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.