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

  2. Hi Jo, Spring is in the air, at least for you! It is still so gray and dreary here, and yesterday, we had snow/rain all day in Cincinnati. I love seeing spring in your neck of the woods. Thanks so much for sharing my link. By the way, it’s Saint Louis. 🙂

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  5. What a beautiful, beautiful walk. This time virtual isn’t quite enough. I want to actually see the frog playing lazy hide and seek with the shade, and other delights you show so well in both image and word. Congratulations on 1000 and may there be many more.

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  9. Isn’t it amazing the difference a little bit of rain makes. Everything seems to just wait for it and then off they all go, sending up new shoots and starting to bud. Congratulations on reaching such a writing milestone, Jo! That’s an achievement.

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  10. Congratulations on your 1000th post! I can’t even imagine being that consistent for that long in the blogging world. For the occasion, shouldn’t we be giving YOU a massive and most delicious cake?!

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  11. RJo – nothing like that crinkled-paper look of the rock cistus! Of course, I also love those walking post signs – it really gives a statement about the importance of getting out and about. Happy walking – Susan

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  12. I’ve never seen wild cistus and your photographs of the flowers are great. What a beautiful plant. Your mention of corncrake took me back to my childhood on the farm when, as children, we knew every bird call there was, and yes, we listened for the first cuckoo. I was off the generation that walked to school along country lanes checking on the birds nests – the ones that laid their eggs in the hedgerows. We knew not to touch, just to look and count, and not to breathe too near the eggs, especially those of the wren who supposedly shied off if she smelled a human. How innocent we were at ten, no mobile phones, no television, no MP3 players! But we had the sound of the lark in the early morning, not much of a compensation I can hear today’s children say, but when there was nothing else it sufficed.

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    1. Yes, very different times, Mari. 🙂 🙂 I walked to school too but I was a townie. Still knew not to touch though 🙂 I’ve never been much good at identifying birds. They’re off soon as look at me! Flowers stay a bit longer, and I love these cistus, Just like huge pansies.

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  14. Jo, you were fortunate to come across stepping stones, makes for a quieter walk. Unlike our walking through streams and the squishing sound of water in my boots. All part of the fun 🙂 Lovely to see new growth after rain. We need a good soaking and I’m hoping it won’t come all at once!
    Thanks for the mention, much appreciated x

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    1. There’s been so little rain that the streams are mostly dry, Suzanne, but we do have a rainy forecast for the next couple of days so I’m glad we did this walk when we did. 🙂 🙂 You’re very welcome, hon. Any time! 🙂

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      1. Yes, I know how dry Portugal can get and any rain is always welcome especially for the farmers. We need some too, though hopefully not all at once! Have a good night 🙂

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  18. Pingback: Camellia Garden Walk

  20. No cake for us for a while I’m afraid 😦 so I shall have to just look at yours, or was this Mick’s? Anyway it will all be gone by now. Congrats on the 1000th post – I assume all posts not just the walks? Now 1000 walks will be time for cake! 🎂 and champagne 🍸 The walk looks very interesting, lots to see, and I am quite taken with the Cistus. Keep wondering whether to buy one for here.

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    1. That was actually mine! Too sweet for you 🙂 🙂 No idea how many walks, but I expect I’ll have turned my toes up before I hit 1000 🙂 We had a white cistus in the Hartlepool garden, so I don’t see why not. I was ogling bougainvillea in the garden centre this morning but I couldn’t choose between 2. I was on my way to the supermarket and Mick was playing tennis (he gets time off, occasionally 🙂 ) and it would have been awkward to carry. But soon!

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      1. Oh, yes, you must buy a bougainvillea. I love the orange and pink one ‘Orange King’. My worry with the cistus is that my garden is VERY windy, not sure the flowers would last. I see them in the George V garden, but it is quite sheltered there.

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