Jo’s Monday walk : Capelinha and the lanes

Following on from last week’s walk down to the sea, I suggested I’d take you around a few of the country lanes and tracks, almost on my doorstep.  When we first bought our house in Tavira, there was very little property behind us.  From the rooftop we not only had our lovely sea view, but tree tops and greenery rolling away into the gentle hills.  Time, and development, being what it is, much of this is now interspersed with rooftops.  But it still only takes 5 or 10 minutes to be in open countryside.

When we direct people to our home we always say, stay on the E125 road through Tavira and take the turn off signed Fonte Salgada at the roundabout.  Our peaceful estate is on the left hand side, but if you continue on, you will be directed towards an animal sanctuary and a chapel.  This is the area known as Capelinha, a small scale but quite beautiful land of orchards.

Quinta de Capelinha lies not far along the road.  This was once the home of Manuel Joaquim Tavares Pais de Sousa e Andrade, Viscount and Baron, as well as Councilor and Mayor of Tavira, back in the 19th century.  The derelict family chapel sits by the roadside, abutted by a modern home and horticultural business, which specialises in fruit trees.

Today we will stay on the country road to Fonte Salgada, but there are several turn offs- narrow trails that weave in and around the orchards.

I pause to admire ripening carobs, and somewhere distant I can hear the sound of bells and the bleating of a lamb whose mother is out of sight.  The next turn off is ours, but just ahead lies the village of Fonte Salgada itself.  Should we take a look?

Sleepy in the midday sun, there’s not a lot to the village.  A café, closed at the minute, but no shop, so far as I could see.  A grain or cattle store, and a well.  Nowhere to spend your Saturday pocket money.

The road leads on up into the hills and I turn back to continue my walk.  There has been plentiful rain this Spring, a relief after a long, dry Winter.  The fields overflow with wildflowers and the air is scented with the heady aroma of orange blossom.

Figs ripen on the bough and the grass ripples with daisies.  The eloquence of the sky is a constant source of pleasure.

You’ve seen that last house before.  From wide, sweeping views I’ve turned down one of the many tracks leading back towards home.  Here I can dither and dawdle at will, eye picking out subjects that appeal.  Those little rock cairns seem to be flourishing.  And don’t the limes look exquisite?

The potato vines play hide and seek with the daisies, and a brave few remaining rock cistus turn their pretty faces up to the sun.  Plants I cannot name still have the power to enchant.  A stony path climbs gently past wizened olive trees and I’ve not far to go.  The air feels fresh and alive, raindrops clinging on in more sheltered places.

I am taking this opportunity to link to Jude’s #2020 Photo Challenge.  I know the vistas will appeal.  There are quite a few converging lines, and she never can resist a plant or two.  Funnily enough she is wandering down Cornish lanes in her post this morning.  A sign of the times?

walking logo

A lovely wander with Jude :

The Lanes in April

I had to include this one from Cathy.  I was with her every step of the way!

Cinque Terre: A vineyard walk in stunning Manarola

Serendipity has Sheetal in another of Cathy’s destinations.  Not strictly a walk, but too beautiful to leave out :

Travelling into the Tuscan World

Rupali takes us to another beautiful city.  I hope to follow her, one day :

An evening in Stockholm

Natalie stays close to home, but still finds beauty :

Life and Trumpeter Swan Sightings

Wherever he is, Drake is always perceptive :

When local is real local

And Eunice, too, is staying in her own neck of the woods :

A local walk at Easter

That likeable rogue, Jonno, is still out and about, with his missus :

The Croyde Bay Wednesday Walk

Just the name of this one wins me over!  Thanks, Alice :

Seahorse Way

Janet’s Monday walking again!  And any other day she can get out and about :

Monday walk…into the sun

Becky looks back on (or forward to  🙂  ) an Algarve favourite :

Rambling in the Algarvian hills

Let’s close with Cathy.  No-one is more prolific!  I love this symphony in blue :

Morocco: A day among the blue boats of Essaouira

I can occasionally get lost in these lanes, my sense of direction being lamentable.  I hope you enjoyed wandering with me.  Have a good week, stay safe, and see you next time!

117 comments

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  4. A beautifully crafted walk along lanes: I love the “eloquence of the sky”. So many familiar things too: the smell of orange blossom reminds me of Joe’s orange picking days when he’d come home perfumed with that wonderful smell, which would linger on his clothes through a few washes. Orchard country reminds me of the backblocks of Stanthorpe near where my daughter lives – the same sense of productive work. Figs? There was a fig tee leaning over the neighbour’s fence and virtually into my kitchen window in Broken Hill. And then that wonderful bit of rusty – or rust-coloured -machinery and poppies, both of these always a winner for me. Thank you.

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  10. Look at all those poppies and flowers!! Beautiful photos, Jo! I envy you a bit… hehehe. We can go out but I don’t want to venture far from home or in the mountains, as I’m pretty sure that a lot of people go during these sunny days and it would be impossible to maintain the social distancing… I’m missing the mountains so much!! Watching your photos make me travel these days 🙂

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    1. I was just talking to my son, who lives city centre in an apartment with no outside space and he’s finding it hard. The canal runs close by but even there it can be hard to avoid people. I feel so lucky sometimes. No end in sight in the UK 🤨💕

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  15. Your post is food for my soul. Love those gorgeous blue skies and green fields. Gives me a reason to smile. Thank you for taking me along with you Jo! xo

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    1. The skies have simply been magnificent lately, Su. Even tonight the clouds were roaming the skies as darkness fell. More rain to come but it leaves the world looking so beautiful 🙂 🙂 Thanks for walking with me.

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    1. It certainly has its moments, Anabel. Right now I’m fighting a conviction that I’ve gone to sleep and woken in the UK. That’s where rain belongs- right? 🙂 🙂

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