Walks and Wheels

2012-01-26T16:51:00.000Z

I am coming to the end of a welcome break with my family in the USA however that does not mean that work has stopped - quite the contrary! The great thing about new technology is that you can carry out your work virtually anywhere in the world as long as there is an internet connection. However I would not be able to do everything if it was not for office support in the UK and my other walk leaders in the Algarve.We began our spring programme last week and the numbers have been amazing - far more than past years - and the great thing is we now have Portuguese joining the walks and from the feedback really enjoying them.As for myself I am regularly walking as I have a busy few months ahead so I need to keep the joints moving but it is just not the same walking the 'Turnpike Trail' with heavy traffic streaming along by your side and almost non existant scenery. But then it makes me appreciate the Algarve in spring with its magnificent display of flowers and the green rolling hills covered in the the large white cistus flowers.

I HOPE 2012 IS KIND TO YOU ALL

2011-12-20T09:48:00.000Z

Maybe this is your time to come walking in Portugal? Seasons greetings to you all - Julie x

2011-12-05T09:53:00.001Z

I have been in the Algarve for a few weeks now and the whole mood of this country is just one of negativity - you have to feel for the people who are struggling to pay bills and survive. VAT at 23 percent is going to be added to everything including electricity, restaurant bills and rounds of golf, tolls are being introduced on the main A22 along the Algarve and there are no Christmas lights this year as the councils have no money!On the brighter side of life - the sun is shining and spring flowers are starting to appear (far too early) but a whole hill side of 'barbary nuts' lifted the spirits of everyone on the walk this Saturday. Actually this was a really great walk down on the Arao estuary and we had just arrived at the waters edge when 2 local fishermen appeared the driver jumped out of his car and before we knew it had removed his trousers much to our amusement - he was about to change in to a wet suit! Of course I could not resist a photo which I duly showed him and he joined in the laughter and then told us they were going to collect razor clams.

There has been considerable interest in the Madeiran tiger with many people wanting to know more about this magnificent beast - I will update you all in due course!

The Madeira Tiger

2011-11-15T09:54:00.005Z

I have just returned from a brilliant weeks walking on Madeira where I had one of my lifes ambitions realised - I saw the Madeira Tiger (Panthera tigris ssp madeirensis). Little is known about this almost mythical creature that is believed to habit the high wooded mountain slopes of the island, there have been very few sightings but talk to the locals and they will tell you stories about the prowess of this magnificent beast.
I had been joking with the group about the Madeira tiger and of course no one believed me that the creature existed but a walk last Sunday changed all that! I decided at the last minute to walk a different levada to the one planned due to cloud cover and rain. The walk begins through the forests above the levada, it was wet, not cold and we were all in high spirits when out of no where this beast was spotted - for once in my life I was speechless - but one of the group manged to take a photo. It was one of those moments that was very, very special and I just want to take this opportunity to thank Volker, Malcom, Gwyn, Chantal, Sabina, Tracy, Rachel and Margarete (the 'A' team) who shared this adventure with me.

2011-11-02T08:28:00.002Z

Its amazing how you can take walks for granted and not appreciate how beautiful they are. I have been guilty of that but this week has made me realise what I have been missing. Last Friday I revisited a short walk near Quarteira, it was one of my first walks here in the Algarve and I walked in quite frequently but then I dont know why it just got 'shelved'. But looking for some new walks I decided to redo it and oh boy I am so glad I did - it is just fantastic and the Quarteira gorge is a positive oasis of beauty so close to the tourist town of the same name.
Then yesterday 'All Saints Day' I went to rewalk and extend one close to the village of Pera which takes you down to the beach. I knew much of it but I wanted to lengthen it and get a start from a local cafe which I successfully managed but that wasnt the half of it. A new path I took led me down to some creeks, off shoots of the Alcantarilha river and there while I walked musing over a work problem was a lone flamingo wading in the water just below me. As I walked he/she followed and I just had to stop and talk to it (yes, this is the first sign of madness but what a madness!)this was just such a magical moment and eventually a really good walk.

2011-10-05T17:34:00.002+01:00

Portugal is sweltering and so am I - I have almost finished two weeks walking in the north of Portugal where the temperatures have been unseasonably hot. The first week was not too bad but the second week with a private group has been a challenge with day temperatures reaching the high 30's - it has only the thought of that ice cold beer at the walks end that has kept us all going.
In situations like this there is always the debate which is worse to walk in rain or in the heat - I think we agreed to disagree.
The Algarve is also warm (but not as hot as in the north)and I am told that both walkers and cyclists are enjoying refreshing dips in the sea an unexpected bonus that no one expected.
The downside to all this sun is that the country has many areas under fire alert something that the they can ill afford.

2011-08-19T16:49:00.002+01:00

Its almost 3 months since I have updated this blog - I had not meant for it to be this long - but once again I say to myself 'where does the time go?' It is the summer in Portugal and for those living in the Algarve they are just looking forward to the end of August when all the tourists go home - but this year I am told there are much fewer visitors than previous years.
I myself have not been idle these past few months, I have managed a holiday to see family, found some new walks, put together a new group walk for the Douro valley (which I am very excited about) and generally been very, very busy which is great. Portugal as a country to visit, to walk and ride in is beginning to capture peoples imaginations. One of the most common feedbacks that we get is how friendly and helpful the local people are and it is so true..... the majority are so kind and would go out of their way to help you; there is a real genuiness about them, no airs or graces just plain no nonsense living - life is tough for the majority of Portuguese these days but rarely do you see them complaining, whingeing or protesting they just get on with their lives. They have captured my heart!

2011-05-30T09:55:00.002+01:00

The summer is almost here and in Portugal there has been a notieable rise in temperature. Most people do not seem to realsise that during this time it can be much hotter in the north and central Portugal than the Algarve (that is why many from Porto and Lisbon head south for their holidays). Those that were on the group walk in the north last week can also back me up on this as for two days temperatures rose to 35C! Boy it was hot and not typical for late May, the locals kept telling me these were August temperatures - not a lot of consolation when you are absolutely steaming!
Still there are places where you can walk during the summer without over heating - the Azores and Madeira. Most people think that Madeira being further south must be hotter than the mainland but this is far from the truth - south yes but it is an island and its temperatures are tempered by the Atlantic ocean; during the months of June / July the island is awash with hydrangeas, agapanthus and the flower of Madeira - it is just great for walking. Very few walkers go at this time of year because of the mistaken belief that it will be too hot - trust me it will not!

2011-04-23T10:04:00.002+01:00

What a difference a day makes! After 3 weeks of beautiful weather which at times became a little too hot (as those on the Alentejo walk will verify)overnight the sun disappeared to be replaced by cloulds and heavy, heavy rain showers - leaving the country with a very autumnal air. Ironically for those who have come on holiday over this Easter period the weather in most instances is warmer and drier back home in the north of Europe.
Still the rain will revive the flowers which were starting to go beyond their best and everything does now look greener which is no bad thing.
On one of the walks a couple of weeks ago I saw a very large moth on the ground, now really moths are not my thing but this was big (the photo does not do it justice)and I have since identified it as the Giant Peacock moth, Europes largest moth - what a find!

2011-04-02T11:21:00.003+01:00

Spring is such an amazing time of year as new growth and life bursts on the scene and this year is no exception. The spring flowers in the Algarve have just been so spectacular and even this week I have stumbled upon fritilleries and serapias when least expected. The group walking in the Cape St Vincent Natural Park have not only had an amazing floral display but have also been treated to fantastic aerobatic displays from storks on the cliff tops while from their hotel balconies they watched dolphins in the sea at Sagres.
Clients walking part of the Algarve Way came face to face with a large stag - hunters had told me that there were deer in remote parts of the Algarve but I never really believed them until now!
Those that say the Algarve is overdeveloped must have never stepped outside their tourist development - their loss!

2011-03-05T09:49:00.002Z

I have just returned from the north of Portugal and must thank my good friend Isabelle at Casa Arrabalde for her hospitality. It is just amazing what you can accomplish in just four full days when you put your mind to it, although very good weather helped.
I re - walked 5 of the walks just to check for any changes, visited hotels and manor houses made new contacts and even had time to visit the 'gastronomic sausage fair' at Ponte de Barca! Those that know me well know that this really is not my 'thing' but I did it and even bought a new leather wallet at half the regular shop price.
The north is just a fabulous friendly place, everywhere I went there was just kindness - even in the tiny remote village of Ermida - where the locals insisted on showing us their tiny museum which has some amazing engraved stones dating from 3,000BC. Close to Mezio while stopping to catch breath and look at the amazing scenery a local farmer carrying wood on his head stopped to ask if we were lost - when we replied that we were out for a walk he shook his head in disbelief and went off muttering 'passeio, passeio!'.

2011-02-15T12:35:00.002Z

I have just spent a great few days in both Sintra and Setubal checking and updating the walking notes and just touching base with the owners & staff in the accommodation we use. Susana and her family in Sintra are just as delightful as ever, her mother (now in her late 70's) still insists on doing her 3 hour shift on reception each morning and does not understand the meaning of the word 'retirement'. I made a quick visit to Cabo da Rocha which features on one of our walks and was amused by a group of women from Japan who all insisted on having their photo taken one by one at the monument (I had to squeeze my photo in) as it was quite obvious they were going to be there for quite some time.
Setubal has changed very little and the walks even less which was good news. The town is being done up at the insistence of the council but it will never be a 'pretty' place however it is a genuine Portuguese working town with a magnificent fishing port where locals still go every morning to buy the days catch and the people are just so friendly.
We are very dependent on the willingness and co-operation of the staff at both locations to make the walks work and I came away knowing that this is going to continue - that is such a relief and I thank them all.

2011-01-31T14:21:00.003Z

Heavy showers have blighted much of Portugal this week including hail and thunder!In the Algarve much of the land is sodden underfoot and quite muddy and after heavy rains on Saturday I realised that next Wednesdays walk could not take place on the planned route. Why? Well there was a stream to cross which in itself would not be a problem if there were stepping stones but this particular crossing is one which the cows of the local farmers use and they have totally churned up the land. I could see walkers up to their knees in mud!! So with the sun shining I went out yesterday to reroute the walk. I passed the Budens Lake (see photo)- this lake is a winter phenomenum and owes its origins to the ice age. There are several like this on the south west peninsular and they are part of a study which is ongoing by the Botany department of Oxford University, UK - groups of students come out every year to collect both samples and data. The whole scene was just magical and is now included in this weeks walk, this coupled with Acacia trees in full bloom, wild Arum lilies and fantastic views has now become a great walk and better than the original - come along and see for yourselves!

2011-01-22T10:19:00.003Z

I have recently returned form a visit to my daughter and family in the USA and you know how it is - you return home but you miss those left behind. Yesterday I was feeling a bit sorry for myself so I took myself in hand and decided to go and look for a new walk which I promptly did. The sun was shining, the sea was blue and while I walked along the beach which was virtually empty I thought about all those people who dismiss the Algarve for being too spoilt. Just look at the photos which I have taken - fabulous! At this time of the year the whole countryside is awash with the blossom of the almond trees which lend a softness to the countryside.
I managed to put together an absolutley great walk from Ferragudo which we will offer in March and after the walk a beer and sandwich in the square was just the perfect end to a perfect morning. And as for those blues? Gone! I realised it is just important to appreciate what you have and where you are; I love my life and would not change it for the world.

2011-01-08T18:04:00.002Z

Its a New Year and that for many means resolutions (usually around getting fit and losing weight)which more often than not are broken by the end of February. I have only one - to drink more water - many refer to me as a 'camel' as I tend to drink very little while walking - but that is all going to change!! I do know from my own body that if I drink more liquid (not alcohol!)then the water retention and puffiness is much less or disappears altogether plus water is good to keep the skin from drying out and less wrinkles - say no more.
I am intending to get much fitter this year as I do not want the problem with my knee ligaments and tendons again so I have taken up Zumba courtesy of a DVD from daughter. Basically it is a combination of salsa and merengue with extra moevements and is perfect as I just love to dance. It is just great fun and the latin beat is totally infectious.
The new year is the busiest time for holiday enquiries and I am spending a lot of time on the computer so a combination of Zumba and walking is a great balance. In the Algarve spring has sprung - with flowers starting to appear and blossom on trees - nature just never stops - it is just so fascinating.

2010-12-29T16:27:00.002Z

Firstly Seasons Greetings to you all! I hope that 2011 is good to you and lets hope we have none of the travel hiccups that we have experienced in 2010! We managed to sort out travel delays for our clients flying within Europe over this holiday period and now we have problems with those coming from New York and the east coast of the USA - well it keeps us all on our toes but for those that are delayed it really is not a joke.
The weather in Portugal is typical of the winter with plenty of rain - normal for this time of the year but not great if walking or cycling. The Boxing Day walk was a big sucess and even this morning with the rain some die hards turned up for the walk which we manged with only getting wet for the last 20 minutes (not bad considering the terrible forecast).
I wish you all a Happy Healthy New Year!

2010-12-10T17:52:00.002Z

Apologies for not blogging as frequently as I should but I have been fighting some form of virus for the past two weeks. It could be something to do with going from the freezing cold of the UK to the mild and damp Algarve. Things are still not great and it is good that we are not doing any walks early December so that I can recharge the old batteries and get fighting fit for the new year.
The weather in Europe has been all over the place with excessively cold weather in northern Europe and in Portugal there has been rain, very, very heavy at times plus in central Portugal there was a tornado which passed through Tomar. This took the roof off a local school and brought down power lines but mercifully no one was killed. The office in Madeira tells me that strong winds closed the airport in Funchal for 2 days last week!
I had to visit a new hotel that we are using close to Faro airport last Sunday and there were many people milling around looking lost - the receptionist told me they were the victims of airport closures in the UK and air traffic controller strikes in Spain and they had been stuck since Wednesday!!
Fortunately for us none of our clients been delayed or stuck - we had enough of that in April with the volcanic ash - an experience I think no one wants to repeat.

2010-12-02T16:53:00.002Z

Tempus fugit - yes time does indeed fly, I just cannot understand where the time goes. We have been very busy with bookings especially the group ones with some already full and so now I have to decide whether to run extra weeks. Plus I have to put together our weekly walking programme for 2011 as we are already getting calls and e-mails regarding when we are starting after Christmas and where we are walking. A brief calculation has shown me that I need to programme in 20 Wednesday walks and 11 Saturday walks - hmmm. The number is actually not a problem its more a case of making sure we cover all areas of the Algarve and some walks are better done at different times of the year than others. Well I will work on this over the Christmas period - so check on the web site before the New Year.

2010-11-14T11:44:00.002Z

I have walked my little socks off this past week, walking on 7 consecutive days for a good 4 - 5 hours and I have remained blister free!! This is the first time that over such a period that no blisters have appeared and the secret? It appears putting anti-perspirant on your feet does actually work. Not being a fan of aerosols I used a stick of antiperspirant (and deodorant)and smeared over my feet and toes before putting on my socks and voila - no blisters plus the bonus of sweet smelling feet!
I am on clould nine because also for the first time in 3 months my knee has been pain free even with all the walking. The medial ligament appears to have healed itself - to walk with no pain is just unbelievable - perhaps after all age is not catching up with me!

2010-11-06T08:31:00.002Z

Its St Martins! The actual Saints day is November 11th and traditionally the days before and after the day are marked by sunshine and warm weather - the Portuguese refer to it as 'St. Martins summer'. Yes true to tradition the weather over Portugal is stable, warm and sunny - in the north of the country villages have 'fairs' where they celebrate with roast chestnuts and drinking the first 'young' wine of the years vintage - very similar to the Beaujolais nouveau in France. In the Algarve the hedgerows are full of bright red pomegranates and furry green quince with griffon vultures riding the thermals overhead before they head south for the winter. Last week a walker and keen birder told me there were at least 400 vultures circling over the Sagres peninsula - it was a sight to behold!

2010-10-28T14:50:00.002+01:00

Firstly many thanks to all those who have responded to my blister problem - it does seem that a primary cause of blisters is perspiring feet while walking - so one recommendation is to spray the feet with antiperspirant before putting socks on. There is a also a product that you can buy 'Bodyglide' which goes on like a deodorant stick to prevent chafing or if all else fails Vaseline applied to the feet should help. I will let you know how it goes but I always carry the wonderful animal wool that I have mentioned previously.

Well it has been quite a week! On Saturday I went to the National Bike Fair at Santarem (80km north of Lisbon) and yes there were bikes, bikes and more bikes. I never realised that the top of the range bike frames could be so expensive (7 - 8,000 euro!) But there were plenty of bikes at the lower end of the price range and I did learn quite a bit.

This was followed by a short two day trip to Madeira where I had the most brilliant time. It is amazing what you can achieve in two days if you put your mind to it. I visited virtually the whole island, checking out the new flood prevention system, looking at hotels, plus walking a levada which was new to me. None of this would have been possible without the kindness and generosity of Margarete, a good friend and colleague who looks after all our clients who visit Madeira. Margarete if you read this - thank you so much!

I returned just in time to lead the Wednesday walk on the west coast - absolutely fantastic - brilliant weather, scenery and a great crowd of people.

Now it is time to rest.............

2010-10-22T11:20:00.002+01:00

During the walk this Wednesday many were heard to comment 'they say the Algarve is over developed, well they should come here!'. We were about 15 miles inland the scenery was just brilliant, green and totally, totally unspoilt - not a new villa, golf course or apartment block in sight. We watched local women picking olives from the trees by hand (see photo) and we were invited to help them during a friendly exchange while many took photos.

I keep banging on about it and eventually people will sit up and listen! Yes parts of the Algarve are completely ruined by developments particularly along the coast and the Portuguese are in fact in danger of ruining and spoiling a coastline that has long been an attraction (you have to blame the Portuguese because they are the ones at the end of the day who give the planning permission) but beyond this is an Algarve where tradional life still goes on, where the 20 or so olive trees on the small holding matter, where the dozen or so chickens matter, where the 2 or 3 pigs by the side of the house feeding on the scraps matter - the local people who depend on the land for a living struggle everyday, life in Portugal as in many other countries is becoming more and more expensive and there is very little income. Traditions are still there to be found, in a beautiful countryside where very, very friendly people will welcome you. Go and discover for yourselves!

2010-10-15T10:17:00.002+01:00

The latest research tells us that if we walk 5 - 8 miles a week it helps stop the degeneration of our brain cells and hence helps slow down dementia ................now what was I saying?
Ha! It does not matter how much I walk (and I walk as lot) but I am very prone to blisters, it doesnt improve with a better quality walking shoe but if anyone out there has any tips (other than soaking my feet in surgical spirit)I would appreciate hearing from them. Once the blister is on its way then the animal wool (mentioned in my last blog) is brilliant but I would love not to have the blisters to start with.
It was a great walk on Wednesday close to the Odelouca river with the sun shining and good views. For the first time in my life while walking a truck came along and stopped (in the middle of no where on a track)and told me (in Portuguese) that I was on private property (I was not) and to turn round and go back! I told him I was continuing, he swore at me and then looked up to see over 40 people enjoying the walk behind me (a hill slope had obscured his view). I continued on, he swore again and then started his truck and went off. This was the very first time I had met such an unpleasant character in this great country and I hope it is the last. The whole encounter gave everyone something to talk about over a welcome beer at the end of the walk.

2010-10-03T15:37:00.003+01:00

A few weeks since my last post but that is because I have been away walking and for personal security reasons it is not expedient to announce that I am not at home as my regular readers know.
But to fill you in - I spent a wonderful few days in the north at Ponte de Lima staying with me good friend Isabel and her family at Casa Arrabalde, those who have stayed here know that Isabel is a wonderful host. My remit was to go over some established walks and look at some new trails (part of this has been at the invitation of the Valimar organisation) plus I wanted to find another good quality manor house to extend and improve our Minho - Costa Verde walk. This was all done and the new walk will be launched in the next few weeks under a new name.
From here I went on to lead the group walk to Santiago de Compostela - which once again was a great pleasure - thank you to everyone for the laughter, the sharing of lambs wool for blisters(I cannot begin to tell you how great this product is and is available at Boots chemists in the UK) and the support we gave each other for our aching legs, suspect knees and sore feet! This time there were far more on the Camino than at any time previously (I have now walked this 14 yes 14 times) - I know this is a Holy Year but there was never that many people in Santiago in May when I was last there.
People walk the Camino for a variety of reasons, some spiritual other just because it is a great walking experience. There is just such a sense of achievement once we finally reach our destination - I must just say a big thank you to Olga who made a DVD of her journey along the Camino with me last year - she sent me a copy this August and it brings alive the walk and the fun we shared.

2010-09-12T10:57:00.002+01:00

When thinking about walking or biking in Portugal the singer Leonard Cohen would not be the first person that springs to mind! However a visit to Sintra to check out walks and accommodation this week was coupled with a Leonard Cohen concert (part of his world tour)which was absolutely excellent and surprisingly the concert hall was full with fans of all ages (not just those who have fond memories of playing his album while feeling down during the late 60's and early 70's).
As for Sintra.... the town centre during the day is full of tourists which are bussed in from Lisbon and it confirmed my choice of accommdation in the quiet leafy suburb of San Pedro but the area overall is still beautiful and away from the town there are very few visitors - the real Portugal is still there on the doorstep for those who take the time to discover the area.

2010-08-28T11:22:00.002+01:00

I spent a great few days in Porto last week, checking out hotels in the city and surrounding areas. Porto is truly a wonderful place with very friendly people, it is not particularly sophisticated but has a faded charm and elegance and caters very well for visitors.

Research published this week:

Scientists say moderate walking enhances connections between the brain's circuits, combats a drop in brain function linked to ageing and even improves performance in reasoning tasks.
By studying brain scans, psychologists at Illinois University found cognitive function levels among nearly 100 self-confessed couch potatoes improved dramatically after a year in which they walked a few times a week, compared with participants who only did stretching exercises.

And the beauty of all this was that the walking was done at the walkers own pace there was none of this power walking and confirms what I have been saying for years 'walk at your own pace' - I guess that is why I have now reached genius level on the latest IQ studies (only joking)!

2010-08-13T11:34:00.003+01:00

My thanks to Andy G who informed me that he had spotted a Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis a aethiopicus) close to Lagos airport in the Algarve on August 5th 2010.

2010-08-07T11:45:00.002+01:00

This week our new web site www.madeirawalks.com was launched (well sent out into cyberspace) and I am pleased with the result. The site is simple and easy to use and will be an off shoot from www.portugalwalks.com - I am told it will help to increase traffic to both!
Some new walks have been put together in the Algarve and without wishing to boast I do not think there is now any part of the west Algarve where I haven't walked. Of course there are many tracks and paths but the secret is to be able to put together a circular walk that has some interesting features that people will enjoy and that is not as easy as one thinks!
Of course I am realistic in knowing that the Algarve is not many peoples first choice for a walk for the area gets a very bad press. But this photo will show what many people are missing, the area is less then 10 miles inland from the coastal resorts of Carvoeiro and Praia da Rocha - a wilderness which in spring is awash with flowers.

2010-07-25T15:31:00.003+01:00

My thanks for Peter and Julie for walking in the fiery heat of summer in the Douro, a couple of problems with routes were identified and the notes have now been changed. Cristina at Casa de Vilarinho looked after them very very well and they came back raving about her cooking and the wonders of her chocolate mousse!

I have discovered some great new walks these past two weeks including a fantastic unspoilt valley where cars are not allowed - it is very well hidden and will remain so. I will take walkers there but it will not become common knowledge in books etc as its anonymity allowed me to see rabbits and hares, marvel over a wide variety of butterflies and have a honey buzzard glide just above my head. I could go on about the different insects, plants and trees which also grow there but I will refrain..... however in an area where I thought I knew all the terrain this was such a bonus, it was almost as good as winning the lottery!

It is cork removal time and the newly stripped trees are so distinct with their bright orange trunks. There is so much clamor about the preservation of the cork oak with which I agree but I do have one quibble - in order to reach some of the trees the cork strippers have totally devasted the undergrowth, ripping out and mowing down trees and bushes - an important habitat for many creatures.

2010-07-12T13:29:00.002+01:00

A brilliant holiday (non walking) has filled me with enthusiasm to improve our walks and rides - my mind is full of ideas. At the moment I am busy with the new web site www.madeirawalks.com which is taking up a great deal of my time but I am very excited about it - I cannot wait to launch it but we are several weeks away yet.

I am also mindful that walking notes should be continually updated and while I appreciate feedback from clients it is also important to check walks ourselves - while I write this I have colleagues walking in the Douro where temperatures are in the mid - high 30's! People do not realise that during the summer months temperatures in the north can be much higher than the south - that is why many from Lisbon and Porto go the Algarve for their holidays where the winds especially in the west help moderate the temperatures and make living far more comfortable.

2010-06-14T16:14:00.002+01:00

I have just spent a great week in Madeira with a group from Photo - Travellers and yes they did all take many photos but they also enjoyed the walking and so did I. We were able to walk the levada from Ribeiro Frio to Portela which has been closed for more than 20 months and only reopened 3 weeks ago. It really is a spectacular walk high (over 800m)in the cloud forests but it is not for those who suffer from vertigo. New safety fences allow you to walk close to the cliff edge with sheer drops and panoramic vistas.
On my free day I toured the island with my partner agents who are based in Madeira, we looked at possible new accommodation high in the hills, checked up on walks and also inspected the flood damage. At Ribeira Brava in the valley the damage is severe but there is virtually no signs around the remainder of the island where the hillsides are lush with crops and flowers. There is no denying this is still a beautiful island.

2010-05-31T11:10:00.002+01:00

Having only just completed 5 months of 2010 it is really difficult for me to think about 2011 but the reality is I have had to. There have been several enquiries this week for next years group dates as people want to plan their future tours. I do understand that so this weekend I have worked out the dates!
Much has been written about the state of the Portuguese economy which really is not in good shape. Goverments and politics aside, the Portuguese people are friendly, welcoming and long suffering - they really want you to visit their country which they are extremely proud of and there is so, so much to see that I really hope many of you will take the opportunity to come to Portugal. I will tell you now it does not have the sophistication nor the culinary delights of both Italy and France but there is a unique charm here which becomes addictive - I think that is why we have so many return clients.

2010-05-22T07:52:00.002+01:00

This has been another interesting week which started by taking some visitors from New Zealand on a guided walk on the west coast of the Algarve. Cynics would say 'why would you want to walk in the Algarve when you have the whole of New Zealand?' - to them I would answer come and find out for yourselves. They thoroughly enjoyed the day and so did I - they were good company and interested in the countryside and economy of the Algarve.
This was followed by a morning walking with Steven Bleach a travel journalist from the Sunday Times (UK) - it was great to spend time with a journalist who was actually wearing walking boots! My remit from the Algarve Tourist Board was to show him the Via Algarviana which we walked in part beginning from Vila do Bispo and in the time we spent together we covered a whole range of local topics.
The weather in the Algarve has been uncharacteristically hot as those that turned up for the walk on Wednesday discovered! With temperatures edging up to 30C I did shorten the walk but we still had a great time with a lot of laughter and the ice cold beers at the end were much appreciated.

2010-05-12T08:14:00.003+01:00

Because of security issues I have not been able to properly blog for the past 3 weeks - I have been away with groups but because I was burgled the last time I went away I realise that it is prudent not to detail my exact whereabouts.

The group in the Alentejo was sadly depleted because of the situation with the volcanic ash but nevertheless we had a great time. There was only one wet day (the first when the heavens really did open) but this did not diminish from the overall enjoyment of the week and I have to say that the spring flowers were absolutely spectacular.

I have just returned from the Camino to Santiago where ironically everyone made it but at the end the airport at Santiago was closed for several days which upset travel plans. The weather for the week was fantastic, perfect for walking (except for the last day when our arrival into Santiago was greeted by thunder and lightening!)and everyone made it, achieving their Compostela. Along the Camino we met more pilgrims than usual as this is a Holy year and rather than detracting it just added to the sense of camaraderie.

2010-04-26T20:53:00.002+01:00

This has been a very difficult time for us with the disruptions caused by the flying ban. Sadly many of our clients could not make their holidays and it was really difficult to hear their disappointment on the phone while others could not fly out with one couple having to spend an extra 9 days here waiting for a flight. As one of our clients said 'sometimes life is just not fair'. It is true but what we have to do is appreciate what we have, a dear friend and fellow walker has just been diagnosed with incurable lung cancer (a lifetime non- smoker)and that just puts everything into perspective.
On Saturday my good friends from the Bolton HF walking club arrived, this is the 7th holiday I have arranged for them (I have even taken them to Spain and the French Pyrenees)and their sense of humour continues to shine. They may be getting older and cannot walk as far but my goodness we can have a good laugh and that in itself makes you feel so much better.
May the sun shine on you whereever you are.

2010-04-13T18:35:00.003+01:00

I am very excited (and that does not happen very often!) but there is a new group walk on the site and I think it is one that is hard to beat. The inspiration came just 2 weeks ago when walking with the group on the 'Best of the Algarve' week - we were on the west coast, far off the regulars walkers beaten track and everyone was totally 'gobsmacked' with both the scenery and also the fantastic spring flowers. The Cape St Vincent Natural Park has the most wonderful scenery and the area is totally unspoilt plus I know some wonderful walks which are not in my walking books and so are not commonly known.
You may not realise but many walking companies (including some of the big names)take walks from my book and use them for their clients and their groups - so I have to be one step ahead of the game and with this holiday I am. We can offer a unique walking experience for any one who wants to come to the Algarve for a group week.

2010-04-08T16:08:00.002+01:00

I know I have mentioned this before but I MUST say it again - the spring flowers this year in the Algarve are really quite spectacular. The wednesday walk yesterday saw the hillsides awash with the large white flowers of the gum cistus in abundance like I have never seen before - everything is just so bright and alive. This is a real treat for our walkers and cyclists especially as the sun is shining bright and the sky is blue.

2010-03-29T07:43:00.002+01:00

The Algarve in spring is seriously under-rated when it comes to the variety of flowers - a walk on Thursday with a quite delightful group revealed 10 different orchids, including the man orchid, green-winged orchid and saw-fly orchid - quite rare fritilleries and a large patch of magnificent scilla peruviana.
Yesterday with the same group the wildlife came to the fore - we saw a pair of golden orioles, black winged stilts, sandlings plus other waders but what did excite us was the sighting in the waters of the Alvor estuary of a mysterious 'creatures'- later research by myself identified them as sea hares .

2010-03-18T20:05:00.002Z

There has been a considerable improvement in the overall weather through out Portugal and Madeira, the rains have subsided although have not yet gone completely and the temperatures are slowly rising which means the spring flowers are out in abundance - hooray! In the Algarve the hillsides are a picture as the large white blooms of the gum cistus sway in the breeze and the purples of the french lavender and rosemary peep through. The new show of flowers does really make you feel good and you realise that once again nature has gone full circle and spring is here at its best but it also makes you realise that it is 12 months since you last saw these flowers - where oh where does the time go?

Since writing about the Iberian lynx I have had several people contact me with sighting and photos of animals that they have seen - not the lynx but the Egyptian mongoose, genets and wild boar have been seen. Do please let me know if you spot something unusual, if you can include a photo that would be great.

2010-03-07T07:45:00.002Z

In the Algarve this winter it has rained, rained and rained some more! Everywhere is so wet, dry river beds are now raging torrents and naturally the weather is the favourite topic of conversation for everyone including the Portuguese. For the walks we have had to change routes and sometimes the walks themselves but this has not dimmed the spirit and enthusiasm of those who have come walking these past weeks - in fact quite the opposite. The numbers of walkers have risen and last Wednesday we had a phenomenal 58 people who came to walk arguably one of the best walks in the Algarve which includes part of the Algibre river valley - it was truly spectacular and we managed to see quite a few spring flowers including the naked man orchid and the peonies in bud.

2010-02-25T07:17:00.002Z

I have had many people enquiring about the situation in Madeira which was indeed a tragedy but also one of those 'one off'(force majeur)events. The photos in many ways give a distorted picture of what is happening on the island where for the majority of islanders life continues as normal (maybe some travel is a bit longer due to road damage). The floods and mudslides occured in part of Funchal and Ribeira Brava to the west, the north and west of the island may be damp but suffered no real damage.

The agents we use in Madeira have urged us not to cancel holidays as the majority of walks can go ahead, where there is a doubt there are other options as obviously clients safety is our prime concern. Madeira is dependant on tourists and the best way you can support the islanders is to visit them and I can guarantee you will receive a warm welcome.

2010-02-19T12:17:00.002Z

There was great excitiement this week when a young couple from Philadelphia told me they had seen a lynx on their walk but sadly it was dead. Because of the rather wet conditions they didnt take a photo but they were adamant that is was and it seemed to fit all the criteria. I was so intrigued that I was going to make a special visit to the scene to record and log the details but upon reviewing again the description the following day there was a big loophole in their story - one said the 'cat' had a short bobby tail, the other said it was very long. When showing them a photo of possible animals it became clear that what they had actually seen was a genet - a wild cat with a long ringed tail however with the animal being dead the tail had become partially hidden but it definitely was not bobbed.

My brother while out jogging early in the morning in the west Algarve did see a lynx and this prompted a visit from 3 members of the Nature Conservancy group from Lisbon. My brother had returned home but I took them to the spot where they collected droppings which later confirmed that these were indeed from the Iberian Lynx. They also showed me how to look for, possible identify and collect droppings while out walking so these days where ever I go I have in my rucksack small plastic bags. Sadly I have yet to see one of these wonderful creatures.

2010-02-12T11:04:00.002Z

A freak accident has left me with one sprained knee and the other badly bruised which is extremely frustrating. I led the walk last Saturday limping and having to use a walking stick much to the amusement of everybody (well at least the pace was slow)but it was such a glorious afternoon with the sun shining and a blue sky - quite a rare event in the Algarve this winter.
A week later and progress on the injured knee is frustratingly slow, walking yesterday left me in considerable pain and showed my that for the time being unless absolutely necessary I have to rest - not one of my strong points I'm afraid......

2010-01-29T14:16:00.002Z

I cannot believe that it is almost two weeks since my last post - not sure where the time goes but we have been so busy with enquiries and bookings plus I am still going to the gym (see last blog) - the novelty has not worn off yet!
Last week I received an e-mail news letter from Flora and Fauna International of which I am a member, the main feature was promoting the use of cork stoppers in wine bottles in order to save the cork oak forests in Portugal. These forests are the main habitat for the Iberian lynx which is close to extinction. Personally I believe that while individual action is good it is the need to change the attitude of the government towards environment protection. There is only one National Park in Portugal that has full protection status that is the Penedes - Geres Park in the north most other parks have the status of 'natural' here the protection is much less and frequent encroachments by builders is common (as in the Algarve).
This government appears to be commited to installing wind turbines whereever it wants but I would have to question whether 3 wind turbines for example in one area is really making a contribution to the environment - I am thinking of Pico Alto in the Algarve where the habitat of some rare bee orchids has been totally destroyed for the installation of 3 turbines which due to a lack of wind are frequently motionless!!

2010-01-16T15:17:00.003Z

New Year, New resolutions and for most us that usually means attempts to lose weight or get fit. Well I am no exception to this rule as I write this after just returning from the gym. Really this not my favourite place but in a strange way working out becomes addictive as each piece of equipment tells us how many calories we have used up, how many miles we have biked or walked and the next time we go there is a determination to beat yesterdays total. The only reason I am in the gym is that I have a busy year ahead and years of walking have taken a toll on the tendons in my legs culminating in acute tendinitis not that long ago - this year I am determined it will not happen again.
All our walking and biking holidays are not particularly difficult but they do require a certain amount of fitness. Occasionally we get people come for a weeks holiday that have never walked or biked before - they think it will be easy! They soon realise this is not the case, for while the distances may not be long if one is not used to walking or biking everyday for 6 - 7 days muscles soon begin to play up. But do not be put off! Just some form of regular exercise even walking the dog everyday should be enough for you to come and enjoy your holiday.

2010-01-09T07:58:00.002Z

Northern Europe especially the UK is experiencing extreme cold which is prolonged and has had serious consequences on everyday life. Whereas in Portugal there has been excessive rainfall also too in Brazil where hundreds have died from mud slides caused by torrential rain. People may wonder with such cold and wet how can there be global warming ............ a good question!
Websters dictionary defines climate as:
the prevailing or average weather conditions of a place, as determined by the temperature and meteorological changes over a period of years.
and weather as:
the general condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and place, with regard to the temperature, moisture, cloudiness, etc.
Weather therefore is something experienced everyday and climate is long term. There is no doubt that global warming is being experienced by the planet and a consequence of this is a disruption to general weather conditions. We are frequently asked what the weather will be like during a particular month and these days our answer is always the same - we do not know!

2009-12-31T13:04:00.003Z

This has been one of the wettest Christmas / New Years for many a year which is no consolation for those that have been in the Algarve both walking and biking. But you know even though this must be so disappointing all of our clients have taken things in their soggy stride and keep reassuring us that we are not to blame for the weather - that is so true but we do feel somewhat responsible (illogical though that is). It hasn't been only mainland Portugal that has suffered, there has been widespread damage in the Azores and in Madeira a flight from the UK carrying some clients tried to land 3 times in gale force winds before having to give up!! They arrived the next day.
Is all this a result of climate change? Who knows? But what ever the weather you are guaranteed a warm welcome if you do come to Portugal - May 2010 be good for you all!

Seasons Greetings to you all where ever you maybe!

2009-12-22T10:18:00.003Z

2009-12-10T19:54:00.002Z

The phone rang at 7.00am which always makes me a bit anxious (usually only emergencies and family) however relief, relief it was neither but only Kate from U tracks in Australia wanting to talk business! Fortunately I was compis mentis having had my much needed 2 mugs of coffee! (If anyone is reading this from down under then U Tracks are our agents and are to be recommended for all your travel needs).

We had a great walk yesterday and everyone kept saying how much they were enjoying it - why? It wasnt really the scenery which was good but more about the fact that we walked through tiny hamlets where local people were still carrying on their daily lives - it was so good to see that just beyond the tourist spots you can still see folk like the man in the photo carrying on his livelihood - here he is mending a wheelbarrow!

2009-12-06T18:23:00.002Z

While taking my dog on a short walk this afternoon I was treated to a wonderful display by a pair of booted eagles riding the thermals overhead. This is a walk I do very often, usually I must admit from pure laziness but my dog enjoys it running, sniffing back and forth as if it is her first time and this got me to thinking........ Often people will as a way of an excuse tell me that they will be missing a Wednesday or Saturday walk because they 'have done that one'. I never see walks like that, to me there is always something new to discover and see (we very rarely repeat walks in a season so it may be a good 9 - 12 months since these folk walked a particular walk) - nature is never still and walks cannot be 'ticked' off like a shopping list.
It has been a very busy week, a company in the UK wanted a proposal for a sponsored cycle ride across south Portugal and a Dutch company wants to bring 18 people for a short break in March, both have involved visits to new hotels etc which has been very interesting. Why oh why when business is difficult do some hotels want to put prices up - their logic just beat me!

2009-11-30T11:39:00.002Z

I have just spent 8 days in a wet, grey England where it seems to get dark by 3.30pm and the lights have to be switched on. It was good to get back to the brightness of the Algarve even though this morning we are having heavy showers interspersed with sunshine. The area desperately needs rain but most of us would prefer it at night when we are asleep. While I was away Neil and Peter led different walks with a very good response - however even though away I never miss a trick because as soon as I am back I get feedback from some of our regular walkers!!
We are now planning our Christmas / New Year walk programme - we traditionally offer a walk on Boxing Day and this year I think we will offer two, one in the Central Algarve and one in the West. Last year the walk started on the top of Foia where the temperature was below freezing - I will not make that mistake this time!

2009-11-14T07:15:00.003Z

Blue skies & sunshine were the back drop for a terrific walk on Wednesday morning up on top of the hills north of Silves. As we climbed up out of the valley we saw a local farmer clinging to the hillside collecting the fruit from the Arbutus bush (Japanese strawberry tree) - this is a good year and there is a profusion of fruit - later the fruit will be converted to the local fire water (medronho). Once we had reached the top of our climb we watched the vultures circling overhead - a great excuse to catch our breath - their acrobatic display was a sight to behold and we felt very priviledged to be so close to these magnificent birds.
Later we passed a local hunter who was putting down wheat to attract wild boar which they hunt on weekends. He too pointed out the vultures and then showed us where we could see the nests of the Bonelli eagles - he was more than happy to share his local knowledge and we were all more than happy to listen and learn.

2009-11-10T14:35:00.002Z

I cannot believe it is almost 2 weeks since my last post! Where does the time go? In the Algarve we are experiencing sunshine although the temperatures have dropped some what with a cold northerly wind- the Portuguese refer to this run of dry weather as a St Martins summer (St. Martins Day being early November) and traditionally this is a great time for both walking and biking. We are experiencing our busiest November ever with walkers and cyclists and that is where the time has gone because this past 10 days it has been all hands to the pump plus we have had some terrific turn outs for the Wednesday and Saturday walks with old and new faces. I led both the walks last week and all I could hear behind me was chatter, chatter, chatter..... well that is better than no sound because if that ever happens I know the route is too steep and once people have regained their breath they will give me an ear bashing - ha it does not happen too often thank goodness!

2009-10-29T08:08:00.002Z

On Tuesday I spent a really interesting day with Rudi Dillo a journalist from Die Zeit - a popular and very reputable newspaper in Germany. Rudi had come to the Algarve to wite about and walk parts of the Via Algarviana (Algarve Way) and unlike most journalists that I have had dealings with Rudi was a real walker (despite a hip replcement 3 years ago). Together we walked the last section from Vila do Bispo to Cape St Vincent; it was perfect walking weather and this section of 17.7km was completed by us in just under 5 hours. The photo is of Rudi gazing out to sea at the Cape.

2009-10-20T08:15:00.002+01:00

The past two weeks in the Algarve have seen the most beautiful weather and overhead there have been raptors circling in abundance waiting for the best winds to take them south for the autumn migration. The most common have been Egyptian Vultures and both cyclists and walkers alike have been treated to clear sightings of these magnificent birds.

My web guru Rob has reworked our Pedal in Portugal site, making it more user friendly (have a look for yourselves http://www.pedalinportugal.com/) the problem I now have is that I now have some great bike rides and new walking tours in both Spain and France - do I launch a new site or add them in some way to the existing sites.................... I still cannot make my mind up!

2009-10-09T07:52:00.002+01:00

Fully recovered from a great weeks walking, it is back to the computer and local walks. This week the Algarve experienced the first real rains of autumn, the worst day being Wednesday - our walking day. Thunder and lightening as dawn broke I fully expected not to walk - how wrong I was! More than twenty diehards (or fools) were at the meeting point. I suggested perhaps a coffee and nothing more, this was firmly rejected in favour of walking and off we went. At the half way point it was not too bad but then the heavens opened for 15 minutes!! Yes we arrived back wet but we were all laughing and all agreed we had had a good time.

2009-10-02T21:42:00.005+01:00

I've just walked the Camino with Julie

And we had one hell of a hoolie

There was Patrick and Steve,

Arn and Diane

Galena and Olga who talked of her man.

From Tui to Porrino

A good day had by all

But fiesta time was brewing

So we hardly slept at all.

Then on to Arcade

A mere 22 clicks

Where they served great paella

Which was good for those Russian chicks.

Pontevedra was our next stop

A very up-market town

Where we had a great dish of pasta

And red wine to swill it all down.

We skipped through Caldas de Reis

And on to Padron

To the hotel Rosalie

Next to the station.

Now on the home straight with much up and down

Santiago is in our sight

We've had a ball and then some

What a shame it all ends tonight.

SD (Camino Portugues September 2009)

The pilgrimage officially ends when you place your foot on the shell in front of the Catherdral.

All made it and all received their Compostela,

Caldas to Padron

2009-10-01T21:38:00.003+01:00

A misty foggy, morning through the Bermana river valley and after coffee the sun shone through. We walked down through woodland to the Volga river before passing through hamlets and over the river at Pontesecures for a welcome beer / and or water. 20 minutes later and we made it to Padron and the group got their stamps at the church just before a funeral arrived!!!! Tonight gin and tonics were the order of the day for some as they prepared for the final push to Santiago - we all agreed it was another fun day!

Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis

2009-10-01T08:23:00.003+01:00

This is long stretch - 14.8 miles but we all managed it with good humour and the beers at the end tasted great!

Arcade to Pontevedra

2009-09-29T18:45:00.003+01:00

The three photos sum up a great mornings walk, we arrived at Pontevedra at 14.00 giving everyone the afternoon 'off' to rest, relax and enjoy the town.

Porrino to Arcade

2009-09-28T18:36:00.002+01:00

The music ended at 03.00am so breakfast was a subdued affair as most people were a little tired!!! Today is probably the hardest day of the week as there are two climbs, nothing really terrible but as the day warmed up so did we. A stop at a local bakery showed me those with a really sweet tooth, I will mention no names except to say that Olga bought 4 cakes and ate all of them with coffee at a nearby cafe (see photo), the rest of the group were far more restrained. We reached Redondela at 15.00 where we cooled off with the local beer and water and ate homemade empanadas (savoury pies) before the final push to Arcade. I was proud of everyone today because with the heat it wasnt easy but no one complained (well not to my face!).

Tui to Porrino

2009-09-27T21:39:00.003+01:00

The first day of the Camino and it is hot! After a magical morning through woodland we stop for lunch in the Centro Social de Ribeiradelouro - this was not our planned stop but it caught my eye as we were walking. Our luck was in! The centro is only open at weekends and only during Fiesta and our hosts Manuel and Marco (photo) were charmed personified: they insisted we try the local 'stew' with pigs ears and tripe and when they saw that we were not enamoured they bought us plates of a local sweet bread which was absolutley delicious and set us up with the local beer for the road ahead. The end of our walk today saw us arrive in Porrino and it is their local fiesta, the streets were decorated and even now as I write this at 22.45 the music is in full flow - it could be a long night....................................

2009-09-25T07:56:00.002+01:00

Operating in a niche market as I do, travel companies from other countries often approach me about working together which in this business is common place. Now we have cycle and walking notes translated into both German and French and soon to be Spanish - this is where family co-operation comes into play. I have bilingual daughters who are helping me with this and I am very grateful to their help as they lead busy lives themselves working and looking after my grandchildren.
Tomorrow I am off to lead a group on our Camino Portugues to Santiago - as long as I can get internet access I will keep you up to date on progress!

2009-09-16T16:08:00.002+01:00

Today saw the start of our Autumn walking programme in the Algarve with a good turn out of new and old faces. The weather was warm but comfortable and the only real problem was the amount of dust on the tracks which saw our lower legs turn a darker shade of brown, still nothing permanent and easily washed off. 3 years ago much of this walk was under water from torrential rain so we must count our blessings and there were plenty of smiles through out as the photo shows. It was really great to get going again.

2009-09-10T07:52:00.002+01:00

Two weeks since my last post; the reason being I have been in the UK meeting travel companies that I work with plus other business dealings for 2010. For security I cannot blog about this until I am back in my house and back I am! My time away went very well and for something very different I drove back to the UK with a very dear friend and used the channel tunnel which was a first (very, very impressive). Back in Portugal the weather is still warm and next week we start our Autumn walking programme - my feet are itching to get going............

2009-08-26T21:34:00.002+01:00

I seem to have spent most of the last 3days in front of the computer. I have completed the details of a new cycling holiday in the Alentejo which then had to be put together and sent off to my 'web man' dear Rob, who I have worked with since I began Portugal Walks almost 10 years ago. Rob has moved from the UK and settled somewhere in Asia but the miracle of cyberspace means I just e-mail, add the attachments and photos and I know that in a few days a new web page will appear on the Pedal in Portugal site.

2009-08-23T20:12:00.005+01:00

A busy week, getting prepared for a hectic September. It has again been very hot but managed to find a new walk yesterday and eat a few delicious figs on the way - the trees are now laden. It was a fruitful walk in other ways, I found a 1924 20 cent Portuguese coin in some newly turned soil and then saw this very unusual plant growing with flowers that looked like plastic. However a local lady assured me it was 'mountain jasmine' but it was uncommon to find it growing near sea level. (if you click on the photo you will get a larger view)

2009-08-14T22:58:00.002+01:00

Hot, hot, hot! Found a new walk today with my good friend and sometimes walk leader Neil but oh my goodness it was hot. I have to admit I began complaining about 20 minutes from the end (well we had been walking for 2 hours) as we tried to find shady spots and when we reached the car which showed an outside temperature of 35C - I felt my complaints justified..... I was totally wet from sweat and not a happy bunny. Still a cool dip in Neils pool and an ice cold beer soon saw me smiling again!
PS Its another good Wednesday walk for the new season.

2009-08-12T19:01:00.002+01:00

A short trip to the UK for family reasons last week but now I'm back and spending a good deal of time at my desk. 2010 dates and prices have to be confirmed this week as several travel companies are finalising their brochures ready for the printers. The policy is to try and keep the prices for most holidays the same as this year but the biggest headache is the price of fuel (in Portugal there has been a continuous price rise over the past weeks which has a knock on effect for transfers and transport costs).

2009-08-02T20:34:00.002+01:00

Went out very early yesterday researching a new walk for next season. It worked out really well, a circular walk of just under 3 hours and I found a great cafe to start from with plenty of parking. As the regular Wednesday / Saturday walkers know I tend to have a 'jinx' on cafes where the walks start (they often for various reasons are closed on the day of the walk) but the delighful owner assured me she was open every day 'sempre, sempre' - we will see!

2009-07-31T20:24:00.002+01:00

Today I led a short holiday walk through the countryside and along the cliff tops between Lagos and Luz. The sea was stunningly blue and the clarity of the light allowed a clear view along the coastline all the way to Sagres (30km). The photo is of the famous 'black rock' of Luz taken from above this morning.

2009-07-28T17:27:00.002+01:00

A great walk along the Arade and Odelouca rivers this morning with some good company. This was the first of our summer season walks and with an early start we were able to enjoy some beautiful scenery before it got too hot.

2009-07-23T19:51:00.005+01:00

A cold picked up I guess on the flight has hampered progress over the past few days.
On Tuesday I received a copy of the re-printed and revised edition of my walking book 'Walking in the Algarve' from Cicerone Press. When I first began writing walking books I had no idea of the responsibility you have as the writer until one day I met a couple from Canada holding my book and looking lost! Fortunately they were not and in the conversation that followed I learnt that during their time in the Algarve over the winter months they were planning to do every walk in the book and I through the book had become in their words a 'friend'. Another time some walkers following a walk called me during the walk to complain about the bees that were buzzing around.......... I suggested that perhaps it would be better to walk a little more quickly and spend less time talking to me. I could actually write a book on walking anecdotes ......now thats a thought!

I had to go over to Odeceixe (photo above) on Wednesday because clients had left something in the hotel there and no one else was available to go. It really was not a problem, I love Odeceixe and a took the opportunity to look around at some new tracks and roads which can be used for the cyling holiday in the West Algarve. I just love finding new tracks and trails.

2009-07-20T21:27:00.002+01:00

A very busy day! It was an early start because the travel company that we work with in Australia wanted to discuss various holiday options for 2010. Those that have walked with me know that I really do not function well unless I have had my morning coffee and with Australia being 11hours ahead I was up at the crack of dawn as we had agreed to chat between 07 - 08am and the coffee was a must. All went well and I never cease to wonder at the marvels of using the computer for phone calls which cost virtually nothing to any part of the globe.

From that I had decided to offer some simple walks in the Algarve for the summer weeks, we had had a number of calls looking for walks and so in some ways I bowed to public pressure although the heat is a question mark but with an early start I think maybe it will work well and I'm hoping they might be popular with families. So that meant we had to send the details to the local papers plus update the web site. That is when the major headache began as I was unable to download the web edit programme..... I will not bore you with all the technical details that then occupied the rest of my day but in the end through sheer determination I solved the problem which as usual was simple, remove Internet Explorer 8 and replace with I.E. 7 but it took the best part of 6 hours to come up with the answer!

Well even when I am not walking I can never say that life is dull - my motto 'Expect the Unexpected'. I had plans to do so much more today but then there is always tomorrow.

2009-07-18T14:50:00.000+01:00

I arrived back yesterday after a very long trip and with the added hassle of my luggage not arriving with me. While trying to sort that out in the airport my phone began to ring - it was as if people knew! A couple of minor problems with clients that are in Portugal at the moment which required my personal input but nothing too problematical.

My case was delivered to me this morning (a great relief) and now it is time to get back to business. 2010 dates need to be confirmed this week, some holidays need a slight overhaul just so that we do not get too complacent, new day walks need to be found and new photos for the web site must be added. What fun, I really cannot wait to get started and I will keep you up to date with progress.

2009-07-11T17:36:00.000+01:00

I am taking a break and visiting my daughter and grand daughter here in Miami. In fact I have been here for 2 weeks now and the lack of my normal physical activity is beginning to take its toll.
Yes, the waist band of my shorts is just a little bit tighter and the adjective 'blobbly' comes to my mind.
But being away from it all is good for re-charging the batteries.