Monday 5th July (Lini’s Journal)
Brindabella's Web Diary
Simon Williams
Sun 25 Jul 2010 23:23
shop as early as possible to book our cycle down from the caldeira.
While the mountain bikes were collected in the truck we signed our
lives away and were fitted with helmets. The drive up was longer and
steeper than I’d imagined making me very grateful we took the easy
option and didn’t push our folding bikes up. Eventually the road came
to an end, bikes were unloaded and we were left in total tranquillity.
Notice boards set out the 27km hike past all the volcanoes which we
had neither the time nor the energy for today, but we walked a way
round the caldeira and stood in amazement at its vastness. It had a
2km diameter and was 400m deep with dark vegetation growing up the
sides; an awesome sight. Hydrangeas lined our path with miles of
fields of happy cows falling away towards the sea where the mountain
on Pico rose through the cloud. The only noise was birds and an awful
lot of flies! The day was glorious and perfect for hiking and picnics,
so it was a shame to start our descent so soon. What a scenic trip
down it was though past farmland, windmills, monuments, the prettiest
flower lined roads, wonderful views over Horta and out to Pico then
down to the town along the cobbled streets, so quaint to look at but
not recommended for a comfortable cycle ride! We called in at the post
office and the bakery for fresh bread for lunch where luckily we
bumped into Dick and Pam. I was worried we would have to leave before
having the chance to say goodbye. Luck came again when Paul and Lin
swung by in their dinghy just before we left and we were able to thank
them too for their great company.
We left Horta on Faial around 2pm with Pico only a few miles off to
starboard and São Jorge already in sight. Unfortunately once again
there was little wind and the engine was put to use to help us cover
the twenty or so miles. We were only a few miles off the coast when Si
spotted whales; first a mother and child off to starboard then another
off to port. Grabbing the camera I was really upset that the normal
lens had been put on and I was unable to zoom right in and get the
classic tail fin shot, but hopefully there will be other opportunities
in these waters so famous for whale watching.
We arrived in Velas around 6pm in the dinkiest little new marina
which was only a dream when Si was here last in 2004. José the
friendly marina manager was there to help us onto a very small length
of the hammerhead behind ‘Whistling Maid’ an English boat we have seen
many times on our travels. ‘Piano’ from Falmouth, another familiar
boat was moored across the marina and the other boats came from all
around Europe. How I managed to place my foot through the small gap in
the pontoon around the piling is beyond me, but once again Lini had a
clumsy moment as a sharp wooden block scraped down the back of my leg
leaving me with a scratch and bruise that turned some pretty
impressive colours over the next few days.
We unwound with a beer with the sun sinking in a blinding glow
behind us and two representatives of the GNR approaching in smart
uniforms and long shiny boots. Si explained we had just arrived and
were going to check-in in the morning but they said their office was
still open and he could do it now: Best not to argue with a man in hat
and boots! Some time later we found out it was a mistake to have
another beer with dinner.