Jo’s Monday walk : Back to Serenity (Monte Velho)

I thought long and hard over whether I ought to include this walk, but I loved it.  Full of warmth and companionship, it was in celebration of a very special lady.  Roberta Smith was always Bobbie to me, and she was there right from the very beginning of my Algarve walking days.  A very determined lady, she had overcome a near fatal aneurism to get back to walking in the hills she loved.  Always she was spurred on by the promise of the one gin and tonic she allowed herself each week.  Simple pleasures for a lady who needed to be frugal.

Always kind to others, in the end life wasn’t kind to her.  Months short of her 65th birthday, and of drawing the pension she had so looked forward to, cancer abruptly claimed Bobbie.  We, her walking friends, were in shock.  It has taken close to a year for us to make this walk, in celebration of our time with her.  On a day of blue skies and softly drifting clouds, many of us said our goodbyes.

I’ve never struggled to know what Bobbie saw in these hills.  From the first time I ventured up here, I was under their spell.  The patterns that trail from valley to summit and down again, as the clouds gently jostle for position.  The trees, in silhouette on the horizon, gnarled and torn, up close.  The isolation of distant dwellings, and the ruins, sorrowful remnants of life.  The blues and violet shades that come with evening.  I love them all.

The start of our trail
No neighbours?
Just a ruin…
Trees and shadows
Scorched, but surviving

It is the time of year for medronho, the berries ripening with gold and scarlet temptation.  Recently I was offered them with a dessert, but more often they are distilled to a fiery beverage.  To keep out those winter chills.  The wind can be cold up here.

Finally, at the summit, a ceremony was performed.  One of our group had carried her ashes.  Another filled a glass with the G & T she loved.  Another had photos of when we were last all together.  We had no idea, then…

We continued through desperately arid land, streams dry as dust, but life clinging on determinedly, as it must.  Afterwards we convened at a restaurant in the hills that we often use.  Those who had been unable to walk joined us there, to celebrate Bobbie’s life, and to raise a toast.

Life is short.  Some are luckier than others.  But all of us must find a path.  I hope that Bobbie and her many friends will not mind me sharing hers.

walking logo

There are many walks and lives to share here this week.  Please find a little time to visit each other.  See you next time, on Jo’s Monday walk.

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Patience is rewarded, oh, so beautifully, for Jude :

Waiting for a sunny day

While Alice finds beauty of a very different kind :

The Elephant on the Desert

Feast your eyes on this lot!  Sandy plays gourmet in Lisbon :

Food and Restaurants -# Portugal

Someone else who doesn’t have an aversion to food- you can always eat well with Jackie :

Hot Chocolate

Some beautiful finds in the woods, with Janet :

Monday walk…in memoriam

While Natalie shows us Autumn in all its splendour :

Agawa Canyon: From Rail to Trail

A follow-up to Denzil’s recent Foresters’ Memorial post :

The 2-Memorial Sonian Forest Walk

And to Ann Christine’s walk through stunning Old Tbilisi :

Thursday Thoughts – A Last Walk – Until next time, Aleksandr!

Have you been walking with that lovely man Ernst lately?  And Gisella, too :

A mountain hike in the Appenzeller Alps (Switzerland)

Or that other lovely man, who sometimes likes life a…

Little bit dangerous

And talking of gentlemen, have you seen this post from Debbie?

A very short walk with a Superstar

It’s a little cool for me in Irene’s part of the world.  Or do I mean, ‘a lot’?

Frosty Morning Walk

A Winter Fantasyland

And Karen can hardly see her hand in front of her face!

A soggy walk in the Blue Mountains

I don’t know much about this part of the world, but I wouldn’t mind keeping Athena company :

Hiking the Columbia Gorge

And I had hoped to join Cathy on her journey, but it wasn’t to be :

(Camino day 44) Lestedo to Melide

I did, however, make it to the Azores, and I will return.  If these photos don’t entice you…

Hiking the Azores: The Mystery behind the Mistérios Negros

That’s all for another week.  I’m feeling quite emotional.  It must be the time of year.  Thank you so much, all of you who’ve followed the Living the dream journey with me.  Stay well, be kind to each other, and enjoy your week!

119 comments

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  3. I actually did a Monday walk yesterday as I had a friend visiting from Brighton, but the weather was so foul that I took no photographs although one or two could have shown a wintry aspect that might have proved interesting. Still, juggling a camera under an umbrella while wearing gloves isn’t easy, so I decided against it. Besides, we have had so much wind that all the colourful flowers and leaves have been stripped of their supports. Maybe I just need your eye for a good shot. I thought your walk was a wonderful way to remember your friend.

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    1. It’s turned quite moody here at present, Mari. We were up in the hills in cloud and mist this morning, but it was still lovely. It cleared towards the end of the walk and we had a lovely meal together. No wonder Bobbie loved to do this! 🙂 🙂

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  5. A touchingly beautiful post Jo for your special friend and a lovely way to honour her memory in such a wonderful and serene setting up in the mountains. I’m sorry I have been rather absent for the past week and a half – a family crisis in the Uk has been preoccupying my time amongst other things. My dear aunt, who is my dad’s only surviving sibling, has been in hospital and not expected to survive. It now appears that the immediate crisis is over but she already had dementia before her recent falls and now alas is very far gone. We now need to find her a suitable nursing home with specialist dementia care as she can’t go back to her house even with carers coming in. I can only give moral support from afar – she has never married or had kids so my brother, who is the only one of her nieces and nephews living nearby, is having to sort things out. My dad is naturally very distressed and it is bringing back painful memories of losing my mum for him – she had dementia and spent the last few years of her life in a nursing home. I may well do a quick trip over by myself early next year but have Mlle arriving next Friday and much to do before Christmas! Your post is a timely reminder to enjoy the present and appreciate the many beauties in life. I hope you’re doing ok, take care xx

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    1. Bless you, hon- it all arrives at the least convenient time, doesn’t it? I suspect you’d be heading for the UK yourself if Christmas arrangements weren’t already made. It sounds cruel but in many ways it will be a mercy for your aunt if she does not survive long, but it’s terrible for your Dad, whichever way it goes. Your thoughts are always with the ones you can’t be with at Christmas, but I’m sure they’ll feel the love from afar. Sending hugs 🙂 🙂

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      1. Thanks so much Jo – unfortunately this has not been the best of weeks. I spent all yesterday helping my daughter out (they live about 45 minutes drive from our place). Very sadly their beautiful dog suddenly became ill on Wednesday evening and passed away in less then 2 hours. She was only 5 and a half and had been a wonderful companion to them all and especially our 2 young granddaughters. It was so hard seeing them so upset. She was such a beautiful dog and hopefully in time the special memories of happy times with her will be a comfort. Oh dear it does all seem to happen at once. Am off to do the school run and spend some time with them again in about an hour. I’m way behind with Christmas preparations this year but we always seem to get there in the end! Hope things are going well with you – sorry if I sound a bit maudlin today. Have a lovely weekend xx 🙂 🙂

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      2. You’re the second person this week who’s told me they’ve lost a much loved dog. Awful for the kids! Hopefully Christmas will be a distraction, though for you it’s a lot of work. I would keep prep to a minimum, Rosemay. As you say, we always get there, and so long as there’s food on the table and a few presents, what more do you need? Go easy on yourself! Sending hugs xx

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      3. Aww that’s so sad to hear Jo it’s so hard when a pet passes away – they are such special family members. Sensible advice – Christmas gets so overblown and commercialised just a nice meal, a few presents and good company is ample. There are many not so fortunate. Just got back from spending time with the family – the kids are coping reasonably well under the circumstances. Lots of questions and they are trying to process it all but they are sure that Nutsy their dog is still around and enjoying time in a giant doggy playground in the sky with her friends, so sweet and poignant at the same time.
        I’m typing this on our sofa next to our own dog who decided that we’d been away too long today and it might be a good idea to rearrange my living room cushions. Can’t be cross with him, thankful he’s around to cause mischief. Hope you have a relaxing weekend and thanks so much for your kind wishes much appreciated! Xx 😃

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  12. What a beautiful way to honour your friend Jo. None of us know what may lay ahead, a very sad reminder of how we must embrace each & every day we are gifted. Sending you much love 💕

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      1. Hi Jo… you know me; always popping up like a bad penny every so often! ☺️ Genrally things are OK here… getting through. Hope you’re OK too.

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    1. It’s impossible not to think of her when we’re walking in the hills, Kamal. She struggled with some of the inclines but never gave up till she was really ill. 🙂 🙂

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  18. This is beautiful tribute, dear Johanna and I can almost understand and feel how great person she was… You are so nice dear, Love, nia

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