Alportel...and then North

                                                  Alportel...and then North

Finally, the postponed walk of the previous week, ( due to torrential rain ) took place .Whilst I had notified all those that were coming of the postponement, unfortunately Zacharias Schwartz a new walker,

was unable to be informed at the short notice that morning.

So I had to go to the meeting point and he was there ready to walk in the rain !

I had no courage to deny to accompany him. Soaking wet we did the walk and returned

taller and heavier of

rainwater and clay. Today’s Walk started with mixed feelings from the heavy rain hours before. Audrey and James Lenehan with Bica, Fiona and Kieran O'Brien, David Littlewood and

myself left the local

Cafe in good mood ignoring the few drizzles.

Walking along the narrow streets of Alportel we slowly climbed up to the northern

ridge above the

village and eastwards down into the Vale Estacas.

Bica ,back and leading the way

With an occasional glimpse of sun we passed the

lowlands with already a lot of water in the rivers. Up north direction Lavajo.

The weather improved more

a more and with ease we arrived Muda where we crossed the M1202 heading west.

Beautiful landscape and flowers :

and too many confusing tracks and trails.

Which way did they go?

After short break, enjoying our snacks, we continued direction Fonte Ferreira .

With the smell of urbanisation

in our noses we reached the Cafe in Alportel after around 5 hours and a total of 16,2 km.

Peter