A Walk on the Beach

There was another very low tide this morning, so after breakfast we went for a walk, and we kept on walking - all the way to Vilamoura!  We didn't intend to, but it was so beautiful and the sand was firm and easy to walk on - we'd just planned to walk a little further than the other day and then stop for a drink before turning round, but when we saw Vilamoura in the distance, we decided to carry on.  Lots of people were doing the same thing (see my extra), that said it wasn't busy by any means and there was hardly anyone sunbathing on the beach.  

Lots of locals were digging in the sand, we're not sure what they were collecting, but thought it was possibly worms for fishing or maybe cockles, but it's obviously something they do at low tide and it was all the way along the beach from Olhos D'Agua to Vilamoura - interesting to see!

Once we made it to the breakwater at the marina entrance we  turned round, and went and sat at a beach cafe where we had an apple cider which was very refreshing.  We'd just finished when two Portuguese ladies with dogs were looking for a table in the shade, which ours was, so we offered them our table.  I bent own to stroke one of the little dogs, who licked my hand.  The lady commented that I must like animals - apparently her dog barks at everyone!

We set off on the long walk back and on our way saw two enormous jelly fish washed up on the sand, and a tiny little starfish that was alive as it was on it's back with it's arms moving.  I wanted to help it back into the water but wasn't sure if it was safe to touch it, so was about to look for something to lift it up with to place it back in the sea, when a wave came and swept it back out.

We made it most of the way back before the tide covered the damp sand and after walking 8 miles in total, the last stretch was the killer, with the steps up the side of the cliff!  We had a quick bite to eat and then a well deserved rest on sun loungers by the pool.