Jo’s Monday walk : Back to the salt pans

I make no apologies for being back among the salt marshes today, for they always captivate me.  Especially when powder puff clouds drift away to the horizon in a pure blue sky, or luxuriate in salty sand puddles.  It’s a landscape that changes mood with the weather; sullen and drab, until the sun sweeps aside the muted colours, bathing them, and me, in warmth and light.

As with Changing Reality I’m heading for the sea, but this time in an easterly direction, towards the small resort, Cabanas.  A cycle path renders this area a hazard to walkers in peak times, but today I’m breaking new ground for me and striking out into the marshes.

You probably don’t recognise the cyclist’s bridge over the River Almargem from this angle, dwarfed as it is by the railway bridge.  I always hope to catch a train trundling across, but it never happens.  Turning my back on the bridges, I follow the river.  Far better than trains, I have the prospect of flamingos in this calm stretch of water.  And sure enough, there they are!  Tiny at first, in the distance.

I hope to startle them a little, for they are beautiful in flight, but they remain oblivious and eventually I tear myself away.  The way ahead looks promising.  Behind me, a shimmering lagoon of water.  The flamingos, mere specks.

I follow the curve of the rough path, towards the open sea at first, but then curving back around the salt pans.

The sludge and caramel colours and soft reflections blend together with the azure sky.

As I near the salt mountain I wonder at the giant ‘needle’ suspended in the sand.  We’re approaching my Hula ladies again, graceful in the breeze.

There are two choices now- a return via the Salinas estate, or to continue on towards Fort Rato and back into Tavira that way.  I opt for the first, and am gratified to snatch a photo of the train hurtling along.

One last look from the cyclist’s bridge and home to put the kettle on, another 9 or 10km completed.  I’m sure there must be cake as a reward.  I’m linking again with Jude’s #2020 Photo Challenge.  This week she’s looking at curved lines and I feel sure I have a number here.  No squares for me today, but #SquareTops does share a strong connection with salt.

walking logo

I’m very lucky to have some lovely people following this blog.  Drake is assuredly one of them :

Story of the tiny church

Skywalker holds the line (no, not Luke!)

And a quiet little lady can show you Korean cherry blossoms in all their glory :

Namsan’s Cherry Blossom Trail

Experience the beauty of her world with Rupali :

Morning walk

Weekend Walk 93

Staying close to her new home, Janet loves the morning too :

Monday walk…Yes, indeed, I’m walkin’

While Amanda is happy to introduce you to her Home by the Sea :

Birds and Sports

And Eunice has found a new walk, close by :

A circular walk from Barrow Bridge

Indra will very happily take you to Central Park :

A Welcome Escape

While Colline is taking her books for a walk :

A Small Stream

Chocolates, anyone?  Sorry, there aren’t any, but Natalie has the recipe for staying fit and well :

Life is Like a Box of Chocolates

I always enjoy a stroll with Flavia.  And this time I’m singing…Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen!

Copenhagen – Rosenborg Castle

While Su tempted me into a fabulous garden with her beguiling title :

To touch a hundred flowers

And Irene looks back at London as it once was, and will be again :

Memories of London

A feast of photography from Cathy this week :

Morocco: Essaouira to Marrakech’s Bahia Palace

And in a completely different style, but no less beautiful, Lynn shares her world :

Local Walks: Back to Washington Park

I hope you found something to enjoy here with me today.  I’ll be back walking next Monday.  Stay safe till then!

137 comments

  1. You are lucky to have so many different walks on your doorstep. No other people taking exercise? It all looks very empty out there. And flat. I like flat. Must get out to the supermarket this afternoon as it looks like rain on its way over the rest of the week and I really do not fancy queuing outside in the rain! I have a sneaky walk for you once I get around to writing it up (well mainly photos as it is an oft trod path). Meanwhile I shall contemplate my tulips as they slide into decay and await the arrival of the next flush of blooms. Take care out there! 😊

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    1. I’m selective with my shots but in general there aren’t too many people about. Not hard to avoid them, especially in the countryside. This area can get what passes for busy around here 🤭. It poured overnight and I was resigned to food shopping today but it blew over so we walked to Quatro Aguas – where yesterday’s square was – and back via the bakery. Buns and just a bit of cake 🤣🍩🥯💕

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  5. Pingback: Broken eggs | Le Drake Noir

  6. What a beautiful walk under a gorgeous sky. And seeing those flamingos, even from a distance, must have been wonderful. Have a great week ahead Jo. 😊

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  9. Another lovely walk and great photos, I love the flamingos and your hula ladies, they remind me of a large estate I visited in South Africa several year ago 🙂 Thanks for the link by the way, I really must get round to reading some other walks otherwise it’s not fair 😦

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  14. What beautiful photos. Don’t apologise for showing us your lovely part of the world. I read yesterday that the skies are even bluer right now due to the lessening pollution. Yay!

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      1. So true. I have noticed more about the neighbours properties, mostly good things like pretty doors or plants in their gardens. Usually we’re all so much in a hurry or driving past – we miss a lot. I have also thought about how scruffy my own house frontage looks – and wonder what the neighbours think of that – ha ha – since been doing a lot of gardening but can’t fix the broken front wall !

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  15. Beautiful Jo, the salterns are such wonderful areas to while away a few hours. I am envious you have these almost on your doorstep. I am glad though you didn’t startle the flamingos. I know they look fabulous in flight, but human interruptions have such a negative impact on birding behaviour. Too many and they won’t come back.

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  17. I know I’d love this landscape too, and your photos are captivating. Sorry not to have joined in the walks, despite walking every single day. That Becky is very demanding!

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  19. Familiar places are never the same twice are they? A lovely walk satisfying my urge for something that’s not ocean. How ungrateful can one be? I love this walk, and your descriptive prose does it wonderful justice.

    (Have you been following the peat fire in Poland? And that was my escape-from-fire place.)

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    1. No! Whereabouts, Meg? I don’t follow many Polish blogs and I don’t suppose it would be headlines over here. Nothing is happening anywhere but the virus, is it? I had correspondence from my family in Krakow this week, but nothing mentioned. Will message you later. And thanks for your kindness. 🙂 🙂 I’m missing my favourite short walk down to Barril beach. Sending hugs, darlin!

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      1. Thanks Jo . . . . you are probably right as short flights due to fear/dispersal/disturbance are not good as they expend so much energy in take off and even in flying they continue to expend lots of energy as they beat their wings continuously. Flamingos have not conquered soaring although amazingly they can preen in flight. So it is great these ones were relaxed enough to stay where they were 🙂

        Worth being aware though that research on the impact of human disturbance shows even our presence has insidious and cumulative effects. 😦 Consequently I am becoming more and more wary of even walking past these days. I wish there were screens and hides in the salterns as that way we get to enjoy their beauty and they get to not see us!

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      2. I appreciate your concern, hon. They are so beautiful. 🙂 We were at uite a distance from them and I used my zoom with no particular success to make them visible. Will use caution in future. They seem to have chosen their preferred spots.

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