Silves to Monchique

It was the best of days, it was he worst of days, to paraphrse a famous opening line of a book.  

Look at this modern street sweeper machine.  If you look closely, you can see the worker hiding behind.  

See the white kitty.  I would have so named him Hatter or Hattie.  He had the little black fur on his head and then the only other black part was his tail.

I have had a Big Foot sighting.

Farmers are so ingenious.  This was the front of a motorcycle paired with a workman's cart.

I started out trying desperately trying to find the trail.   I wandered all over.  Wasted about 2 miles. I had directions but they were not exactly clear.  Glory Hallajuah, I finally found a trail marker.  I was two hours into the hike. Good thing I left early.

As I got higher in the mountains, I found remnants of markers that had been destroyed by the fire..

But I also found glorious scenery.

I had to climb over the road barrier to get back on the trail. Not so easy with these short legs.

The first thing I saw was this fellah, who greeted me in the usual mule way.

And then I see a bull and these heifers.  I finally took out a hiking pole, normally for steep trail but this time for defense.  Cows are not usually a reason for concern but these two and a bull were blocking the trail.  Look at those horns.  

The scenery just got better and better.

I first thought it amusing that there was a redlight in the center of the trail until I realized this was part of the warning system for fires.  Very real in this area.

I hope that a good time was had by all, until I looked closely at the bottle.  MOSCATO.  Blech!  Then I noticed there was about 1/2 a bottle left. Must have been really bad, if on a trail with no bars, you leave a half bottle

So I walked and walked, climbed and climbd and ended up deadended at this house.  There was a German couple who had gotten there and claimed it as the place to spent the night.  I had missed a tiny (and I mean teensie-tiny) step over to the trail that was not marked. They showed me the trail I had missed.

I climb higher and higher.

The scenery get more beautiful with each step.

Altthough this climb challenges all who have come before it, it was  a WOW kinda day.

So inspite of my beginning, I am thinking "I got this" when the trail markers disappear.   I came to an intersection that had seven choices.  I wasted at least 45 minutes trying to find the right one. Walking down trails and coming back to the intersection. You cannot imagine how frustrating this is when you are in the middle of nowhere.  And finally I did the best I could do, walked down a very steep section, twice, and decided to just stick with that.  I came out on a highway and picked the most logical direction. (determined by einie, meanie, miney, moe) and started walking.  I was at about 18 miles and clueless on how to get to my final destination.  I saw a road sign that said Monrique (my ultimate destination) and it pointed down a gravel road. Okay dokey, I am alread off the trail.  so I walk and walk and walk.  Finally, I hear a car and I stood in the center of the road and hopped upand down until he stopped. I asked if I was going in the correct direction and he said yes, with his window still rolled up 3/4 of the way.  Then I asked, how far is it and he said 15 or 20 kilometers (10 to 13 miles???!!!)  I am already over 20 miles and it is just before 4:00 in the afternoon.  And without batting an eye, I asked if he was going to Monrique and could I have a ride? (I, who hate to ask for help more than anything on earth)  He then said, "Are you alone?"  Can't say I blame him.  I said yes and he said okay.  What a nice man!  He was about 40 and worked for the government and lived near where my hotel was.  He looked like Ed Lauer, a FAM superviser I used to work with.  He drove me to my hotel.  OMG! Thank you...Thank you!  I told him there was a special place in heaven reserved for him.

My hotel is very nice.  My day total because I had to walk a bit to get to a restaurant was 21.2.  I had a wonderful dinner.  

So I had this well earned fabulous dinner in this restaurant.  There were so many things that looked good.  20+ miles will do that to you.  LOL  I endd up ordeering the chicken piri-piri, mainly because I would be able to pack what I didn't eat tonight for the trail tomorrow.  I had faboulous cheese and olives and bread before the meal.  The extras went into my purse.  

For dessert, I ordered the local especiality that had toasted almonds on top.  It had a sort of German chocolate flavor to it, including some coconut.  There was none left to backpack.

I happily walked back to my hotel with my togo box in hand, when this beautiful long-haired cat, reminicient of Maggie Mayne (our precious cat who just passed away) followed me up the drive begging for food.  Well, there went my chicken lunch.  Before I could get the lid fully off, she had already snagged a piece.  I gave her the rest of my chicken, not sad.  I can't stand to see a hungry animal. I like cheese and bread, bread and cheese.  LOL