A photo walk to the beach

A walk to the beach from where I live always involves crossing water, so I’m starting from the bridge at Barril. We have to cross the Ria Formosa to the barrier island of Tavira. In the distance, Santa Luzia, a haven of tranquility at this time of year, a warm day in early October. You always have the option to hop on the steam train, or you can do as I usually do and cross the causeway on foot.

You’ll have to use your imagination here. Think scurrying crabs and scented pines, and a soft blue sky overhead. It takes 15 minutes or so to make the crossing, and you can be sure the train will chug past you at some point. Be friendly and wave!

The main fascination with this beach is the Anchor Graveyard, and I’ve brought you here many times. Each time I’m captivated by the beauty and pathos of these anchors as they cling to their home on the dunes. Each time, a little more rust. Each time, another gaping hole in the metal. How long, I wonder, till they crumble to dust?

But let’s not be downhearted. The beach stretches far in either direction, and I wander idly, listening to the ssshush of the waves. At my feet, a cornucopia of shells. Sometimes I gather a handful, confident that the sea will replace them, but today I simply stoop and take an image or two.

The tide is low today and I’m fascinated by the swirls and grooves in the sand. Leaping children and mermaids tails. What can you see?

Always the glint of sunshine on the water holds me in its spell. I hope you felt the warmth. I’m answering Amy’s invitation to share a Photo Walk this week, but you may have noticed a plethora of squares for Becky. Kinda beautiful!

113 comments

  6. I would never tire of the Anchor Graveyard or the seashore & all its beauty. So many treasures for the eye to behold if we just slow down long enough to see them❤️

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  8. Such a beautiful set of a photo walk. It’s so wonderful to be close to the beach and enjoy a walk. I remember seeing the photos of Anchor Graveyard. So glad you included here, I love the angles you took. The swirls and grooves in the sand are incredibly beautiful.
    Thank you for taking us there, Jo. Enjoy your day! 🙂

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  9. What a wonderful walk Jo! The anchor graveyard is so interesting – why are there so many there? And the little train – where else would you see such a thing?! Finally, loved your “mermaid tails” – a perfect description which I shall steal for similar patterns in our sand at low tied. Loved your response, thanks so much for joining us!

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    1. It was either going to be a town walk or the beach, Tina, and as we were there on Tuesday… 🤗🌊💕
      This was an area where tuna fishing was a main livelihood. The nets were trawled across the lagoon with the help of Portuguese water dogs and there is a small museum here explaining the process. I guess it seemed a good place to accumulate the anchors. Glad to join in with you lovely people. Thank you!

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    1. Well… I may have misled you a little. I can walk to a river beach in 30/40 minutes, or I can ferry to one from the town centre, which is about 20 minutes walk. This one is a 10 minute drive to Barril and a walk from there, or a ferry from Santa Luzia. Choices, choices! 🤗🌊💕

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      2. You have to earn your cheesecake, you know! Although I didn’t today. I was escorting an American friend around town and naturally we had lunch. 🤣🤣

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  15. Such an elegiac piece from you this time Jo. Is it just the autumn feeling or are you feeling a wee bit on the sad side as many of us are who can’t see our families. A lovely, lovely, walk. Are there other anchor graveyards in Portugal? If not, I was there in 2010!

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      2. I did think of that but this challenge runs Saturday to Saturday and I didn’t take the photos till Tuesday 🥴. And I’ve done this walk so many times already. Still technically having a rest – ha ha! 🤣🤣

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