Today we took the coach to visit villages, view vistas of valleys and vineyards. Our walk started in the mountain market town of Alijo, which is on the edge of the demarcated Douro wine region, and then passed through the village of Favaios. This village is famous for its Moscated wines and bread. We walked through several vineyards to the villages high above the Douro River and then descended to the riverside village of Pinhao where we had time to explore the city but most of us simply sat down for a cool drink.
Wes is feeling better so today he decided to join the easier hike which means they started at the village and walked down through the Favaios village towards Pinhao. However, their group would end at the village above Pinhao and take the bus down the steep mountainous road to Pinhao. The harder hike, which I was on, started 3 kms further up in the hills at a different village and walked to the village where the easier hikers started and followed them down to the destination. Our hike originally had us continue all the way down the hills to Pinhao but we opted to stop with the easier hikers and take the bus down. The total distance for the easy hikers was 8 km and for us was 11 but if we had continued on foot it would have been 15 km. Today the temperatures were over 30 again and we had been told that the trek from our chosen destination down the final 4 km to Pinhao was on a trail that had been recently dug up so it was not a good packed trail. In addition, there were storm clouds gathering in the distance and even with the heat and humidity we were not anxious to be caught walking down a recently dug up dirt trail in a rain storm.
Once again we had fantastic views of the valley, quaint villages with church steeples and rows of grapevines on the hills. We walked through pine forests, along narrow lanes with rock fences (slate stacked high to create the fence) and beside vineyards. There were a few cherry trees to be found with ripe cherries as well. As we walked we found many flowers, both wild and cultured, along the paths. The roses are beautiful and have blooms that are colourful and plentiful.
At the first village we came to, we stopped and had a cup of coffee at a café. We enjoyed watching the traffic drive by as we sat on the sidewalk tables but have to admit that we were surprised when a tractor drove by. Our group was not in a big hurry since we had shortened our destination so we set a leisurely pace and included a few extra stops.
Lunch today was in a beautiful pine treed woods along the lane.
We met up with the other group of hikers at the bus. Wes had no trouble with the hike but his energy level is down because he has been sick so he was tired. When we got back to the hotel he took a rest and slept. I joined a few of the others to go to a local winery to enjoy a wine tasting.
Tomorrow we have our final hike with the Holiday Fellowship group and many are electing to take the easier hike. Most have no problem hiking the distance and elevation changes, but the heat has been over 30 degrees all week and that does tend to sap the energy.
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