Deep in the valley on 20th June 2006

Portugal, Porto de Mos. A South African Young couple exploits an old paper mill on a 20 ha large farm. Walking: free. So we took to the hills in the bright cool morning. The path was hilly but far less than what we were used to. Soon we get a nice, although hazy, view on the local Moor castle which gradually disappears behind the hill. The farm borders the National Park. We head north and planned to come back along the valley floor. Suddenly our path ends in an new olive yard so we followed the dry river bed. Pleased with the progress we thought it to be a good decision until pools appeared full with weeds and rimmed by wild rose bushes and the spider branches of numerous blackberries. Our simple knife was all we had so we had to take chances, got badly bruised and did not care anymore about staying dry. The water was clear and clean. Stone walls at the river banks indicated human interference and the nearby farm. We strained our stiff muscles to the limit to climb it and arrived in a backyard and eventually to the farm’s swimming pool. We made it at last.

Distance: 7,3 km. Highest point: 286 m. Lowest 146 m.

Rating: ***