On the Ponta de Sao Lourenco trail

If I was bowled over by the majesty of the Yesnsby cliffs and coastline on the Orkneys than the Ponta de San Lourenço trail was just as mesmerising: https://visitmadeira.com/en/where-to-go/madeira/east-coast/machico/ponta-de-sao-lourenco/

Another geographers paradise where volcanic activity and the force of the ocean has created a weird, dynamic and wonderful landscape which has the look of the surface of Mars. Lava flows, colours, intrusions, pyroclastic deposits, cindery lava surfaces and evidence of successive eruptions over millions of years were all around. An assault on the eyes.

As were the thousands of hikers tackling the 5 mile round trip with us. It was busier than any any Lake District path I’ve ever been on. The whole world and his wife were there from the young bucks and their equally agile does to aging septuagenarians like myself. The lithe and not so lithe all making their way to the final peak overlooking two smaller islands.

A walk so different to yesterday. Plenty of time to stop and gaze at the sights before us and marvel at the physical processes that brought it all about. And at the far end, a cafe. Rather like struggling up Snowdon and finding the cafe there.

At the end of this epic walk we were collected and taken to our next hotel where we will be based while we walk the more mountainous north coast of the island.

Once we’d washed off the dust and sweat we enjoyed a couple of beers, trying to complete the Sunday Times crossword before dinner.

Thank you for visiting my journal and following our walks on Madeira. There hasn’t been any time to visit your journals.