenery is superb!

Strolling along Park Avenue at Arches

That’s all folks!  Wishing you a wonderful week.  Hope you can get out and about a bit.  See you next week!

150 comments

  3. Thanks for taking us on a very early morning walk. It is surprising what you see at the crack of dawn! I love how you have described the light. Opalescent. And it was. 🙂

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  4. What a beautiful walk, Jo! I love that early morning light, especially in the later pictures. Too bad you missed the rest of the group, but I’m sure the silence and solitude was lovely anyway. Thanks for including my link and I’ll be happy to include this in my next photography post on Thursday.

    By the way, these pictures make me think of the book I just finished reading yesterday, called 300 Days of Sun by Deborah Lawrenson. It takes place mainly in Faro, but also in Cascais and Lisbon and other parts of southern Portugal. You might like it. I enjoyed it a lot. 🙂

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    1. I don’t really fit with the lycra set, Cathy, as you can imagine. I was more than happy to have the place to myself and it was beautiful. Sounds like an interesting read. I’ll look out for it. Thanks a lot. Just come back from a fairly short walk with our group. One of them is recovering from hip surgery so it was more social than energetic. Hugs darlin xx

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      1. I can imagine! Neither do I! I would have enjoyed the solitude myself. Glad you enjoyed your social walk. I’m going to call another doctor today to see about an appointment for a diagnosis and treatment for my knee. I need some practical and helpful information, and that other doctor just didn’t give me any! Enjoy your day. 🙂

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  5. I think you were very lucky to miss the start and be able to wander at your own speed taking those fabulous photos to share with us Jo. Such a beautiful light and opalescent is exactly the correct word to describe it. Just magical, well worth getting out of bed for

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  6. You’re extremely lucky to have a river nearby, Jo. Living near the beach is my dream too and I really hope I’ll get to do it one day. I love sunrise and your pictures left me speechless. It’s one of the best time of the day!

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  7. Beautiful images of the sunrise Jo, I love the soft glow and the tranquillity – what a glorious start to the day! 🙂💖 xxx

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      1. I enjoy you photos very much. Thank you for sharing. I know it’s a breathtaking experience to watch the sun coming up and turn into a bright sky. My daughter and her hubby climbed a mountain to watch it.

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  14. The “golden hour” is very special and makes your photos have an ethereal like quality. I am a morning person and love the sunrise, it is a great time to capture some beautiful photos. It must be lovely for you to live so near the river? Thanks for such a relaxing vicarious walk😄

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    1. Thank you! 🙂 Sorry- I thought I replied to you this morning. Todos a Caminhar walks normally take place at 10.00am on Sundays, and are a mix of keep fit enthusiasts and ordinary folk like myself. They are a health initiative run by the council. I was very surprised to see the sunrise walk on the programme, but quite glad that I ‘missed’ it.

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  17. Oh yes Jo, I did enjoy that meditative walk with you. The water, the rising sun and
    its lights on the water. The boats, all such a beautiful start of the day.

    miriam

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  18. So very glorious… the colors and the tranquility.

    I am a night person, but whenever I am jet lagged… I get to enjoy the glorious early hours before a day begins. Your photos are incredible!

    Such a special place in the world.

    Peta

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  19. Essence of gorgeousness, Jo. I rarely see the world at this hour, at least not vertically. It’s always a gift when one does, and especially here in Tavira. Lovely to see it through your eyes and in this light.

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  20. Pingback: A local walk to Hall i’ th’ Wood – Life In The Mouse House

      1. What am I (not) thinking of?? I thought I’d commented on this when I first read it early this morning but it seems I didn’t 😦 Sunrise photos, especially over water, can be lovely and you’ve got some good ones here. There’s something special about being alone in the peace and quiet as the sun comes up and casts its early morning glow – well worth getting up early for, and I’m looking forward to doing the same when I camp within yards of a lovely Norfolk beach in September 🙂

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      2. It’s fine, hon. I thought you were off to work, and apart from the first half dozen I never get around to my comments till mid-afternoon. 🙂 🙂 Whereabouts in Norfolk will you be?

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      3. I’ll be at my usual site at California just north of Yarmouth – the camping field is on a cliff top with the beach immediately below. No dog restrictions either so it’s great for walking my two, especially in the early morning when I often have the whole place to myself 🙂 Here’s my latest walk too, I hope you’re feeling energetic as it’s a long one! 🙂 🙂
        https://mousehouselife.wordpress.com/2018/08/06/jumbles-reservoir-a-long-walk/

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