This is one we successfully led a year ago, though the " bridge" consisted of only a couple of polls, see photos at :
viewtopic.php?f=39&t=25438
but my spies tell me that the bridge has been properly repaired now!

This walk is in the Julie Statham book, so hopefully we won't go too far wrong.

Julie reckons it's " moderately easy" , and I would concur....duration is about 2.5 hours, if we don't get lost! There are no steep hills (to speak of) but certainly some upward slopes!

Difficulty ( on a scale of 1to 5 ) : 2 Moderate

Directions :
Drive to Monchique, ignoring turn-offs to Calas de Monchique. Drive to the centre of the town and bear right, past the fire station on your left. There is a big carpark soon after on the right. There is also a cafe there called Descansa Perna....meet there.

Start 10.00 am.
Wear stout trainers/walking boots....a walking pole would be useful. Sunhats hopefully recommended, but some wet weather gear might come in handy.

Please note that the walk will be cancelled of the weather is poor. I shall put a note on this website at about 0800 that morning, 0830 at the latest.

All walks at your own risk.
Because of the increased numbers on the current walks, please indicate below if you are intending to come......we will have to limit numbers to 20, so please let me know , preferably by responding below or phoning or emailing to geoffrey.j.hill@btopenworld.com.

Last time we had a very successful Ckicken Piri Piri lunch after at a restaurant a couple of miles away, something we will no doubt be repeating.

Any qs, ring 282 380015, before 0900 or after 6.00pm.

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOW FULLY SUBSCRIBED AND IS CLOSED TO ANY MORE PEOPLE

Can I book in just Carol as Willie will be back in the UK
Looking forward to it

We will be there as well. Brian and Penny

Hi Folks , Brenda and Cam are on for this one , Looking forward to it and so appreciate what you Guys are doing to make all this happen .
Thank You !

Hi Geoff,
Mike, Su, Sean and Colin will be there

Hi Geoff, Happy New Year to you and Sue.
Bill and I ( Jackie ) hope to come on this walk, so add us to your list.

Hi Geoff. I would like to join you on this one please. Have been keeping in practice on the Chiltern Hills.

Geoff.

Ray and I hope we can join you for this walk.

Sandra and Ray.

.......and Eileen.....and her niece Ann

I'll be there too - Ros

Hi Geoff, please can you add Louisa to this walk....cheers Mike

....and Nina ....

.....and Alan & Trish and Paul & Maggie...and Wendy...and Rob & Maureen..PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOW FULLY SUBSCRIBED AND IS CLOSED TO ANY MORE PEOPLE

Lovely walk, blue skies
7.10 km. 2h15
map
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bx4Q-9h ... 2NwNU5NbFE

Thanks Rui, my false trail is now immortalised!

Anyway, numbers seem to be creeping up again and we had 31 on the walk, but it was a beautiful day with azure skies. As well as providing exercise in the beautiful Algarvian countryside, the walks are an opportunity to make new friends , and here is Maggie making friends with a 4 legged walker who came all the way round with us!



As Rui's map shows, my memory failed at a track junction, but fortunately Maureen had the Guide Book in her backpack, complete with my annotations, and we were able to regain the proper route easily!

Caroline & Karen's advice about the bridge having been repaired proved correct, and we picked up another doggie!




Here we all are on the bridge ( less your photographer)....too numerous to name on the photo, but present were , left to right , (I think ):
Brian, Rob, Mike,Sue, Graham, Su,Alan, Phil, Cam, Brenda, Sean, Ray, Sandra, Eileen, Trish, Carol, Nina, Wendy, Penny, Bill, Dennis, Jackie,Maggie, Ann, Ros,Sue,Paul
and Thersa, Rui & Maureen kneeling




and back after just over 2 hours having a well deserved drink in the (now hot) sunshine:



It's a dog's life!



and 21 went off to sample some excellent piri-piri chicken:



Sue & Theresa


decided to copy Penny from last year:


Obrigado