Up in the Trees Having been thwarted last week in my attempts to revisit a couple of trails I found in the hills above Funchal, I finally found one that was open and provided a considerable amount of “tree time.” Like most of the trails around here, this one follows an irrigation weir, known as a levada.
Levada Arch There's a levada (small canal or weir for water) way up the hill from where I'm staying. I explored part of it earlier in the week. I wasn't too impressed but decided to take another look. As is often the case with such things, the path became much more interesting just past the point where I turned back before.
Levada Bridge One of the top reasons I'm liking Madeira so much is that I can walk along the ocean one day and then hike up in the forests the next. All without a car or a long commute. I had planned on redoing this walk along the Levada dos Tournos today.
Birch Trail One of my favorite close-in hikes in up Holman lane and down Birch Trail. You can extend it if you want with several different options to get back to your starting point. In late summer, the light in the afternoon is always very beautiful.
Roots This was one of my favorite tree photos, with the dense tangle of roots holding the stump in place on a steep bank. This tree is along a trail in Washington Park near the Redwood grove which has since been closed.
Umbrella Falls It's the time of year when I usually try to organize a hike to Umbrella Falls on Mt Hood. It's a nice hike across meadows that are ski slopes in winter, and if you're lucky there are ripe huckleberries to snack on along the way.
Malta Trail Bench Malta is a great place for hiking. There are miles of trails, most of which afford beautiful views of blue bays below limestone cliffs. This sofa carved from the local stone was a bit of a surprise. It's near the north end of the island, not far from the “Red Fort.
Blackberries Hiking along certain trails around Portland in late July through August has its perks. Blackberries ripening on the vine.
Tiger Lilies Among all the flowers one encounters along the trails this time of year, Tiger Lilies are my favorite. A stem full of tiger lilies.
Wildflower Along BPA Road Every year in late June to early July, BPA Road in Portland's Forest Park is lined with wildflowers. Most of them are quite common, such as daisies and lupin, but the profusion is quite pretty. A pretty pink flower.