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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.