Sao Jorge

Hike Pico Topo

Taxi to the start point and then a 5 km hike upwards along a dirt road built in 1944. On the way up we didn’t do the Montoso Cave which involved ropes and climbing gear. We continued up to Morro Pelado and then to Pico da Esperança (Hope peak -the highest point on Sao Jorge 1053 m). Picnic lunch at Hope Peak and afterwards continued along the road but now downwards towards Norte Grande , here we stopped for an Ice lolly! The final hike down to the Faja was VERY steep and was the only access in 1947. It did have rock steps but was extremely slippery –but it was a much shorter route that the road! Almost at the end a small detour to Simão Dias Pool which had larva columns and niches. The Restaurant at Sea level sold nice cool beers. There are no links to google for this hike since the net for the island only shows contours

Fayal, Horta

15th Day of rest & Recovery the Nav Chair broke and the image folders have now been renumbered. A sunny day so did some washing.

16th July Slipped for Fayal –Horta. Wonderful sail across just enough wind to keep the engine off and smooth enough for full enjoyment. Engine now need a hammer blow to encourage it to start. We have decided that this means it is too unreliable for emergencies and so will take it in for new brushes and order a new one from GB.

19th Visited the Whale Museum. Which showed the industry before whaling was banned. Our guide was a marine biologist who was sympathetic to the subject and also discussed the turtle problem which he was working on. Leather-backed turtles are born in America and have a difficult life from the start, so it doesn’t help when they spend their adolescence in the Azores only to be hooked on a long line meant for fish. The Turtle numbers has fallen dramatically since long line fishing became popular and of course now that the Azores are in the Common Market it means that other member countries can come closer and also do the turtles some damage. Surprisingly Turtles eat Jelly –fish (which we have seen by the thousand out at sea!) so why they even go for a long line is beyond me !

20th General Sightseeing around Horta, while taking the nav chair in to be repaired,

22nd Hired a car for the day and did the Capelo to Capelinhos walk Gave the car keys to Esther & Otto half way along. Then went to the Capelinhos Museum to learn about plate tectonics and volcanoes. The 3-D film was really superb.

24th hired mountain bikes which were taken to the top on the Caldeira and unloaded. We had expected to cycle around the rim but after starting off Ester and I decided it was ridiculous to try. Needless to say Otto and Malcolm battled on and arrived back shattered! Martin & Jean forgot to tell us that you are supposed to WALK the rim and THEN cycle back to Horta ! The guy at Peters’ Sport was gob smacked when he heard that Malcolm and Otto had actually done it !! The free-wheel down was awesome 18KM from the top down and was it fast. I was overtaken by a car at one point but kept pace with it for a fair distance afterwards.

26th Took the ferry to Pico Island where we hired another car and toured around. The spectacular scenery along the forestry road down the centre of the island will not show in the photos but I have included a selection.

The rest of our stay has been spent renewing the paintwork on our picture. The whole of the harbour wall and marina is covered with reminders of all the yachts which have been here. Piano herself has been twice before but the paintwork had deteriorated so I have brightened it up I do hope Yan & Ghislaine approve of it

Velas, Sao Jorge.

I took advice from everyone! Had a fizzy Vitamin C drink for breakfast, Stugeron (25mg) and the wrist bands! The passage was calm and enjoyable no rolly wave motion and I felt fine throughout ! (note to remind myself to try the same again ) We both had lunch and dinner while en route and also a couple of hour kip. Yes we were rewarded with more dolpins and rather a sea full of Jelly fish. The wind died completely towards dawn and when we checked with the Marina ‘Jose’ told us that he was expecting 26 yachts from the Horta to Velas race later in the day. (Some hope with no wind I thought) anyway we anchored and unloaded ‘Cresendo’ so that we could get ashore. Needless to say the harbour was packed! After checking in with the police we has a look round and found various stages and booths set up ready for the weekends entertainment. Since they has changed the dates and not the publicity it was the end of the Fiesta. However, we had plenty to fill our first weekend.
We waited until eleven o’clock for the procession to begin and had a few beers…..

On Sunday it was sizzling so I had a day on washing the deck. Malcolm meanwhile went to see the “Tourada à Corda” the street bullfighting. This one was on the harbour wall with containers to provide safe viewing for the public. It also meant any easy exit to the sea if the bull got too close, except one bull fancied a swim and jumped in !
Meanwhile, the Marina which had emptied during the day had started to fill again.
On Monday I went to sign in for the week and so did many more arrivals! Amongst whom were another British boat “Freedom To…” It was great to exchange stories on deck in the heat of the evening.
Tuesday we took a taxi to Serra do Topo for the start of a 10km downhill hike. The top was covered with low cloud but we had soon walked down out if it - into a pleasantly cool day. The views of the valleys below from this height were amazing! We couldn’t see much of the island coastline though. Images are in Picasa as always and the flora are in the other folder. After this epic 4 hour hike we had a couple of cool beers while waiting for our taxi driver. The final 3km were along the coast at sea level. The only track into the very small village is only passable with a 4 wheel dune buggy. We were passed by some walkers with their guide as it started to rain and no sooner than I had thought how nice a ride would be an Islander stopped and offered us a lift.
Thursday we hired a car and had a trip to the Western end and then the Cheese Factory where we had a guided tour. Next the church at Santa Barbara and along to the Eastern end to a town called Topo.
Images are on Picasa.

Angra Do Heroismo

18th Took the bus to Angra do Heroísmo and climbed Monte Brazil, then had a picnic at the top. Returned to the city which has World Heritage Status and followed the tourist route around to see the sights. It was a tiring day but well worth the effort. The buildings are renovated to a high standard and have fresh paint, which adds to the beauty. Pictures on Picasa will have any explanation necessary.
19th we hired a car and followed the costal route to Angra for the start of the Feira (Festival) How amazing that Otto & Esther had arrived while we had been sightseeing yesterday and we were able to catch up with them and see the Carnival procession—after a local meal of “alcatra” a meat stew. After the procession the music began at the marina. By this time we had begun to tire so finished up aboard Roakeldais for coffee and then wended our way back up to the car for the drive home. A very late night (2.30 am again!)
20th took the gentle walking route (TER 8) Interesting for its volcanic items. The first are Oxen cart tracks in the larva. ‘V’ shaped tracks were made 200 years ago and ‘U’ shaped ones slightly later as wheel technology improved. The path is a goldmine of flora and fauna and is sooo green! The water table is just below the surface which means that Japanese Red Cedars, Australian Blackwood, Eucalyptus and Eastern Cottonwood are able to grow. At ground level (where it is more humid there are carpets of moss, ferns, Sweet pittosporum, heather, and ginger.
Volcanic larva flowed over this land over 3,000 years ago and the very fluid basaltic larva from the Guilherme Moniz Caldera produced the landscape over which we have just walked. A large outcrop of larva attracted our attention which had cavities left by volcanic ‘bombs’ and a small larva tunnel. When knocked the rock sounded hollow! Back at the picnic area we see how the larva flowed over the existing sub soil at a public viewing area. This was the same flow which formed the Biscoito das Fontinhas (the area made into a sea bathing are we visited the other day)
21st, As forecast Monday began overcast with 79% humidity and deteriorated to Cornish ‘Mizzle’ ! Plenty to keep us occupied aboard routine checks etc plus preparation for the next passage to Sao Jorge.