Jo’s Monday walk : lanes and salt marshes

I’m afraid it’s smack down to earth again with today’s walk. No more high flying in Barcelona, but it was fun while it lasted. I’m having to be much more prosaic, because we are again under restrictions here in the Algarve. Depressing, isn’t it, but I’m determined not to wear a long face. The sky here is mostly blue, the fields are wave upon wave of nodding golden oxalis, and the almond trees are hastening from bud to blossom.

The beaches, with their wide open expanses, are once more closed, which makes me sad and seems to make little sense. But there are compensations. Even after all these years I can still find a strip of unexplored territory, if I try hard enough. And that always makes me smile. The freedom of stepping out into an almost unknown world is purely joyful. A narrow path, between stone walls, has me looking out on a scene I know, but how different it feels from the other side of the field. The oxalis colonise every possible crevice in the wall, and where they don’t intrude another invader creeps in.

The olive trees twist and twine, holding each other up. Yawning holes gape in their trunks, a readymade home for small creatures. I’m astonished to spy a bright pink cistus struggling out through the green. Surely it’s too early! But a heart-shaped hole in the rock makes me smile.

But there is no doubt that Spring is here. An asphodel nods in the breeze. Wisps of cloud drift across the sky, and suddenly a shaft of light illuminates the heavens. A moment of glory, and I gaze, transfixed! The almond blossom flutters shyly and a bird pauses, high on its perch.

A change of scene now for, across a road, the salt marshes stretch, away to the sea. The nearest I can get to the forbidden beaches. And so I wander between the channels of salt water, observing the process which will produce Flor do Sal, the area’s precious salt commodity.

A system of gates and pumps move the water from one channel to the next, in an age old method, culminating in the height of summer with salt crystals. Turning away, I head for home, not yet visible in the distance.

This is my reality now. A far cry from bright lights and big city, but beautiful in its own right. And I’m holding hands across the world with many in the same situation. We’ll get through this together.

walking logo

It’s funny! Some weeks it just rains walks… or potential walks! If I’ve missed anybody out, I apologise in advance. Just give me a nudge! I now seem to be operating on a fortnightly basis, but I’ve no idea where I’m going next. Planning, hey? Join me on Jo’s Monday walk.

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How spectacular is this, from Sue and Dave? Tempted? Well….. not really! You know I love the sun :

Grotto Canyon Ice Walk : Winter Hiking Wonder

Certainly gentler scenery, but still beautiful with Anabel :

Fife Coastal Path: Cambo and Tentsmuir

Fife Coastal Path: Lower Largo to Earlsferry

Another coastal walk from Jonno and Jo, well wrapped up!

Herne Bay to Reculver Walk

Boston, a city I’d love to see! And an Ice Sculpture trail. Pop over and say hello?

Last Day of 2020, Afoot in Boston Harbor

Still in the States, I found this rather beautiful. I’m a compulsive water follower :

Croton Gorge County Park

You can always find beauty, if you look. And always in Lynn’s company :

Local Walks: A TWO-FER

And Cadyluck Leedy has a kwestion for you! The answer’s easy!

Why Would You Want to Go to a Botanical Garden in Gothenburg, Sweden?

While Drake makes his own music with the natural world :

January Symphony

Casual hills

Join Margaret for a bit of fun, in and out of the woods :

Sun getting up? Or sunset? The Answer

And have you met Emma? She has some beautiful self catering accommodation :

Jack & Jill and Chattri Memorial South Downs 8.5M/13.6KM Circular

Easy walking in sunshine sound good? Alice is your woman!

Leisure Loop

And something a little different from Rupali :

The Shapes of Emotions

While we’re having some fun, can you spot Teresa in these photographs?

Where are you Going?

Kelly warns you not to get lost in this market. It’s very easily done!

Bangkok Walk

Ending with a beautiful flourish of winter white from our Snow King and Queen :

Slow snow walk

Thursday Thoughts

That’s it for now! Hope you enjoyed it. I should be back with a walk in 2 weeks, come rain, come shine! Take good care in the meantime.

158 comments

  2. Jo, thanks again for posting my post! This walk was very interesting! It seems so warm there! You walk and see things I never would think about taking a photo of! I need to think about walking locally and smelling the roses! When they bloom! I am working on a post for you next week that I will get posted!

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    1. 18/19C this afternoon, hon, and with no wind it feels warmer. We’ve just come back from our afternoon walk and I’m happy to sit in the shade a while. It’s easy to get joy out of little things once you start to look. Thanks, and I’ll look forward to that 🤗💕

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  5. Once again some stunning pictures, including your opening shot of very overcast, black clouds. I especially liked the heart shape in the rock. Was this man-made I wonder? Sorry you can’t walk on your beaches, strange decision of the powers-that-be. I can still use my beaches but I’m feeling frustrated with the one small stretch I can access, as I cannot walk far these days and as I no longer drive I can’t go further. But as the good weather edges closer every day I live in hope – and a touch of excitement as new birds arrive and trees pop into blossom.

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    1. We were walking along the lane when that shaft of light burst through, Mari. A heart stopping moment! 🤗💕 No, it’s a natural cavity in the rock. You can see the curves inside when you’re closer. I understand there have been sunset and weekend gatherings in some places – possibly youngsters but not fair to blame it on them. Spoils it for the rest of us and there are so many miles of lovely beach 🙄💕💕

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      1. Makes me feel ancient when I say things like “Well, the young will be young”! But it’s true, they do spoil things for the older generation, but I must admit we have had problems with older people here as well who insist on their right to party and mingle as much as they want. I have been known to wish they would catch the virus instead of law-abiding people who catch it because they have to go to work, but somehow, it seems to miss them!

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  8. Wonderful photos – and so lovely to be planning more walks now that Spring is (perhaps / hopefully) starting to spring!
    Thanks for including West Sussex in amongst so many wonderful walks –
    looking forward to seeing the blossom here, too – your almond blossom is simply beautiful!
    E 🙂

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  9. I loved this unknown spaces walk Jo 🙂 Heart rock made me smile. I wonder what the tree was shouting about or perhaps it is singing a joyful song.. A lovely nature ramble with wonderful photos. Thanks for letting me tag along 🙂 🙂

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  11. Oh, lovely walk, Jo! And I’m with you regarding “The freedom of stepping out into an almost unknown world is purely joyful. “ That was what happened to me the first time I explored the bits of the hill that I can access last year

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    1. Thanks darlin 😍 They are empty at this time of year, Andrew, and there are miles of them so it shouldn’t be a problem. I understand though that some folk do congregate there late afternoon and spoil it for everyone. As it is it pushes more people together in the estates and on the lanes. No win situation 🙄💕

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  17. Well, Jo, you have raised my spirits with some of these familiar Algarvian sights. We missed returning but have friends ‘stuck’ in Cabanas and vaccine offers in Kent! This crazy world but the sun is shining and we walk the local streets with lots of beauty in gardens! It is a strict lockdown here too and even in our Spanish home. Keep well and posting. Think Trevor will know the bird, and can be seen far more in Algarve. Woodchat?

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    1. Very likely, Georgia, but I’m no birder! Pretty one though, and it actually sat still long enough for me to point and click 🙂 🙂 Thanks, darlin! Just thinking about a visit to the garden centre and some necessary shoopping.

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  18. I love your writing Jo, and the walks you take us on. How lovely for you that spring is on its way! Barely here. Just a little extra bird song so far. And what a lot of walks to catch up on! It’ll take a while …

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    1. Thanks so much, Margaret! The sky is a mix of big, bossy black clouds and little puffy ones right now. Ready to be chased away, I think! Trying to stay positive, hon. No point to anything else, is there? 🙂 🙂 Some of the ‘walks’ you’ll probably already have read.

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