The Illusive Bridge

 

 

HERE WE GO AGAIN! TO FIND THAT LOST BRIDGE.

Well, when I proposed to Julie and Tony a re:re:run recce of the Elysium hills of Barranco I finally  gained two others to join us in an effort to find that Lost Bridge!! We all congregated at Tia Bia cafe in Barranco do Velho at 10.00 ready for the off and, champing at the bit was Hoover our four-legged friend but no, not her, Sue M!!

Pat and Hoover. Tony, Sue M, Julie and Jan, the leader taking the photograph. 28th November, 2020

 So, we set off down the hill what we had started many months ago when we only managed 10 kms. We were eventually rained off and thus turned back but today was a beautiful, Algarvian day perfect for the EAWW. No rain in site.  After a few minutes we turned onto  Serra do Alto path which I decided at the T junction to take a slight detour to show them what could be an interesting Grand Design project and, I know an Architect!!!

Heading back on the same path we passed the Fonte do Chafariz which led us to the back of the Institute of Florestry and the Community Day Centre. From here we headed down hill and up again onto a tarmac road. Crossing over at this point we took a lovely path where we began to climb to get to the  ridge. All was going well at this stage but we then headed down hill but was not on the path in the valley which we were planning to be on but instead we were on course for a bit of off-piste.

 

"Come on, ladies, it's not that steep!"

After the help of our knights in shiny poles used as modern day machetes which was used to help crush the bramble bushes. Trying to avoid them we clambered over a fence to get onto the valley path. Accept for Hoover who somehow managed to limbo under the fence!!! We all successfully made it over without too many scratches. We carried on this path which was the valley path we should have been on but by taking this off-piste section made us loose 2kms!!  Anyway, we enjoyed the beautiful countryside whilst being advised along the way about the many plants by our in-house horticulturist, Monsieur Spicer, including this one, the Oak apple. Not an edible species we are told. (Oak apple or oak gall is the common name for a large, round, vaguely apple-like gall commonly found on many species of oak).

We soon joined a tarmac road and lo and behold what did we find? Yes, that illusive BRIDGE! How could I have missed it before??

We came off the bridge and crossed the small river making our way to a ridge path but thought that the original route was too overgrown to clamber up on to it, so we turned back to the tarmac road and walked up for about 50 metres thus making it an easier access onto the ridge path. We continued the trail and followed the river on our left eventually down to the river crossing. There was a small amount of water to navigate but the use of the stepping stones kept our shoes dry. At this point, we discussed whether we would take on the long steep incline before or after lunch. So, with no further ado we all made the decision to get to the top before our stop. The repass break awarded beautiful views but it had been a long climb to get there.

 Pity we didn’t find this chair for lunch. It looked like a modern day look-out point for hunters? Any other ideas?

After our scheduled 20 minute lunch we started our home run. As we approached, the Barranco do Velho activity park we had a water stop at one of the "Fire look-out points". From here we decided to take the Rota Circuito back to the village. The path is a circular route with many activities showing individual sheds for storing local produce, such as, dried fruits,etc. We passed various activities; trapezes, such as, pull up rings, etc.

We continued the route and up to Zona de Casa and into Barranco do Velho where we finished our walk and, in the customary manner of the AWW, with a few well-earned refreshments at the Tia Bia Restaurant. Wonderful company. 

Found the Bridge but lost 2 kms!

Our usual in-house, photographer, Alan couldn't make the walk, so Tony stepped in to record our activity, thank you to Tony for your photographs and your horticulture information

 

Time:     4 hours

Length: 14kms

Around: 20 minute lunch stop.