My walk along the Via Algarviana began at the centre of Sao Bras de Alportel.
For logistical reasons, I had decided to start my trip along the Via Algarviana at Sao Bras de Alportel and take a link path to join the main route at Parises, partway through the fifth of fourteen sections.
It was only a few steps before I encountered my first waymark.
The overall quality of the waymarking has been a very pleasant surprise, at least so far. I’d been prepared to navigate the route with map and compass, and still tried to rely primarily on the maps rather than the waymarks, but the map reading was almost superfluous today.
Today’s walking ran through ranges of low green hills separated by valleys, mostly on tracks and forestry roads.
One striking feature of the landscape was how empty it was. Sao Bras de Alportel seems to mark the northern end of the coastal villa belt, and north of there the landscape was mostly deserted. There’s little sign that much of this land was ever cultivated, and the odd deserted village shows that it’s even emptier today than it used to be.
I’d given myself a long day to start, and was flagging toward the end, but then the tough semi – arid vegetation, which had been all shades of green, started to give up some touches of the colour that this region is supposedly famous for in spring.
It cheered the last kilometre of a tough day.
Day 1 Route: Sao Bras de Alportel to Barranco do Velho via Parises. Terrain: Weather: Sunny to start, then a mix of sun and showers from midday. Daily distance: 30.5 km/19.1 miles. Cumulative distance: 30.5 km/19.1 miles. Accommodation: A Tia Bia, Barranco do Velho.
Come Wind, Come Weather 
Beautiful scenery! Well done Simon, you’re on your way again. Had forgotten how much I had enjoyed your last blog but reading your first entry reminds me of your past adventures too.
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