Madeira - Day 43 - Boa Morte again

Flora travel picked us up, as usual, at the bottom of our street and, after waiting for a "no show" at one hotel and picking up another walker, drove us out to the start of the walk, where we met up with another mini bus full. We had 2 guides this time, one who spoke English and one who spoke German.

The repairs had been finished on the levada and we walked beside a pristine channel, flowing with water.

Our guide introduced us to a pair of lavadeiros. He showed us the curved knife they use to keep the paths clear and manage the water gates. He recounted how they also policed the use of the water and made sure it is meted out fairly, as, before there had often been fights over water rights.

The grass is always greener just beyond the reach of your tether.

I walked this levada exactly a week before and now the grape vines had green buds and unfurling leaves.

Far more of the terraces had been dug over and planted.

Many were being worked.

Our guide was avid about the plants and here he is explaining about the Black Parsley that is native to the island. It is the huge plant just to his right.

This plant is not native and is invasive so

they have introduced a bug that kills it. Here he is showing us the "boil" on the plant

with the bug inside.

At this point he pointed out the power of the Eucalyptus trees roots, seeking water deep in the rocks, breaking open the rocks, causing rock slides and breaking the cement of the levadas.

More of the apple trees had come into bloom.

The buses picked us up and we stopped at a bar with this amazing view. The 3 of us tried Poncha, made from orange juice, lemon juice, honey and rum. Quite strong. The walk had been lovely, 7 km of flat path around the valley but unfortunately no church service echoing across the valley today.

We had the bus driver drop us down on Avenida do Mar rather than take us home, and had lunch at Sunny Bar and then a gelato while walking by the harbor.

Then a taxi home and spent the rest of the afternoon on the terrace listening to the local dogs barking. There really is quite a chorus and then they are joined occasionally by a rooster.