Jo’s Monday walk : Guadiana dreaming

Although I love a good walk I would almost never turn down a boat trip.  This one came with the option of an hour’s guided walk at our destination, Foz de Odeleite.  But it was hot and I was feeling lazy, so I declined.  Put your feet up and ride along with me?

We leave from the quayside at Vila Real de S. Antonio, at the mouth of the mighty Guadiana river.  Briefly we head towards the ocean, passing the glossy marina, while our guide relates a few facts and figures.  Midstream we turn to head up the Guadiana, with Portugal on our left hand side and Spain on the right.  Ayamonte, with its plazas and tapas bars, sits directly opposite to Vila Real.

Soon we are passing the inlet that leads to Castro Marim, with its fine duet of castles and church.  A wonderful Medieval Fair in late August usually brings the town to life, though not this year, of course.

Ahead lies the road bridge that links the Algarve with Spain, closed for a while when Covid-19 was at its peak.  A small car and passenger ferry also shuttles to and fro between Vila Real and Ayamonte.

As we approach the bridge it becomes less attractive, swaddled for protection while repairs take place.  The water is flat calm and smooth, but we are astonished at the apparently endless fleet of jellyfish streaming past us out to sea.

The first of several former customs offices maintains a sleepy vigilance on the shoreline as the gentle hills drift past us.  These hills never seem so gentle when you are on foot, but now we are at leisure to observe.  Perched high in a tree, someone spots an eagle and we crane eagerly to see it.

And then we are approaching our mooring at Foz de Odeleite.  Another boat docks ahead of us and we hover, waiting our turn.

An ugly, half constructed building has overlooked the tiny, picturesque village for as long as I can remember, and we wonder if it will ever be completed or removed.  A short walk takes us uphill to our restaurant, where we can swim or sit in shade while a few energetic people take the hour long walk.  It’s an area we have walked before and it’s much too hot to feel guilty.

I have to say here that organised trips, with entertainment, are not normally our thing, but we were a group of 8 friends, happy to be together, and we all agreed that this was a great way to spend a day.  The food was excellent and our hosts did their utmost to give us a good time.  Everyone, kitchen staff and our guide included, joined in with the singing.

We booked online with Riosultravel and were made very welcome at Quinta do Rio.  I would recommend it.  Both on board and in the restaurant it was easy to maintain social distancing.  Soon enough we returned to our boat and the journey back downstream.  The atmosphere was mellow, and singing and dancing continued for a while, till we subsided to watch the world glide by.

And then we were approaching the end of our trip, with Ayamonte on our left hand side.  Hardly any walking this week, and our dessert was a healthy chunk of melon!  Sorry to disappoint  🙂

This is as good a time as any to announce a rest from my walks.  Over the spring and summer I felt unable to discontinue.  It’s a popular feature and I wanted to stay in touch with you all.  It’s been a strange one, hasn’t it?  I will continue to walk with a small group of friends, as restrictions on numbers currently apply in Portugal, but the routes are unlikely to be new.  There is still a lot of uncertainty regarding all our futures, but I’d like the freedom to post as and when I choose.  I hope you’ll understand.

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I have a wonderful selection of walks to end with.  Please enjoy these, and thank you everybody for all your support and encouragement.

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I always like to introduce somebody new (to me), and this is such a beautiful part of the world.  Meet Vanessa :

Berchtesgaten, Germany/7 day itinerary for a hiking holiday in the Bavarian Alps

Also in Germany, Ulli shares a few observations on life :

Objets trouvés

It’s a while since I’ve been in Italy, and never to this lovely place :

Ostuni: la cittá bianca

Drake often prompts me to song.   ‘You must remember this, A kiss is still a kiss, A sigh is still a sigh…’ :

As time goes by

Let’s go rambling and ambling with Albert in North Korea :

Pujon Stone River and Revolutionary Site

Can we find Rupali, in the fog?

Wordless Foggy Walk

I hate grey skies!  Mutter, mutter!  But not with Margaret :

Wild-ish Walking in Wensleydale

Eunice hit the jackpot with blue skies and a lovely canal path this week :

Lancaster Canal – Garstang to Catterall

Not always the best weather but you’re spoilt for choice with Anabel.  Got a favourite?

Blairgowrie: the walks

Prickly pear are the subject of Janet’s walk.  Ouch!  🙂

Monday walk…Careful where you step!

If you ever find yourself in Belgium you could do much worse than try one of Denzil’s walks :

Three walks in Hainaut Province

And if you can’t find something to delight here, with Lynn, you’re really not trying!

Local Walks: Two Walks by the Water

The last word, from Carol, in Oz :

It’s a Sign

Don’t worry- I’ll be back, in one form or another.  This week I celebrated 9 years of blogging.  It’s addictive, isn’t it?  Take care till then!

117 comments

    1. Hi Janet 🤗💕 The link to Careful where you walk is included. I don’t always put them in the order in which I receive them, but try to present them in some sort of context, so maybe it slipped your notice. I’m just arrived home so I’ll pop round in a while. Thanks for all your support 😍

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  7. Well that was a nice leisurely day out, I can manage a boat trip when it’s on a calm river 😉 and I have actually been over that bridge! I don’t blame you for packing in the walks, I haven’t been anywhere new this year and it does get somewhat repetitive. Though here there is the difference in seasonal changes which are worth recording, whereas you have endless blue skies. I hope you’ll continue to post when you fancy or if you do manage a visit to a new place. 😘

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    1. I need some scheming time, Jude and I’m tired of being tied to a schedule. There will be more but I thrive on change while Mick likes routine. Sitting beside the sea right now and there is no room for complaint. I have a few things I’d like to write about… So I won’t be far away. 🤗💕💕

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  8. Hi, Jo, how are you doing today? 😀 I have always loved Portugal but seeing it again and again through your beautiful photos, makes me fall in love with the country even more. It’s amazing to see how diverse Portugal is and how easy it is to go from coastal views to fishing villages. Thanks for sharing and have a lovely day 😀 Aiva

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  9. I have a hard time passing up on a boat ride too, Jo. I understand about the need for a rest. Congratulations on 9 years! I got notice from WP last week of my 8 year anniversary. It is addicting or is it the connections with the people? Take care! xo

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  10. It is nice, from time to time, to travel with “unusual” modes of transport 🙂
    I personally loved my boat trips in Bruges and Prague, boat trips give you a unique point of view of the city you’re visiting.

    I totally agree with you: they should either complete that builing or knock it down!
    Take care and have a great week!

    PS
    Thanks for sharing my walk in Ostuni 🙂

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  12. What a lovely boat ride. The jellyfish are a shame though. We’ve had a lot too. Sorry to hear you are ending your walks posts. I have always enjoyed them. Funnily enough I feel like I have discovered more walks during this difficult time because I have been searching for new places to go alone and away from the crowds.

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    1. We have done very many local walks, Lisa. Some were new to me but I feel I’ve exhausted them. I will post more in the future but I would value a little freedom right now. Always nice to hear from you 🤗💕

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  13. It is sometimes nice to leave the boots behind and enjoy a more sedentary day out.
    Jo, I, fully understand your decision to have a little rest. Hopefully you will get to some new walks in the not to distant future and back to the walk writing and sharing other bloggers walks…. you have introduced me to some great blogs which I now follow too. I look forward to the hearing of some of the other things you have in mind. Take care.

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  15. I love a leisurely boat trip and this one looks lovely. Great photos as always, I particularly like the first one and the one with the boat in front of you at the dock. The pool looks lovely, I would have stayed put too 🙂 Melon on a hot day sounds good 🙂

    I’m currently on a two-week holiday from work and apart from one day last week I’ve been out every day, walking and exploring pastures new for future blog posts – I’ll need to go back to work for a rest! 🙂 Thanks for the link, enjoy your walking break and I’ll look forward to reading whatever you write about next – your posts are always so interesting and enjoyable 🙂

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    1. That’s the trouble with holidays, Eunice- exhausting! 🙂 🙂 Hopefully I’ve brought you some new readers over the years, but we can only go forwards. Not back! Thanks for your company and I’ll see you ‘next time’.

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  17. Absolutely loved all of your posts and all of your walks Jo. So interesting to see such different locations and hear all of your stories. It’s great that you have a group of good friends to spend time with so enjoy the walks you still do and hopefully we can stay connected. Stay safe.

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      1. You too. Maybe take a break from it for a long while and get that Oomph back. The new editor takes a bit of practice and patience to get used to, much much slower to use I reckon.

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  19. Pingback: Kranzbach holiday – Ladyleemanila

  20. Phew, I made it into this week’s list just in time! It does look quite hot in these photos, I think it’s the very blue sky. Sometimes things come to an end quite naturally and if you feel you need a break, this is a good time to take one. I hope we still get to see some of your beautiful adopted home at times Jo, but only when you’re feeling up to it. Take care!

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    1. Yes, barely just 🙂 🙂 I’m not stopping posting, Carol- just the walks for a while. I have a couple of other things in mind. It’s not interesting to me to walk the same paths over and over. I always prefer pastures new, but it isn’t always possible. We have a very good circle of friends and plenty of social activity so I’m not unhappy. Thanks, hon 🙂 🙂

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