Hiking to new heights

Friday January 17 dawned free of rain with few clouds in the sky, so, off we went on our planned hike of a trail at Barranco do Velho. Randy, Marc, Patricia, Gary and myself set out on the groomed trail taking in the sights of Caldeirão Mountain. We began at a high point and followed a trail that looped downwards into a lush valley returning upwards through a small village and back to the car park.

There were lots of ancient cork trees intermixed with many other species of shrubs trees and flowers. There were helpful explanations of the local flora and fauna posted along the way. My preparatory hike on Thursday really helped once the muscles warmed up and remembered what they needed to do!

Our hike began with a view of the surrounding countryside.

Cork trees that have been harvested.

Information panels near the trail head…

We begin the descent…

Unidentified flowers..

A maze of shrubbery at the trail edge…

across the valley…

the trail leads on…

leading us past…

a patch of cabbages for kings…

and we meet again about two thirds of the way through the hike…

and walk through this lovely village

where a garden of calla lilies

lift their shining faces to the sun.

An ancient home…

with fading roses in the garden

and a windmill tower in the distance

with a well close by

and a church at the top of the hill

Mimosa tree…

in blossom

Unidentified white flowers

and the church at the top of the hill.

surrounded by a village

and magnificent views

of the valley below..

their neighbours

and the remains of a homestead

guarded by the towering pines.

Hiking tends to work up an appetite and the end of the trail and lunch time happily coincided. Our eatery of choice was a restaurant know by the rest of the group, Tia Bia. Unfortunately, it was closed for the holiday season. No worries! Randy knew of another spot a five minute drive away. Off we went!

This is where the crazy Canadians decided to eat on the outdoor patio

…the restaurant owners thought it was too cold to eat outside

but we loved it surrounded by the beauty of the area

…and warmed bu the sunshine

and cheered by the utter lack of snow

at this altitude, longitude and

latitude.

This was the view on the opposite side of the road.

There was oven roasted wild boar…

Pork cheeks

and oven roasted lamb and vegetables.

Our appetites for food and wine sated, we began the return journey to Estoi. Along the way, Randy took a few minutes to explore a scenic outlook point and what appeared to be more trails calling to be explored another day.