6 February to Silves

Today was a tough day, 28.6 km and 956 m elevation gain, but very scenic climbing over Picota, Algarve's second highest mountain. The summit was mainly bare rock like a granite tor although the rock is actually syenite (it contains no quartz). The rock is used in the buildings and cobble stone streets of Monchique and when wet the laths of feldspar show up nicely. The day was cloudy after a misty start which limited long distance visibility and made the colours dull and dusty, although various flowers worked hard to provide some brightness.
After Picota the path drops down and it was here I met my first backpacker walking the Via Algarviana but in the opposite direction to me and complete with guitar. After walking along a brook and managing to cross in a few places without getting wet, the path joined a river, shaded by Mimosa trees with sprays of yellow flowers. The path then climbed through wooded hills. The final part had good views although the wide bulldozed roads (firebreaks?) did detract from the beauty a bit. Whoever planned the route made sure it went over every possible hill so I arrived at my hotel (Residential Vila Sodre) on the outskirts of Silves somewhat tired and too late in the evening to explore the fortifications I could see in the town.
Chicken piri piri tonight at the Cross of Portugal entertained by a British man on the adjacent table telling his relatives (including a little Portuguese grandma) how awful his son was.

Picota

I took this to be a crocus