Pomarão
Thursdays Child
Robin & Joanna Minchin
Wed 18 Mar 2015 20:36
37:33.315N
007:31.459W
Bol and I are feeling rather guilty that we are not managing much 'official' schooling these days, but we are certainly having quite an adventure! This morning Isabelle called down from the cockpit in much excitement because an enormous flock of sheep was being shepherded down to where we normally land the dinghy and have our BBQ. We paddled ashore quickly and found ourselves in amongst 1,000 ?? sheep and goats, the 50+ more adventurous ones who wander off were wearing bells and the sound was incredible so close. It was a very enchanting sight as the valley came alive with lambs bleating, mothers calling and bells ringing. They were like a pack of locusts nibbling everything in their way.
A shepherd and his three dogs gently brought up the rear, we got a wave from him but sadly being unable to speak the lingo we couldn't communicate with him as we had a host of questions. After about an hour the shepherd moved everything on up river, silence returned and it felt very empty.
As planned we upp'd anchor and motored the 2 miles further up river to Pomarão, a former mining town which was shut down overnight in 1956 when the iron ore ran out (we came here in early December). Apparently it was a rather shocking ending for the locals and the town hasn't recovered, there are 28 full time retired residents and the young return for holidays. There are two cafes here and that's about it, a real ghost town.
Wanting to explore, we headed up the old railway track leading inland which began with a short tunnel and we soon encountered tumbledown bridges, rotting railway sleepers lying in the mud and two more tunnels. The second tunnel was long, dark and spooky! We all held hands and crept up slowly, fortunately there were chimneys strategically placed along so we could just see spots of light ahead and aim towards them (no torches of course). As the tunnel went around a gentle curve we couldn't see the end until we were in the centre and could then just make out a glimmer of light. Under foot we could step easily on the old railway sleepers and so could concentrate on looking ahead and not at our feet (which were in pitch black anyway). Having just read plenty of Enid Blyton recently, this was real live Famous Five stuff and the children loved it.
Much relief all round to reach the end only to find a third tunnel ahead but the roof had fallen in places so we didn't enter. The boys returned over the hill and the girls went through the tunnel which proved to be the best decision as the heavens then opened and the girls stayed dry!
Back to TC for hot chocolates and much delight at our own mini-adventure.