There were more storks than people in Faro the other day. I looked hard for babies but it wasn’t easy to tell with all the bobbing heads. Today Debbie is seeing triple on Six Word Saturday. Why not join her? Have a nice day!
A lingering rock cistus highlights the banks of the reservoir. A couple of weeks ago I ventured up to Beliche, in part to check the water levels, but also because it’s a largely uninhabited area. Or so I thought! The car parking area alongside the dam surprised me. Leathers and helmet clad bikers were thronging the space. But they kept to themselves, and we duly distanced ourselves too. As they pulled away we got a thumbs up and a cheery wave. Life has to move forward, but you can choose your own pace.
Around here, you can imagine, it’s pretty slow. April and early May saw a lot of rainfall. A Godsend, because the reservoirs were dangerously low. And also because the Portuguese really don’t like the rain, and were very happy to stay home and avoid it. Fique em casa! Stay at home. Job done!
There were no tourists, so nobody to get upset but a handful of disgruntled expats who’ve chosen to live here. Blue skies are theirs by right, aren’t they? And eventually were restored, the timing being almost perfect, as beaches and beautiful countryside again became available. With enormous gratitude for what we have, and not a little trepidation, we set out.
If anything could dispel doubt, it was the sparkling blue waters of the Beliche dam. Such a relief to see water levels being restored, for summers here can be long and hot. Bypassing the fearsome machinery, we climbed the hill to gaze back down at the dam.
I freely admit, not the most exciting walk we have ever undertaken, but just then it felt like giant steps into the unknown. I delighted in the freshness of the air, and the soft sprinkling of lemon and lilac flowers dusting the hillside.
A cloud passed overhead, just as I was pausing to admire another solitary cistus. And then drifted away to join its brothers, dreaming in the sky.
This circular walk is a little more than 6kms, sufficient in the mounting heat, and before long we were below the IC27, which runs north towards the Alentejo. There are a couple of farms in the valley, and a donkey, who gave me rather a disdainful look.
Experience has taught me to be more wary of beehives! And their aggressive inhabitants.
The map indicated a river flowing towards the dam, but it must long since have dried up. The telltale reminder, an overgrown measure of depth, was just visible through the shrubs. A gentle climb brought us back to the car park. I’d love to share the lemon drizzle cake made by one of my companions, to celebrate our first visit since the onset of the virus. But I devoured 2 pieces, and never even gave it a thought! Next time…
However, I’m more than willing to share some great walks. Here we go!
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Always good to meet another Algarve blogger, and Tracy is also a published authoress :
Montes Mourinhos – Pera circular
Wouldn’t you just love to meet Sheetal here? I know I would!
Indra shares her memories of the natural beauty of Canada :
Summer of 2019: Waterton, Canada
While Janet improves my vocabulary, amidst the natural surroundings of Arizona :
Sharon is surrounded by some beautiful countryside too :
And Susanne is simply happy to be outdoors again :
Back for a Walk at Coulon Park
An easy, unhurried style of life, with Drake :
And a poignant and personal post from Alice :
A poetic lady I know as ‘Heart to Heart’ (Dil se Dil tak… ) Such a lovely name for a blog, Rita :
The woods are lovely dark and deep…
There must be a history to this village name, Jonno? Always smiling, these two!
Our Favourite Devon Walk to Heanton Punchardon
You can admire a little beauty with Rupali any time :
While Anabel knows the way to my heart. Via a drystone roundhouse is especially good :
Calling Becky, Debbie, Sue and Margaret- Ulli has found us some more goats!
That’s it for this week! I’m going to put the brakes on for a little while. It’s getting too hot to walk on a regular basis, though I did another 6kms yesterday to check out the larger dam at Odeleite. Not looking too bad at present, but there’s a long way to go. Take care all, and I’ll see you soon.
Vila Real de Santo António has the most magnificent location, at the mouth of the River Guadiana, and directly across the border from Spain. Sadly, scenes like this are still commonplace, even on the waterfront, but there’s a lot of hammering and renewal going on. Hopefully one day the town will realise its true potential. Meantime, let’s play Six Word Saturday. Have a great weekend!
I’m not very good at following Jude’s directives, but as I wandered back into town from an evening stroll up the river, I had to pause to admire the sun’s fading light. I love the way it radiates across the sky. So peaceful! Join in at 2020 Photo Challenge #21.
Such a familiar sight, and one that I love, especially when the heather is in bloom here at Barril. The salt marshes can be a wallow of mud and scurrying crabs, but catch it right, with the tide in, and it’s very beautiful. The temperatures have been steadily rising this week, and with them the temptation to visit the beach. We parked at our usual spot, looking out to the bridge, and the Ilha beyond.
The path over the causeway is narrow, and has been closed while emergency measures were in place, but the time has not been wasted. New signboards describe the antics of the bocas cava-terra, or Fiddler crabs, and the wading birds that happily fish these waters.
Track maintenance has taken place too, sand being always anxious to reclaim its rights, and the engines and carriages have been given a shiny new coat of paint. A 15 to 20 minute stroll brings you to the beach, Praia de Barril, on Tavira Island.
A fringe of green weed decorates part of the shoreline, and in the distance a heat haze. We turn to walk in the opposite direction, aware of other footsteps in the sand, but not a soul in sight. The haze persists on yonder horizon too.
The strangest thing! As we walk, the haze expands to meet us, and before too long we are shrouded in a fine, damp mist. Turning back, we can’t help but chuckle that it’s just like the sea fret on the north east coast of England. Only once before has this happened to us here. I can remember the eerie feeling as we sat on the beach, engulfed in a sunny fog. Then, as now, it had rolled away again within half an hour or so.
The graveyard anchors clung on, unimpressed. I’m sure they must have seen much worse in their many years. The beach bar was newly reopened and we stopped for a drink and chat to the young waiter, who had had no work or income for 2 months. He shrugged and smiled, glad to be working again, even if custom was poor. ‘We have to try!’ And in bright sunlight we started back.
The engines, in various stages of undress, made me smile. Hopefully they will be pulling full coaches again, before the summer is over.
Back over the bridge and homeward bound, where I can offer you a choice of something sweet, or savoury if you prefer. And shade!
Now and again I like to spoil you. 🙂 The heat has reached a crescendo around 30C this weekend, and an evening stroll by the water is a luxury.
Let’s see what my walkers around the world are up to. Many thanks to all of you for continuing to share. Your company is always appreciated.
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Start at ‘Ye Olde Fighting Cocks’, with Debbie :
Wandering around St. Albans again
Janet appears to have found an oasis in the desert :
But Rupali doesn’t need words :
And Drake is all at sea!
Natalie doesn’t have any problem with getting out among the Spring flowers :
And I didn’t mind a few grey skies in Berwickshire, with Anabel :
Mel takes us silver mining in the Outback :
Walking through history in Broken Hill
While Denzil takes us on a longish walk from a pretty Belgian town :
Walk from Diest to Loksbergen (and back)
Ending with Cathy, in one of the loveliest cities I know :
A first glimpse into the glory of Florence
Next week we’ll go and look at a reservoir, to see how well they’re faring. I hope you’ll come along. Meantime, enjoy your week!
Whenever I’m feeling distressed I have an outlet. It’s right here, with you lovely people. It’s a huge reason why we blog, isn’t it? Our emotional safety net, which means we can express our doubts and fears, however foolish, however irrational, and know that we will not be harshly judged. You are immensely kind. My thanks to you all for giving me this space. Meanwhile, Debbie is busy circling, with Six Words. Happy weekend!
Pear-shaped is exactly how it feels, some days. A sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. A sadness that won’t be pushed away. No matter how many times I might repeat ‘get a grip!’ Get a grip! It’s 18 months since we sold our UK home and renounced life in England, in pursuit of ‘the dream‘. And yes, we found it. A world of sunlight and smiling faces. But often now, I wonder, at what cost?
Of course, we discussed the ‘what ifs’ before we made the move. What if we’re seriously ill over there, or worse, the youngsters are? Easily dismissed! Portugal has a health care system. Flights are cheap and easy. Stop right there. You can see the flaw in the argument now, can’t you? Why didn’t we? Hindsight, such a wonderful thing. It does no good to say, as both children have, ‘but you’re safer there’. It may well be true. There is far less density of population here, and steps were taken in good time to help prevent the spread of infection. But I didn’t come here for safety. Far from it! And I definitely didn’t come here to isolate myself from my family. The dream included happy times shared with them, in this lovely place. Was I greedy? Wanting too much? You can’t have it all, never was truer.
The clock ticks on and there is no real comfort in sight. Flights can be, have been, booked, but there is no certainty that they will operate. And what of the quarantine measures that may be applied? Which employer is going to say ‘go, have a good time, and take an extra 2 weeks when you come back to self isolate’? If there is still a job available.
The pragmatic view. All things must pass? But in the meantime I feel like I have betrayed my children. Deliberately distanced myself when help, both physical and emotional, might be needed. Hoodwinked, both them and me. Overreacting? Maybe so, but that expression ‘a heavy heart’- I know just how it feels. Gradually things are starting to normalise here, and I can’t deny spontaneous joy at walking on beaches again, and meeting with friends. But the future feels precarious, in a way it never did, ‘before’.
Often when I’m walking, or we’re driving, I’ll have those ‘wonder where that goes?’ moments. Sometimes I never find out. A week or two ago the other half gave in to one of my impulses, and lived to regret it! We were walking in the back lanes, here in the Algarve, not far from our home. Close to the pretty Ermida de Nossa Senhora de Saude, that you saw last week, a rust brown dirt track leads up and over a hill. Well… what are we waiting for? I need to know where it goes.
I’ve discovered an affinity with clouds. Not those solid grey things, that blanket out the sun and planes have to carve their way through, but the soft-edged wisps that drift into the distance. I love to watch them float over a hill, or sail out to sea. More interesting than seamless blue sky.
Something else that fascinates- the rock formations with their crumpled, lived-in faces and wrinkly frowns. And often a thatch of green clinging to the tops. Here and there the skeleton of a tree, once ravaged by fire, still clings to life.
The motorway interrupts the scenery for a few brief moments, empty as it often was, even before the virus, and I get my bearings. The trail heads north to meet up with a few inland villages. As always, there’s a ruin at the crest of the hill.
With a magnificent view to the distant sea. The trail undulates gently, a carpet of wild flowers on either side. Can you see the bee hives down below? You would think that with all that nectar they’d be contented, happy creatures, but that was not the case.
Suddenly my husband gave a cry. He’d been stung on the lip. The creature was in angry mood and a few minutes later he’d been stung again, on the back of the head. A dark cloud threatened our morning.
I was lucky. I wasn’t the victim. For a while we walked very cautiously, but then the beauty of the surrounds, and a sign pointing the way home, lifted my spirits. A conical house, all alone, would make a perfect sanctuary.
Before long we were walking beneath the motorway and back down the Fonte Salgada road, into Tavira. Kettle on for a well-earned cuppa.
Time to share a few more walks. Thanks to all of you for keeping them coming!
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I love it when I meet someone else who loves our great outdoors. Meet Donna!
Janet has something rather delightful to share this week. Well, two somethings, really!
Jo’s morning walk…bathing beauty
While Natalie shares the beauty of a very wise tree :
Blossom and peaceful scenes on Debbie’s home patch too :
And you can always enjoy a good gallivant with Anabel :
Or a jaunt round Lancashire with Eunice :
Even a smile or two with Drake :
Cee has joined us again this week. How did she know I love figs?
Jo’s Monday Walk – Arneson Garden in Canby, Oregon
Only for the more intrepid amongst you, but you’ll certainly enjoy looking over Kelly’s shoulder :
And touring some of the world’s most beautiful artworks, with Cathy :
It’s 18th May. Another landmark in restoring life to ‘normal’. Today restaurants are allowed to open, with 50% capacity and other restrictions that will make the dining out experience far less carefree than it once was. There are no tourists so we must continue to try and support them. I’ll let you know how it goes. Meanwhile, have a good week and many thanks for your company.
I’m sure you can see why. Access to the beaches in Portugal has been restored, with a few restrictions. Happiness beckons! Enjoy your Saturday, and don’t forget to share Six Words with Debbie.
There can be few nicer hostesses than Su, so when she offers Tea time in the blogosphere it’s hard to refuse. I’ll be a little more restrained this time, because I was definitely over the top last month. I’m a big fan of carob and orange cake, nor do I mind the odd custard donut. Perhaps you’d like to join me? Oh, how very rude! I seem to’ve started without you…. I’ll get it right next month- I promise!
