AWW 2015-24: Bordeira Beach and Carrapateira

The forecast was for rain. No-one could say how much rain or when. It depended on which website you checked. One 20% blob at 8 o'clock and again at 11 o'clock; or a 60% triple blob at 3 o'clock; or all the above; or hopefully, none at all. After much demurring, we decided to walk half an hour earlier than planned, and 10 intrepid souls (one soul belonging to Bica the dog) gathered at the Cantinho de Bordeira for a 9.30 start.

Cantinho de Bordeira

Coffees were drunk and tales were told of large plates full of scrambled eggs served up at the Aljezur hotel where visitors to the Western Algarve were staying, but we were on our way by ten minutes to ten.

A gentle amble on tarmac quickly led to a large billboard informing us that Bordeira is a marvellous village. We were inclined to agree and chose this spot for a group photo (there is a dog in there somewhere).

Contrary to fears and warnings the sky stayed blue(ish). Within a few minutes of the start, we were on the well-marked trails of the Western Algarve, heading towards the Bordalete hill.

After several kilometres we said our goodbyes to Ken and Mariam (and Bica the dog) as they took a different route home, and the remaining seven pressed onward toward Bordeira beach. The first signs of it came long before we saw it as the firm trail gave way to several kilometres of soft sand.

Undeterred we marched on and in a bit, we arrived at a trig which coincided with our first view of the magnificent western ocean, of which more anon.


The Trig

Sadly, two foolhardy exhibitionists in our party saw this exquisite scientific marker merely as a photo opportunity. The more serious members of the group were far more interested in possibly ancient runes carved on stones at the foot of the trig.

Possibly ancient runes

The soft sand trail finally led us to a cliff top with a path down to the beach. Path may be an overstatement, but after only minor hesitation and led by Ros (the-mountain-goat-with-the-bit-between-her-teeth)


with Ros only a speck in the distance

and we reached the high point (or the low point?) of our walk - abseiling down to the beach!


Teamwork!

and more teamwork!

Followed by paddling (for some)

Some finely designed cliffs

a well-earned lunch on the beach …..

And a short trek into Carrapateira as the skies darkened with still 5 kilometres to go.

Even the beach café was closed. Did they know something we didn’t? Was a downpour inevitable?

But against all odds the seven stalwart folk stayed dry, and made their way steadily back to the café whence their journey had begun before the threatened storm