Barranco do Velho March 2nd 2022

 

A small group of walkers met at the Tia Bia café Barranco do Velho. David, Terry M, Sue M, Karen, Susan, Ken, John, Martin and Jan plus Bica and Rafa, and Miriam taking the photo.

The first section was an add on to make up the distance and Miriam soon took a wrong turn! Thank goodness for All Trails navigation and we were soon on the correct path.  Terry did point out we'd just done a big circle back to where we'd started from .... yes Terry but I did say we had to make up the kilometres!

Time for the first banana break.

Then we spotted some flowers in the Ukranian colours so we stopped to reflect on their horrific situation. 

                                                                                        And passed by a beautifully kept cemetery.

Rafa and Bica found some water to play in 

     

There were some ups ................                  and some downs

 Some off piste ....                                      and some strange signs in the middle of nowhere

Lunch was taken in the ruins of an old house having just walked through a very jaggy cistus path. Miriam had to repair cuts to her arms and legs!

After lunch we crossed the road over to the Motor cross trail park and saw the huge landfill site.  The smell was awful but we were amazed by the depth and the excavation and the plastic lining.

After that we came upon a windmill and David gave us the story.  Unfortunately I didn't hear it as I was taking photos.  Maybe someone would like to add that! The youngest person didn't volunteer to climb the trig so David did!

We saw some stunning views along the ridge of the VA

Then it was back to the Tia Bia for a well earned drink.  The café has gone very upmarket and it was a popular lunch spot so we had quite a wait.  Note the Algarve Senior bikers bikes in the background.  After a good lunch they tried to set off only to find one of the bikes wouldn't start!  A car with jump leads came to the rescue and eventually they got it started much to our delight, as the rest of the group were enjoying revving their engines while they waited.  Shame Ros' husband Phil was away otherwise he might have got some stick!!