Looking up to Pico Ruivo and Casa do Albrigo

Today’s walk was billed as the jewel in the walking week between Achada do Teixeira and Encumeada visiting Pico Ruivo, the highest peak in Madeira then following a high level ridge to our hotel in Encumeada.

It was not to be. A fire on the Pico (as you can see here) and a landslide on the ridge beyond the Pico had closed the route. The jewel was not for us!

We started from Achada do Teixeira and walked to the Casa after which we had to retrace our steps then descend to Ilha. And I mean descend. For over 4 hours we went down steep rocky paths, steps and ravines losing almost 5000 feet in altitude. Most of it through various types of forest with few views. Not something I’d ever want to repeat!

The pint at the bar at the end went down a treat before our transfer back to the hotel in Encumeada. It took an hour of twisty mountain roads ascending and descending ridges and valleys. And because of the change in plans caused by the fire and landslides we had to pay an addition transfer fee of €50 between us.

After the luxury of last night today’s hotel is an anticlimax. A large wedding disrupted the facilities for other guests. The usual restaurant and bar were taken over by the wedding. We were relegated to a “canteen style” room for dinner and the temporary bar was too small.

We move on tomorrow for our last walk which promises to be easier as it’s mostly along a levada in the southwest of the island.

What I’ve forgot to mention is the great delight of seeing swifts soaring in the skies in the open areas. Having left Northern Europe here they are in the latitude of Morocco, their winter home.

In other news my son in California completed the monumental achievement yesterday of getting to the top of Mount Whitney in California. The highest mountain in the contiguous USA with an altitude of 14,505 feet.

I was on tenterhooks all the time he was on the mountain and was relieved to get his text to say he was back down from the summit and at his car. Over 20 hours on the trail.