Canyon and Quinta

Canyon and Quinta 16/11/22

The Remainers (remoaners) walk 16th November

What a glorious day for a jolly saunter in the countryside.  We chose the damp weather especially to remind our remainers of the delights they are missing back in their respective homelands.

Today's walk started high in Barranco do Velho  and gradually descended round the northern edge of the canyon heading west down to the hamlet of Quinta. After lunch it climbed up, crossing the N396 and up further to the ridge on the south side of the canyon making its way back to the N2 and our starting point.

The usual suspects outside the Tia Bia restaurant.

L to R the magnificent seven, Sue, Martin, Lee, Karen, Jan, Tony and our walk leader behind the camera, Julie. Not forgetting Rafa, looking the wrong way.

We promised great views and this is what we delivered.   A pylon, always good value I find. Shame everyone apart from Jan is looking at something else.

More stunning views on the way down towards Quinta. And despite the conditions everyone seems to be in good spirits.

At last, a view as the mist slowly lifts. Everyone looking the other way of course.

The path continuing down on the way to the small hamlet of Quinta.

If you look hard enough you might spot the sea!

Nobody can remember what Martin was describing here, but it must have been big!

And we're still in good spirits.

Quinta getting closer, as a little more rain decides to fall.

All this moist warm weather has really brought out the fungi.

A particularly interesting example being pointed out.

After a brief lunch stop near Quinta we start the steady climb back up towards Barranco do Velho.

For every down there is an up,up,up and it was steep.  Very sensibly, Sue had taken the slightly less steep road route back to Barranco do Velho and Lee very kindly went with her.

Karen and Rafa leading the way.

High views back to Quinta with Rocha de Pena in the background.

And lots more fungi, which nobody can name, but here's a selection.

"Keep your hands off our medronhos"  We came across several notices appended to trees. Obviously a valuable crop now.

Eventually we were all reunited back in the warm and dry public bar of the Tia Bia in Barranco do Velho for our usual post walk refreshments. But unfortunately nobody remembered to take a picture!

However here are the statistics for the walk.

Distance: 13.5 km

Ascent: 331 m

Average speed: 4.9 km/hr

Total time out: 3h 41m

Julie