The Fording Four. Barrosas, 3rd April 2024

 It being Easter Week, the numbers turning out for the weekly walk were drastically reduced. Down to 4, in fact! Terry Mace, Peter Eichorn, Paul Price and Myself made up the group that enjoyed the best day of weather for some time to wander the hills behind the village of Barrosas, which lies in the valley north of Salir. The walk was advertised as 17k give or take - in the event we took from that distance rather than gave to it, for reasons that will become clear.

The Starting photo:

                                                 A Fine Body of Men.

We started from Bar Paderno in Alcaria, as the bars in the Barrosas valley seem to have given up the ghost, and drove in one car (mistake the first) to the start point, around ten minutes away. I described the walk as being like a three-course meal, with hors d`oeuvres, main course and dessert, with coffee as an alternative to the latter (i.e. cut it short). 

Leaving Barrosas, we walked south of the valley road for a time, wandering along tracks, and at one point through a meadow, to avoid the tarmac. 

At one point we had to clamber around a large newly-felled tree, watched by the bemused lumberjacks. Crossing the road, we climbed to a large ruined house, then descended and climbed again to the upper part of Cortinhola, lately the home of one of our members, sadly deceased. There ended the hors d´oeuvres.

The main course began as we climbed gently to the ridge overlooking the wide valley that takes in Freixo Verde and Tameira to the east,  Barrosas more centrally,  and Sobradinho and Azinhal in the west. A beautiful sight on this lovely morning. The well-inhabited valley contrasts markedly with the one to the north, which is almost totally without human occupation. 

Coming off the ridge after around 2.5k, we descended into this northern valley to reach a very pretty barragem, so full that water was flowing out down a surprisingly deep waterfall, a harbinger of what was to follow. The trail out of the valley was quite overgrown, but still reasonably obvious, as was the narrow steep track out onto another ridge. Reaching the second high point of the day, we turned west towards Pe do Coelho, after a short hesitation around the correct track to follow. 

                                                            The Barragem

                                                    The Lip of the Waterfall

                                                   Heading for the Long Grass.

By now we had all had quite enough of climbing, but what followed was a series of very sharp descents which would have caused a few choice words from some absent friends. All made it to level ground without injury, and then the fun began - yes, I know Paul, you were not amused. The valley was punctuated by a series of streams and ponds left behind by the recent rains. A good deal more water than I had anticipated. We made the first two or three more or less dry, but then came to a genuine ford, with a concrete base, flowing too fast and deep to avoid. While three of us got wet feet, Paul got considerbaly wetter, ending up on his rear. Sadly the camera did not record the event.

Fail. He had to Wade in the End.

                                        Success - that time. But the Luck Ran Out.......

Lunch was taken sitting on the edge of an old Nora, with the well filling rapidly with the runoff from the surrounding hills. We then walked into and out of Pe do Coelho, and arrived at the point of decisions: pudding or coffee? Given Paul´s moist state, and three more pairs of wet boots, it was decided to cut the crumble and head for the bica cheia - or something a little stronger. So, in the end we walked a little under 13k, but for me it was a great outing nevertheless, with great views and more sightings of the most wondrous display of spring flowers I have seen in eighteen years here in the Algarve.

Lunch Spot.

Thanks to Terry for the photos. Over to you, Peter!

            The Walk as Planned. The Short Cut Goes from Point 11 back to point 1 in a straight line.