Jo’s Monday walk : Porto Carvalhoso

Some of you have already met Medronho, the Strawberry Tree. It lines the Algarve hillside at this time of year, when early mornings and evenings can have a nip in the air. I’m sure that many a nip of the firewater distilled from the Medronho fruit has been imbibed here in these hills, to ward off the winter chills.

It was on just such a morning that I clambered up the steep hill above the village of Porto Carvalhoso, with a few like-minded friends. I didn’t notice anyone with a hip flask but coloured water bottles are the perfect disguise. Many of the cork oaks had been stripped, vulnerable in their nakedness.

Up and over the hill we went. After the initial scramble the trail leveled out and there was time to enjoy our surrounds. A striking, stone house had good views down the valley, while the tumbledown next door was clearly marked with the initials that denote the boundary of someone’s property. We were following a route on an App called Wikiloc, from which we’ve had mixed results. Anyone who subscribes can add a walk, so if they get a little lost and have to retrace their steps… well, you usually end up doing the same.

On this particular occasion we were gazing down the valley trying to fathom which way next. The route appeared to drop down a slippery slope, with no obvious way to descend. Fortunately a brave volunteer decided to test it out and, reassured, we followed on. The trods were completely overgrown. Happily no twisted ankles resulted, and soon the path became visible again. A rich tapestry of soft greens and beige surrounded us. In the distance a small cluster of houses invited. On our approach the sound of sawing filled the air, a sizeable logpile for the winter nights.

A stream runs through the bottom of the valley, the mill race watching in silence as the water gurgles. We wonder if there will be a water crossing, but thankfully not this time. It’s getting deep after recent rains. Instead we start the gentle climb back to the village, where our car awaits.

I remember this day as a light-hearted one. Part of a glorious weekend. Time with friends is precious. For now, they are my family. Porto Carvalhoso is a tiny village, just off the N270 which runs north from Tavira.

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I had to share a walk today, because a backlog of shares is building up. Please find some time to visit the following walks. You might well find a friend. And maybe join me next time, here on Jo’s Monday walk? You’ll be very welcome.

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Isn’t Autumn beautiful? Meg’s happy to share :

Autumn Scenery

And the photos in this one are stunning! Thanks, Denzil and Herman :

The Millennium Tower and La Fange de l’Abime

Natalie managed Walktober. One of these days I’ll get there!

Fun Ride/My Walktober

Eunice enjoyed a pretty part of the Yorkshire Dales :

Kirby Lonsdale – exploring somewhere new

And if you should one day be in need of a periwig, Marion knows just the place!

A walk around Abergavenny

Meanwhile, Margaret asks a very fair kwestion :

What’s the point of walking?

I’m always affected by the way Drake sees the world :

Unaffected, the affected way

Lack of noise

How about a gentle stroll with Albert?

Shoreline Walk – Return via Western Foreshores

Or a little soft mist, with Rupali :

Weekend 110: A walk in the mist

I never can resist a waterfall, and Aiva is the perfect guide :

A fantastic walk of the weekend : Exploring Ireland’s Highest Waterfall

Why not take a visual stroll with Flavia?

Vico Equense – Ceramics (Part 1)

While Carol takes us Skywalking in Queensland :

I Spy

And Kelly gets even higher in beautiful Bali!

Atop Gunung Agung

This week I will have been a resident of the Algarve for two years. I expected to write an update on Living the Dream, but right now I’m feeling sad. Hopefully I’ll give myself a shake and ‘crack on’!

112 comments

  1. Beautiful walk!! So fun to see the area near Tavira. And thank you so much for linking to my Bali post! Much appreciated! Congrats on two years in the Algarve! And cheers to better times ahead. The vaccine news is one step closer. 🙂

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  2. I smiled at the app and the uncertainty as it sent you to an edge. We have certainly had similar technology issues. Glad to hear your volunteer found a safe path for all of you. Beautiful to take a stroll with you Jo.

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  3. Two years in the Algarve already, Jo. I can hardly believe it. I’m still locked to “home base,” too, Jo, and missing family, friends, and the freedom to explore. I guess to some extent we are all in “this” together. Your photos and the storyline remind me that we will, at some point, be able to get out there again. Won’t it be glorious!

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    1. Yes, in it together, Debbie, and we are very supportive of each other in our small group of friends. We all have family ‘back home’ about whom we worry. Several of them are still UK based and will be going back next week to be able to self isolate for 14 days before Christmas. Right now I wish I were in that category. But we made our choices and must see it through. Sending hugs, darrlin 🙂 🙂

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  4. A lovely walk Jo and, leaving aside the buildings, many of your pictures look like they could have been taken in Australia (after rain) which is rare to see given our fairly distinctive landscape here. Thanks for the add to your walk list 🙂

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    1. Morning, Albert! (or evening- I never know 🙂 ) Our landscape is very similar in a lot of respects, especially some of the coastlines. I often land in posts about Oz and remark, it’s ‘just like….’

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  6. I’m glad you survived so I could share the lovely walk. Maybe I’ll put together a walk to post tomorrow. I miss the regular walks but it makes me happy to know you’re enjoying blogging freedom as well. 😘😘

    janet

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    1. Thanks sweetheart! I do miss posting the walks on Mondays but it’s so much easier not to. Especially with the photo gallery set up. It takes me much longer to produce a look I’m happy with. 🤔💕💕

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  7. Chin up luv! You have at least got some lovely weather and are able to wander around locally at leisure whilst those of us over here huddle indoors out of the wind and rain. And we still can’t see our family! I know where I would rather be! I see you are getting to grips with all the different galleries and tiles for the photo blocks. Nice to play with but I still think the whole editor is overkill for most bloggers. I thank you for the bottlebrush and the strawberry tree. So pretty. I must try and visit George on the next sunny day and see what’s flowering there. This morning in a brief slot of fine weather I did finally get the tulips planted. Now to hope they actually grow!

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    1. Yay for the tulips! As I said to Cathy the galleries are too much like hard work. I like a particular look and it takes me ages to achieve and it’s still not exactly what I’m after. It also takes me much longer to do 6 words. I read somewhere – Becky? – that you can save a template and I presume this would help.
      And yes, I know I’m a moaning Minnie. Just said the same to Meg. Another lovely day in the hills today with lovely company… And cake! But many of them are going home next week and that doesn’t help. Living for the moment this week though 🤗💕💕

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      1. Yes, you can save a block. Reuse? I did that for the six on Saturday meme as a test. I still use the classic editor though. I dislike a lot of the text formats, often too big, that you can’t change. I can understand your sadness you are much more christmassy than me. I try and ignore it as much as possible and I’m much more of a recluse. But saying that I really am desperate to travel somewhere, even if just in the UK.

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  9. Thanks for the share Jo. You are such a sweetie sharing all these walks. Your region is looking lovely at this time of the year. Very much greener than a few months ago. Sky still that gorgeous blue thankfully.

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  10. I just looked through the participants in your walk. Oh my! The beauty that exists in this world! I don’t know if there would ever be enough time to see it all! Thank you for having this post, it was wonderful to see!

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      2. I’m sure they would! I used to post weekly but it became too much after 6 years or so and I currently post monthly, but it doesn’t matter when you post so long as you link to this post or leave me a comment with the walk url 🤔💕

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  12. What a beautiful walk, Jo. You must have figured out how to use the blocks in WordPress, because you have that cool configuration of photos at the top of your post. I’m too lazy to learn it, I must admit, since I won’t be blogging much more! The walk looks and sounds very charming. 🙂

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    1. The company is sometimes more important than the walk, Cathy. We had another lovely one today. 🤗💕
      I like my photos to look a certain way and once I got into the new set up there wasn’t much choice other than to play around till I get them the way I want. It does take time though 😟💕💕

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  17. As ever, a lovely walk and accompanying description. I’ve (unsuccessfully) tried Wikiloc too. You can’t beat a good map. What are Portuguese maps like? We found French OS equivalents a bit disappointing. Looking forward to exploring all the other offerings this week, later.

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    1. We don’t have a proper OS map here. Becky is the organised one. We just follow the PR system of marked trails, and our noses. Disastrous sometimes, but this morning’s was great. Not long home, with lemon drizzle cake for later 🤗🍰💕

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  18. Thank you for a refreshing walk, Jo! And thank you for the bottlebrush – one of my favorite plants. I know you will feel better after some days again – remember how many of us who love and appreciate your rambles, and keep going with your extra family! ♥

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    1. My extra family are great, Ann Christine, but many of them will be returning to the UK next week If we still had a home there so would we, so that we could observe quarantine before Christmas. But we had a lovely walk together today and I’m grateful. 🤗💕💕

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    1. I came back from today’s lovely sunny walk feeling very cheerful, but that could just be the wine, and good company. Many people are far less lucky, aren’t they? 🤗💕

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  20. A beautiful walk Jo – your rambles are always lovely. I always love a good wood fire (Monsieur chops up all the wood for our wood burner!) and I can imagine those cosy stone houses in the winter. Sorry you’re feeling a bit sad at present – I can well understand why. Hope things will pass before too long and you can see your family again, take care and stay safe xx 🙂

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