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!

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.

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!