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!

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.

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.

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.

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)!

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.

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.