The Remainers walk 10/11/21

So here we are, a small, elite group of Wednesday walkers, the only ones remaining after the majority have decamped to Alcoutim to attempt the first three legs of the Via Algarviana. Our group of five was to be eight, but Barry and Beulah had to withdraw at the last minute due to an unreliable house painter and Karen remembered a hair appointment.

We met at the Sol e Serra cafe/restaurant, just above Querenca, at the appointed time with the route heading north to Vale Covo near to the N124 and back via Cepo summit.

Here we have David, Martin, Sue and Julie plus Tony with the camera and Rafa out of shot somewhere.

Within minutes of setting off Rafa had made enemies of the local dogs and the calm of the warm and sunny morning was shattered by barking.

After climbing up to our first ridge we had excellent views of Rocha de Pena and the route ahead. Martin and Rafa are ready for a race.

After nearly an hour of circling Picota hill we decided to stop for refreshments.

And no, we're not going up that hill.

We're going up this one.

Finally, at the col on the northern side of Picoto, David exclaimed 'I can see my house from here.'

And Sue spotted something too, but we never found out what?

By now the morning was hotting up and it was time for another breather prior to further climbing and dropping down before Vale Covo.

In the end Julie, Sue and David decided not to take the steep climb up to the very small hamlet of Vale Covo and the subsequent very steep drop back down to the unimaginatively named Ribeira de Vale de Covo where they waited. Just Martin,  Tony and Rafa did the climb. Although Rafa did try to get out of it by following the others.

After our well deserved lunch, Martin was so tired that he needed a hand up from Sue.

After a short section along the N124, there was a climb up (what else) past end of season lavender and flowering heather.

And some very tiny white flowers.

We also spotted numerous patches of ground level spiders' webs still glistening with their morning dew, despite it being the afternoon.

Back to the ridge where we'd been an hour earlier there seemed to be a degree of puzzlement with people not sure which way to go. Of course the leader stepped in and we were back on track.

Another distant view of David's house!

Finally we reached the highest point of the walk, Cepo at 426m. Julie was happy to pose, but not climb the trig point.

Then everyone joined in. Happy to know that that was the last climb. Phew.

Cepo, having a fabulous 360 degree view of the countryside sports this newly built fire observation viewpoint.

Sometimes the downhills are worse than the uphills.

Somewhere over there is the sea.

Finally back to civilisation in the hamlet of Corte Garcia. I wonder what they get up to in this house?

Some lovely flowers on display. No idea what this yellow specimen is but they seem to be everywhere at the moment. Any ideas? In amongst the foliage there are also pink hibiscus flowers hiding.

And so to a well earned sit down and a reviving drink. Enough to put a smile on your face.

Time for a selfie.

The route and statistics.

Time out was about 4h 25m with about 20m for lunch.