But the hardest choice of all? Which challenge to enter! And I’m spoilt for choice this week, because Klara Bach has given me choices in Thursday’s Special. I’ve promised Dawn I’ll linger by a few more windows, and then there’s Norm’s Doors! I ask you- what’s a girl to do? Enjoy the challenge, I guess. I hope you do, too. Every picture tells a story! Do you have a favourite?
True sign of Spring, and a sight to gladden the heart- almond blossom. This is what the Algarve in February means to me, though the sky may not always be so blue. (but that’s next week’s walk) Again I’m taking you up into the hills, and you’ll need a map to follow. Our start point is the village of Cruz de Alta Mora, inland from the River Guadiana. The road dips and sways through unheard of villages. There are occasional bus stops along the way, but nary a person waiting. Does this look like an inviting place to start a walk?
I rather thought so. The sign pointed towards the village of Soalheira, and a trail led off through the welcoming carpet of false yellowhead.
You might have noticed a tendency I have to find walks with hills in them? The walking guide I was using gives an indication of the ‘ups and downs’, and I always look to see how strenuous it might become. (but then often do the walk anyway, if it’s not too long) In this case the steepest incline comes right at the end of the walk. One of the signboards in the village of Alta Mora described the trail as the way of the cabra Algarvia– the Algarvean Goat- so I shouldn’t have been at all surprised to come upon a pen full of them.
Did you spot the ruined windmill on the top of the hill? Or the ginger cat in that sparse grass? ( you can click on the photo to make it easier) I was headed upwards, but initially it wasn’t too steep. If you wanted the view from the top, that comes at a cost…
And then it’s far behind you, and you can see the next village ahead. Looking back at my photos I can see I got a little carried away on this walk, but it was quite hard not to. Aside from the blossom, I am enamoured of the wild cistus. I find this countryside almost impossible not to love.
After Caldeirao, the trail idles through the greenest of valleys, then rises somewhat surprisingly to a tarmac road. There, nestled in the landscape and unmentioned in the guide, a tiny cafe awaits. This is the point at which all thoughts of walking might well disappear out of the window. Or, more appropriately, off the enticing balcony. Laundry dangles over the valley below. The scene is only despoiled by a cacophony of compounded dogs. A puppy in the cafe garden twitches its nose at visitors, while Mum snoozes determinedly in the sun.
I know that many of you will be disappointed at the non-appearance of cake. I will humbly make amends in my next walk. For now, I need to head on to the idyllic, though partially abandoned, villages of Funchosa em Cima and de Baixo. (upper and lower)
It’s a steep climb back out of the valley and then roll down into the next, Ribeira do Beliche. I spot a donkey in a courtyard, his back firmly turned to me. I edge closer, but pause when my husband reminds me they do a wicked back kick. A shot under cover of planters will have to do!
There are river crossings to be made. A few uneven stones straddle the water, and I end up with one wet foot. No matter- it’s a warm day. Crouched by the side of the water, I spot some tiny delicate orchids. Funny how similar they are to some I’ve seen on the cliffs at home. Alas, my shots are horribly blurred, so I’ll simply tell you that next week I have a different orchid, which I found very exciting.
I cross the stream a second time, a little more successfully, and then begins that last, long slog up the hill, which leads, eventually, back to our start point. Not for the feint hearted! You don’t want to watch me, so I’ll end with a delicacy of blossom. Is it ever possible to have too much?
Phew! I have to say I’m rather tired after all that, and just have the energy to point you towards Walking Trails in the Algarve, where this walk appears, right near the end, at p. 144. Full details of how to get there are given in the guide. And now, the kettle on, I think!
Thank you all for your tolerance while I was away. I tried to keep up as best I could, but managed to miss a few of you. Amends made here, I hope. Once again I have some wonderful contributions. If you possibly can, please find the time to read them. And maybe even join me on a walk next week? Shorter, I promise! Details on Jo’s Monday walk page or the logo above.
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Drake’s timing was simply wonderful!
Tobias always makes such good use of his ‘props’ :
Debbie just can’t resist a shot or two on the way to work! Or anywhere, really…
Fancy making your own Tequila? You just need blue agave plants! Cheers, Jackie!
Amy takes us back to visit the exotic Ringling home. What a beauty!
The national parks in the States look larger than life, don’t they? I’d love to visit!
Somewhere else I wouldn’t mind to try- Hawaii! Have a wander with Carol :
Waking to snow is not my idea of fun, but in the Rockies you’d expect it, and Anabel looks pleased :
Canadian Rockies : Num-ti-jah Lodge
My daughter spent her birthday and 3rd wedding anniversary in Edinburgh, and fully endorses Smidge’s recommendations :
Edinburgh ‘must do’ : Edinburgh Castle
Gilly would like my goats, wouldn’t she? Her dogs might not be so keen :
Walking the Goat to the Bowling Green
And Jill just scraped in, in the early hours of this morning. I haven’t even had time to read it yet, but I will!
I woke to snow this morning, looking oh, so pretty, outside my window. I haven’t had time to ‘enjoy’ it yet, but hopefully? Once again, my thanks to all. For those of you I saw on Saturday, Vincent and Flavia were fabulous! Have a great week, and see you soon.
As always happens, I came back from Tavira with far too many photos and far too much to do! But I couldn’t let Six word Saturday pass without a wave from the kids at this year’s Carnival. I was a little greedy this year because we were there throughout the Carnival period, which starts with a children’s parade, on the Friday before Shrove Tuesday, in most of the towns and villages.
The main event in the Algarve takes place in Loule, where this year 110 years of Carnival were celebrated. I managed to go there on the Saturday and happily rain kept away for the day. Sunday in the small town of Sao Bras de Alportel was fine and sunny. On Shrove Tuesday the weather was less kind, but I managed to catch a few shots over the tops of the umbrellas in the village of Moncarapacho. We’d been walking that morning but I was still in the mood for some samba.
No one is left out- young, old or disabled, and it doesn’t matter if you’ve money to spend or not. Long may it continue!
I have some shots of the fabulous Carnival floats, but no time to post them here. I’m off to zumba and, later today, some real excitement! I have a ticket to see Vincent Sirmione and Flavia dancing in their Last Tango show. Fans of ‘Strictly’ will know how happy that makes me.
I hope you have a great weekend and can find time to join me for a Monday walk, when I’ll be taking you to see some beautiful almond blossom.
Nothing special this week. Just a short walk in the Algarve and a reminder that I will not be here to post a walk next week. I probably won’t have time to respond to many of you before I go, either, so I’ll have to crave your indulgence. You know I’ll catch you up when I’m back, don’t you?
In all honesty, I was a little disappointed in this section of the São Lourenço Trail but there were compensations. It borders affluent Quinta do Lago, and appears to be used largely by joggers and cyclists, between rounds of golf. I approached the trail from the beach, crossing over the salt flats via the Ponte de Ancao, an extremely long foot bridge, easily visible when you fly over the Algarve.
The last time I was in this neighbourhood I had turned left after the bridge, and been astounded at the beauty of the saltwater lake stretching before me. So I had high hopes on my return. A right turn after the bridge had me skirting the edge of a golf course, the salt marsh squidging at my toes. The tide was out, but it was obvious that when it came in, some of the trail would be underwater and a little paddling might be required. A good reason not to loiter, but it was not very obvious to me which was the trail.
This new-looking red dust cycle track proved to be a false start. It led far into the distance, towards the airport, and seemed very popular with birdwatchers. Solid benches along the way attracted couples with binoculars, focused on the watery world. An about face proved necessary.
It was immediately apparent that I should have stuck close to the golf course, on a much more beaten track. I retraced my steps and headed into a stand of pines. Beyond them, a small lake was overlooked by a two-storey bird hide.
I spent a little while in the bird hide, enjoying the antics of the waterfowl, but I forgot to look for the two species of native terrapin. Azure-winged magpie are a common enough sight in Portuguese woods. The trail ends at some rather unprepossessing Roman ruins, former salting tanks used for the preservation of fish. A signboard describes the process.
Time to retrace my steps the brief distance back to the bridge, the tide not having advanced too far. It was a warm day for late November and I had neglected to bring water. The price of my folly was high. I did say that this was wealthy Quinta do Lago, didn’t I? The cost of my glass of white at Gigi’s bar made me wince, but there was nowhere else in sight. I stayed as long as possible to gain maximum value from the view.
This is walk no. 42 from Walking Trails in the Algarve, a book I’ve used previously. Remember Carrapateira? Full details of how to get there, complete with maps, are shown in the guide.
And that’s it from me. I’m publishing this a little early to give me a head start, but I hope you’ll still put the kettle on and settle in for a good read.
As always, huge thanks to my contributors, and to those of you who just enjoy keeping me company. Details of how to join in can be found on my Jo’s Monday walk page, with a click on the logo above. Remember though, I’ll be missing next week.
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Lots of snow about the blogs this week! Start us off, Anabel!
But we can hop aboard the Royal Yacht and keep warm with Smidge :
The Royal Yacht and Gormley’s 6 times
Or head for San Diego with Amy :
Monday Walking: Ringling Museum
Jackie’s still got plenty of sunshine too :
Meet Susan, everybody! She’s new to my walks so please make her welcome :
Discovering Street Art in Astoria, Queens
This week Debbie brings us a fascinating tower and observatory in Copenhagen :
No matter how often you see Banff National Park, it always looks spectacular!
Some pretty wonderful rime ice leaves from Jude! Brrrhh 🙂
Monthly Photo Challenge : Frosty January
More of the white stuff, anybody? You could snowboard with Drake!
Or stroll peacefully with Jaspa in the evening sun :
Not so much a garden as a torture chamber but this one’s very colourful. Thanks, Lee Ann!
Haw Par Villa- Chinese Mythological Garden
Shall we end with a nice English resort? Gilly still manages to make it look inviting, even on a gloomy day :
Many thanks, everybody! I love your walks. I hope to be back with an Algarve walk on Monday, 15th February. Take good care till then.
Winging it, once more.
Dawn’s rays on the horizon
Above molten skies
This was going to be my Thursday post (minus the six words header) but I got distracted. It’s still appropriate, because I’m off to the Algarve on Monday. I will be posting a short walk first, partly to remind you that I’ve gone, but mostly because I hate to keep my contributors to Jo’s Monday walk waiting till I get back.
Have a great weekend, and don’t forget to pop in on Cate at Show My Face with your six words. I won’t be here next weekend. I wonder… does this qualify as a Vibrant start to the day?
I really didn’t think I was going to have quite so much fun when I suggested to Jude that I might visit the Winter Gardens in Sunderland. It’s a number of years since I was there, and I had completely forgotten about the extensive gardens of Mowbray Park, adjoining Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens. The luxury of a bright, sunny morning was all the invitation I needed.
It’s a bit of a rags to riches story. In 1831 Sunderland recorded its first cholera epidemic, and a health inspector recommended that a leafy area would benefit the town. A grant of £750 was provided by the government to buy a plot of land from local landowners, the Mowbray family, and turn it into a park. On 12th May, 1857, shops closed early and thousands flocked to attend the opening ceremony. In 1866 a lake and terraces were added and, in 1879, the Winter Gardens and museum.
For me, one of the park’s most attractive features is the cast iron work. When the Second World War came along many of the iron structures, including bridge and bandstand, were taken away to be melted down for weapons, and open space was converted to vegetable patches. Fortunately a huge restoration programme took place in the 1990s. Many features, including the William Hall Drinking Fountain shown above, were renewed.
It being January, plants had taken a bit of a back seat, but I was delighted to come upon an early rhododendron bursting into bloom, and a cheery carpet of aconites, pierced by spikes of snowdrops. The gazebo, I found tucked in a contemplative corner.
Sunderland has strong links with the author Lewis Carroll. A walrus sculpture by the lake commemorates the link.
I bet you’re itching to get inside those Winter Gardens now, aren’t you? There’s a surprise or two in store.
The plant house towers high over your head, and a spiral staircase carries you up to the canopy. Rising through it, a colossal water sculpture, designed by William Pye. It’s hard to resist touching the column of moving water.
The Winter Gardens cater well for children, seeking to engage as well as educate. I dodged around several parties of small children, engrossed in identification of plants and doing much better than me.
Of course, you can only find bougainvillea in a hot house. Just the place for me! The museum was quite fascinating too, and I promise to take you back there one day. For now, you’d better hurry if you have a Winter Garden to share with Jude.
Some towns work really hard at making the best of what they have. Saltburn-by-the-Sea, on the North Yorkshire coast, is certainly one of those. The second you step out of the railway station, you are welcomed by a frieze of mosaics, colourfully depicting many of the town’s landmarks. The towering cliffs of Huntcliff Nab form a constant and beautiful backdrop at the end of the street.
A saunter through majestic Victorian architecture will bring you down to the Valley Gardens. A miniature steam train, ‘Prince Charles’, chuffs the length of the valley in the summer months. Then there’s the beach, promenade and cliff lift, all offering their entertainments. The pier stretches out to embrace the salt spray of the North Sea. Parasols a-twirling, return to gaze upon Huntcliff Nab.
I love the whimsical nod to days gone by in these mosaics. It’s an easy enough stroll. Come with me and I’ll show you how it all looks this winter.
Followers of this blog will be no strangers to Saltburn. We’ve walked here together before. I hadn’t really intended to take you there today, but my husband was measuring the garden of a lovely old Grade II listed house, in the town. With a couple of hours to kill, I wasn’t going to waste an opportunity, now was I?
Let’s start with a look at some of the quirky shop fronts. Browsing here is seldom dull. See anything you like?
That’s quite enough of indulgence. Keep that pie and mash shop in mind for later. The owner looks very welcoming. First we need a little bracing air. It’s not too cold today, evidenced by the numbers on the beach. The cliff lift stands lonely in silhouette, steps taking us down to the shoreline.
No yarn bombing on the pier, as yet, but I’m sure that it will arrive in the summer. Remember Alice, from last year?
The beach stretches off into the distance. Children stamp and twirl gleefully on the sand. Dog walkers are out in abundance. A couple of opportunists sweep the beach in search of treasure. Their find, multi-coloured pebbles, unwinking, except where caught in a flowing stream. A life scored deep within their grooves and whorls. Strands of seaweed, unfurling briny curls.
It’s time to turn and head back beside the crumbling cliffs. Filigree patterns beneath the pier, and above, a bench to read on or simply watch the ebb and flow of tide.
There’s a lovely corner cafe, beside Cat Nab, just before you reach the brig. You can watch the stream gushing into Valley Gardens from the outdoor terrace. It’s a little muddy through there today. So much rain in recent times! It’s a steep pull back up to the cliff top, where you’ll be welcomed by the Victorian wicker family. Some kind soul has knit them poppy buttonholes.
That’s it for another week! Pie and mash, or did you indulge at the corner cafe? Time to put the kettle on now, and join my walking friends.
Huge thanks, as always, to my contributors, and to those of you who simply like to keep me company. If you’d like to join in at any time, details are on my Jo’s Monday walk page. Just click on the logo above.
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Anabel goes in search of sunshine this week :
Bermuda : Somerset to the Dockyard
Geoff’s in Dulwich, looking at the definition of village :
Amy’s found the most beautiful restaurant!
Funny how some names always conjure up a song. Any Steely Dan fans out there?
Good to welcome somebody new to the walks, so please head for Scotland and say ‘hi’ to Smidge :
Jude’s left her plants, temporarily, for a bit of a tongue twister this week :
Scrobbesbyrig/Shrewsbury : a look at stone buildings
Among many other talents, Nicole is an accomplished hiker. Just take a look!
Best Hikes in Tucson : Bear Canyon’s hike to Seven Falls
Drake is in romantic mood. Who wouldn’t be, in Venice?
A head for heights and a sense of humour are what you’ll need on Esther’s walk :
Or, if you’re still feeling romantic?
What might you expect to see in Panama? Jaspa’s your man!
I learnt a little more Welsh today, with Student in Snowdonia. ‘Yr Aran’ – The Peak :
I like the idea of tapestries on my walls. Maybe I should try life in a castle :
Bunratty Castle- Home of an Irish King
A great selection, aren’t they? I had intended to close my walks for 2 weeks, but my lovely husband pointed out that we don’t leave for the Algarve until next Monday afternoon. Plenty of time for another, he said! It’s not the walking that’s hard. It’s keeping up with the responses. We’ll see! Have a wonderful week, meantime.
Happy 26th birthday to my son, James! Yesterday we went to Leeds to kick off the celebrations in style. His new apartment had been looking very bland and white and needed an injection of colour. A bit of artwork on the walls, rug, cushion, potted plant… and do you recognise BB8 sitting there on the windowsill? Happy in his new home. As we hope James will be.
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Life seldom is, is it? Leeds is a city busy reinventing itself. An interesting juxtaposition of old and shiny new. James is a big fan of Asian cuisine, and we ate at Bar Soba in The Light- a new complex for dining and entertainment. It’s good to be optimistic about the future. Optimistic and full of hope, as the weekly challenge suggests.
Have a lovely weekend and I hope to see you on Monday for another walk.
Is there any such word?
Cold and shivery, if so!
Tiny ice crystals
Snow was fleeting in my part of the world, so I had to be quick with the camera. While Jude was loitering inside the glasshouse I was out in the fingerless gloves. Who’s the fool, I ask myself. Certainly not Jude!
When I was folder-ing these away, I came across some evidence that our hellebores really don’t seem to mind snow. Nor the rhododendrons, come to that. But then, don’t they come from the Himalayas?
That’s quite enough snowku for this month! I just sneaked a look at next month’s Garden Photography Challenge. ‘Monochrome’… over to you!
It was one of those days when you just need a breath of air. Salt spray, the wind in your hair… Roker Pier. Where else? A stride across the sands, rain at your back… Then back along the cliff top, past Bede’s Memorial.
No children in the playground. It’s a bit damp, and the big brothers and sisters will be in school.
Jack Sparrow’s on his own this weekend. Our first snow arrived overnight.
What did you get up to this week? Got time to share six words with Cate?
Enjoy your weekend, whatever you have planned. I’ll see you on Monday, for a walk? We have a date with some waterfalls.
restlessjo 
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