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

  1. I know so well that excitement at exploring new territory. I miss travelling 😦
    But this sounds like a lovely walk, and lucky you that spring is in the air. We still have another 2 months of winter.
    Love the heart-shaped hole. Nature always knows how to make us smile.
    Alison xo

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  2. Love your walk despite your limits with covid. I will have to watch from my sofa mostly. I’m not walking anywhere of distance in the near future. Today, I got fitted for a boot because I have Tendonitis in my right foot. Hopefully, I will only have to wear it for 2-3 weeks. Ugh! Not good for a hiker! LOL! 🙂 I love the bird perched on the top of course, but what a beautiful day for a walk! Your photos are quite amazing! Thanks for sharing and brightening my day!

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    1. Lisa, that’s horrible! I thought tendonitis was something you got in your elbow but obviously not. Will it heal itself? Presumably you can only walk around the house. Do you have a garden? Hope you’re mobile again soon. Sending hugs 🤗💕

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      1. Thanks Jo. I found out that tendonitis can happen in the feet, knees, elbows and other places but those are the most common. I’m hobbling around the house and yesterday I went and got fitted for my orthotics. I got new shoes too. They are like walking on clouds with a ball pushing in the middle of my foot. My feet will adjust. I’m wearing my right one for an hour today and then I’m going back in the boot. The tendonitis should heal itself, but if it isn’t in a few weeks, I will have to see the dr. and discuss options. I hope that the orthotics help correct it and get everything back in alignment. 🙂 Thanks for the hugs. 🙂 We have a garden but its too cold to be outside. I have large windows where I can see my feeders so at lunch time, I will get to watch the birds from the dining room. 🙂

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      3. Yeah. It is what it is. I actually wore my new orthotic shoes today for a little while before going into the boot. They are great. I started having pain in my hips. It’s a good thing because it means everything is readjusting. Looking forward to my whole body getting back into alignment so I can start exercising again. 🙂

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  3. I forgot to comment on your website which looks different, or is it just the banner photo and the layout. Anyway, it looks superb and I especially like the top one, the one I call the banner photo but I’m sure it’s got a more technical term. I’ve been meaning to change mine for some time now but somehow time just escapes me. I seem to spend so much time on the phone these days but I don’t like to cut anyone off who takes the time to ring and enquire after my well-being. Like a lot of people, I’ve slowed down completely, nothing seems worth the effort any more but I’ll snap out of it one of these days. Meantime, your posts keep me awake and interested and your photos, as always, are a delight.

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    1. Bless you, darlin! I change the Header when I don’t think it matches any longer and the last one was Sagrada Familia so it was time to move on. 🤗💕 I probably spend an equivalent amount of time on keeping up with people. It’s our new life style, isn’t it? My main activity aside from walking 😍

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  4. Hopefully you are able to enjoy yourself during this lockdown, Jo. The lovely beach is so near yet so far…but when the sun shines again you will be there again one day 🙂 During our lockdown here in Melbourne last year, the beaches weren’t closed but we weren’t allowed to roam leisurely unless it was for a short hour of exercise. These images look so cheery on a sunny day and the marshes look so peaceful. Take care and hope your week is going alright at least 🙂

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      1. Yes, try to stay cheerful and optimistic. That always makes the day go better. I am okay over here. Nothing really too exciting but working and more work. Hopefully a bit more fun and relaxation soon 😂

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  7. What a glorious walk! You had me at “almond trees!” The thought of spring is so tantalizing — maybe because we just got our first three feet of snow here in Tahoe. Ugh! Thank you for the escape and for linking to my Bangkok Walk! So sweet and much appreciated! 🙂

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    1. The countryside here is glorious at this time of year, Kelly. The best time for walking, and one of the reasons we made the move. 🙂 🙂 Snow! Not any longer, thank you very much! Though they did have some in the serras up north.

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    1. There’s not a sensible option to put an end to this thing, Su. I fear we are going to be living with the consekwences (have to smile sometimes 🙂 ) for the foreseeable future. Taking refuge in nature, and tennis from Australia 🙂 🙂

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  9. The restrictions are taking their toll and I feel a weariness on our planet. Your photos are definitely a bright part of my day, Jo. I may have mentioned to you, we visited the Algarve almost 20 years ago. A vacation from our vacation and I have many fond memories. “…every possible crevice in the wall….reminds me how resilient nature is. Good eye, Jo, the heart in the stone. I read the “Grotto Canyon Ice Walk” – beautiful. I will check out the other sites. Thank you for sharing. Take care.xx

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    1. I fear that nature is far more resilient than humans, Erica. This human is doing her best to keep smiling but sometimes it’s like plodding through treacle! That horrible thought made me smile, anyway 🙂 🙂 I still mean to check out a virtual walk. Life must be reasonably busy in that I haven’t found time to do so, hon. But we make time for what we really want to do, don’t we? We average 10km or more walking most days. Hope you’re still enjoying yours. Stay well and happy!

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  10. Lockdown once is tough enough, but a second (or is it third?) time around must bring new challenges in resilience. Hang in there, Jo!
    Thank you for choosing to share your beautiful walks in this space, whether from your present, or from your archives; you bring joy.

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  11. Restrictions are depressing but that walk certainly isn’t! I greatly enjoyed it. I had a walk along the canal today and actually saw quite a lot of new green growth. It was quite exciting. 🙂

    janet

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    1. You’re still in new territory, Janet. If I can get outdoors away from people it’s ok, but there is such a wariness and mistrust when you pass strangers, it saps the spirit. We are so used to the cheery smile and wave and when it isn’t returned you feel bad. Folks in their country cottages don’t tend to have that outlook but going into town, which was a pleasure always, has become almost an ordeal. Thank goodness for flowers and nature’s beauty.

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  12. So lovely Jo. We too, are currently under some major restrictions, it is all so frustrating and I fear we are still in for a haul yet. Thank goodness we are able to get outside and explore nature & its beauty! Absolutely love the heart in the rock, a message from the Univision’s suspect💕. Stay well friend🤗

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    1. I follow an American blogger called Island Traveler, Lynn, and have for a very long time. He works in the hospitals and his predictions are depressing beyond belief. This virus is here for the long haul and we have to live with it. I’m good at head in the sand and wear a cheery grin, but I’m flagging! A bit of escapism with the tennis in Australia for the next couple of weeks, and pray for a miracle. Thanks, darlin- you too! 🙂 🙂

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    1. Glad you’ve found some blue too, Anabel 🙂 🙂 I’m putting on my best face because the longer this goes on the more distant become my chances of seeing our youngsters, and that’s my priority. Travel for its own sake has lost much of its charm for me, though I’ll always want to see ‘what’s around the corner’. 🙂 🙂

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  15. A beautiful peaceful walk Jo. The serenity of the countryside shines through in your photos and lovely descriptive writing. That heart rock was well seen and love the knarly old olive trees. Have you caught up with the tennis stars drama in lockdown over here? They are now out and playing quite a number showed virus symptoms in lockdown. Thank goodness they were contained. 3 cheers for our tough control system

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    1. Hello, darlin! I think it’s more peaceful here than we’ve ever known it, but not always in a good way. The current wave of infections is making people so wary and suspicious of each other and it’s not a comfortable feeling. We are denied the wideopen spaces of the beach and so more people take their exercise locally. We suspect that when the restrictions are eased the virus will spread again and that we are delaying the inevitable to try to help the health service. Yes- you know I love the tennis. I was surprised to see an audience at Adelaide but I can’t deny it adds to the atmosphere. We’ll see what happens this week in Melbourne. Rafa tomorrow! 🙂 🙂

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      1. We are so lucky over here, the occasional virus outbreak is quickly brought under control with immediate lockdown and swift contact tracing. Perth had 1 case of the UK variant escape and detected on Thursday. All of Perth locked down Friday. Scary. But I believe this is the first tennis tournament in the world allowed an audience, under strict covid rules, The players are loving it.

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  16. Lovely walk there, Jo. I love the salt marshes particularly. These days it’s good to have local walks we enjoy and sometimes overlook in favor of more exotic locations.

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    1. We are staying very close to home, Rupali. The car is only used to go grocery shopping at present. But we do have beautiful countryside around us, and nice temperatures. Very blessed! Thanks hon 🙂 🙂

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    1. This is the best time of year for walking here, Jude. From now till late April, early May when the temperatures become uncomfortable. We have odd rainy or cloudy days but mostly the sun is there and the flowers love it. Incidentally, do you know what the plummy coloured one is? It grows like a vine. 🙂 🙂 Found the ATP Tour on Eurosport this afternoon.

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