Levada walking in Madeira

[funflair]

OK we are not in the motorhome, thank goodness as you need to be a mountain goat to get about here, some roads don’t have footpaths at the side they have steps.

Anyway we are here for 10 days and decided we should do a “Levada walk” Levada’s are concrete irrigation channels and are a masterpiece of civil engineering in their own right, most if not all have a footpath by the side of them so make nice flat walks, what could go wrong you ask well to be fair yesterday’s was lovely with quite a wide path and some good views.

So for today I selected a local bus ride to Camacha and then thought we would try this Levada walk, I read a bit and watched the video and at about 3 minutes 20 I thought ooo I hope that is a trick of the camera,

It wasn’t I got JEN into training the night day before by walking the black lines on the pavement,

She didn’t fall off once so I thought we might be OK

So after,

Going through this tunnel that was darker than it looks,

We got to,

This bit which to be fair was wider than the black line on the pavement BUT had something like 100m drop off the edge I said “don’t look down” but it didn’t work so I went a bit further and then turned around and caught Jen up,

Waterfall in the distance,

All told an interesting day out

Martin

PS we are doing another one tomorrow but with a guide.

 

[CazPaul]

Bloody hell, you should have practised on a tightrope first.

 

[funflair]

Bloody hell, you should have practised on a tightrope first.

She would have fallen off that though, so would I

Martin

 

[Kenp]

My wife took me to Madeira on my return from the Gulf War in 1991; she thought I would like a seaside holiday without any sand!
The real highlights were our walks down the Levadas; snaking through the beautiful countryside and looking down on the remote hamlets where we would stop for a drink and lunch.
I'm very envious, enjoy your holiday and remember to have a ride in a TukTuk Taxi.

 

[SandraL]

I remember them well, take a parachute!
The number of rabbit ears denotes the grading, 3 ears is mountain goat territory.
Enjoy.

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[Debs]

is Jen still speaking to you Martin?

I had to go back & re watch that a couple of times at 3.20!

Looks beautiful though, hope you'll post more pics & enjoy your break.

You'll no doubt be pleased to know it's sloughing down here with a snow warning

 

[funflair]

Up at 7am to be picked up by mini bus for our guided walk, we are told there is “protection where required” if I don’t report back watch the 10 o’clock news

Martin

 

[funflair]

And the whole island is covered in flowers although a bit later in the year would be better,

Loads of these by the path yesterday, Arum lily I think.

Martin

 

[canopus]

When we were last on Madeira, the ‘bird of paradise plant’ was growing everywhere, just like dandelions do here.

 

[funflair]

When we were last on Madeira, the ‘bird of paradise plant’ was growing everywhere, just like dandelions do here.

They still are, but the photos are on the camera not my phone.

Martin

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[funflair]

Well we survived our walk, along the north coast with some pretty spectacular views,

Some cliff paths and big drops,

Wild flowers,

Then through a valley to the south coast to finish.

Martin

 

[big bertha]

Only been to Madeira once on a 18 to 30 cruise. Didn't do much walking but did come down on sledge thingy, visited a monastry and met Oscar at at disco.

 

[funflair]

Only been to Madeira once on a 18 to 30 cruise. Didn't do much walking but did come down on sledge thingy, visited a monastry and met Oscar at at disco.

Sounds like a different holiday to ours but neither of us are 18-30, and never will be again.

Martin

 

[funflair]

And it’s been carnival all week,

Martin