Jo’s Monday walk : Rock cistus and water

If there’s anything that fills me with delight, it’s the sight of a hillside covered with wild, rock cistus.  Back in January, I took you to Furnazinhas in the Algarve hills, and we walked south of there to the reservoir of Odeleite.  The cistus were just beginning to open, and I hoped that when I returned to do a second walk from the village they would be more advanced.  As we drove north from Castro Marim, cistus lined the road.

We left the village following the sign PR10 for Barrancos, though as Becky will tell you, nothing is guaranteed when following Portuguese trails.  We were forewarned that this might not be straightforward but, with a bit of perseverance, managed to find a way through the overgrown path to confront our first water crossing.  A wobble or two and I was across the stones, and feeling triumphant.

To be fair, we were lucky, because there has been just one solid, downpouring day in the last couple of months, so following the course of the Beco da Maria Galega was not as tricky as it might have been.  In fact, we were surprised at how green and fresh everything looked, with new growth everywhere.  We even spotted green lavender!  The rockbed was equally fascinating, as Becky describes.

I loved the variety of this walk.  As I followed the stream, a cottage with a small farmstead peeped through the trees.  Down at my feet, flowers cavorted nimbly in the grass and tiny pink stars winked up at me.  A frog played lazy hide and seek with the shade.

Rounding a bend, I heard the gentle chuckle of water.  A waterfall had formed in a deep cleft in the rocks, and I peered into its clear green depths.  On the stiller waters nearby, tiny white starlets floated.

We had Crocs and a towel with us but, as always happens when you come prepared, we had no need of them.  Although we did cross and recross the water any number of times, mostly a hop, skip or even just a stride was more than adequate.  Spring was all around us.

As we continued through the valley, two deeply-voiced birds startled us into silence as they called loudly to each other.  I’m no birder and didn’t recognise their cry at all, but my husband thought they might be corncrakes.  I happened to mention this on Hanna‘s blog, and she very kindly tried to help me identify the bird voices, as you’ll see in her Comments.

The trail was easy to follow, but a moment’s indecision arose around 7km.  Follow the road, or an interesting path that felt like you were on private property?  Hoping not to fall foul of any stray dogs, we chose the second.  Tiptoeing around what looked like newly tilled soil, I caught a flicker of pink and white in the long, damp grass.  Could they be early wild orchids?  The photos are, unfortunately, too blurred to tell.

A last flurry of cistus, thankfully no dogs, and we were back in the village where, once again, the cafe was closed.  But you’ve been a patient audience so I shall still reward you with cake.  It’s only right to celebrate your 1000th post, isn’t it?

Water is my element so I loved this walk.  I hope you did too.

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Lots to share again this week.  Thank you for your company.  It wouldn’t be half so much fun without you.  Please visit as many as you can, and join me here next time on Jo’s Monday walk?

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Lovely Debbie has spotted me a room with a great view this week, as she gallops around the world :

Ambling around Arachova

And Margaret has a nerve-tingling treat in store :

The foothills of the Sierra Nevada

You have to admire grit and determination, and the gurgle of water!  And Suzanne :

Hiking Mt Eliza Mine Loop

Janet finds some graves with a serene view :

Monday walk… a view to die for

And Alice goes looking for a piece of American Heritage :

Step into the Center of a Village dating back to 1135AD

While Susanne concentrates on a capital city :

A Capitol Tour of the Other Washington

I always enjoy a garden festival, don’t you?  Check this one out, with Sandra:

#Northwest Flower & Garden Festival (Post #2)

Heaven’s, Irene!  Will this lass ever be free of snow?

Reaching for the Goal

Drake must have chilly feet (but a warm heart  🙂  )

Streets of snow

And for any of you still missing ice and snow, Sartenada would love to take you walking in Finland :

Winter walk

How about a spot of sunny fishing with Jackie?

Pesca

Tea Bee mostly hikes in the English Lake District, but sometimes in warm, exotic places :

Visite du Jardin de Balata et la Route de la Trace, Martinique

Talking of exotic, how about this from Natalie?

Postcard from Guatemala City

Or better yet, stroll down Memory Lane with Susan :

Walking Otavalo, Ecuador

Cathy’s got us all looking up this week!

The Saint Louis Gateway Arch

It’s Carnaval week here in the Algarve and celebration is in the air.  I hope to bring a little singing and dancing your way.  Take care till then!

153 comments

      1. YES, in fact, I saw that one person you talk to on your sight is from the Indiana Dunes. That is where I am from. I saw her photos and thought, “THIS looks like the Indiana Dunes,” and it was.

        I have a nice picture of a polar bear swimming at the zoo on my post today. SHE was enjoying the cold weather. 🙂

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  3. That Cistus is just incredibly beautiful. Thank you also for the beautiful walk in this
    enticing landscape. So much beauty to see and long to experience.

    miriam

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    1. Imagine a hillside full of them, Miriam! Lower down the valley they lined the road. Higher up not so many are open but it won’t be long. 🙂 🙂 I love them!

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  5. Pingback: Monday walk: Fougerolles cherry festival | This, that and the other thing

  6. First things first: congratulations on your 1,000th post. After that: the walk looks beautiful and I loved seeing signs of spring. Although a few spring flowers are beginning to push their way from the cold earth here, we just hope they don’t get too far along and then get frozen. We try to wait patiently, but it’s difficult. 🙂 I think I’ll pass on the cake as I’m just ready for some breakfast and then a trip to the gym and I’m not in the mood for something very sweet. Maybe next time!

    Have a wonder-filled week,

    janet
    https://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2019/03/04/monday-walk-fougerolles-cherry-festival/

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    1. Thanks darlin! We’re sitting in a little cafe in Loule waiting for the Carnival parade to start. It’s damp today for a change and we’re having a toastie and watching the parades around the country on TV. Life’s hell 😍🎉💕 xx

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  12. A delightful spring post and congrats it being your 1000th. The flowers look lovely. Do many people have pet dogs where you are? Do the strays end up living in packs? X

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    1. There are lots of dogs here, not all of them looked after in the way you would like. Sometimes they’re tied up and can’t do much more than bark but sometimes they bound out of the property to ‘see you off’ and it can be quite alarming. 😦 Lots of people have them as pets on our estate and they’re fussed over. Not much of a problem with strays- just the odd one. 🙂 Thanks, darlin!

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    1. It’s a nice time of year, Andrew, even when it’s overcast, like today. 🙂 🙂 Yesterday was a scorcher, up in Alte for Carnival, but Mick’s dragging me along to Loulé this afternoon for something more exotic 🙂

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      1. How exciting. We’ve the builders in making us an extra bedroom out of the garage. Don’t forget that you are welcome to use if you are ever stuck for somewhere to stay in UK!

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      2. Thanks for that! 🙂 🙂 We’re in Leeds for 3 weeks this August looking after the little un, God help us! Need to sort out an Airbnb but life keeps getting in the way.

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  16. What a beautiful Spring-filled walk, Jo. A well written article illustrated with gorgeous photography.

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  17. Mythology – Cistus / Rock Rose

    The legend says that a council was formed on Mount Olympus where the gods determined which plants will be therapeutic. The gods have designated that rockrose will heal warriors wounded in battle. That annoyed the goddesses, because they were confident that the plant with the delicate pink blossoms would be more appropriate for cosmetic reasons, both internally and externally. The result was that cistus was attributed both therapeutic and cosmetic properties.

    Thank you for sharing BEAUTY my sweet JO!!!! Have a lovely weekend!!!!!

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  18. oh I am so happy you enjoyed this one as much as we did, and look at all that water you had! It’s so annoying about the cafe though . . . .be such a great place just to visit for cake!

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      2. Might be a bad choice looking at the weather 😦 We’ve been rained on in Moncarapacho before- they’ll still go ahead with it. 🙂 🙂 Alte was beautiful yesterday. We’re doing Loulé for Mick today and hoping our walk at Alcoutim will still be on tomorrow. 😦

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  19. So good to see your walk now not so far from us. Spring still struggling here in the Sierra for flowers but the warblers are back. We had a lovely short walk up to the old Alcoutim fort with lots of Asphodels and views last week.

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    1. We’re at Alcoutim with our walking group tomorrow. 🙂 🙂 A few clouds in the sky this morning and maybe a little rain later in the week. Much needed, of course- and it’s Carnaval week, so… 🙂

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