Due to some delay to get to the start of the route, we start this stage late, around 10 o'clock. It's a hefty one, of more than 24 kilometres and quite a bit of ascending and descending. So we set a fast pace when we arrive at Praia dos Caneiros. We walk on top of the cliffs for a while, on red paths of sand and stones, in which fossil shells and their imprints can more often be seen. We enjoy the stunning views on the cliffs. One jagged, a steep and deep abyss, the other almost elegant with it's curves and see-throughs. Naturally created bridges of sandstone eroded by the ocean. After every bend we round, we are amazed by the shapes created by nature. It started a bit hazy and cloudy this morning, but by now the weather has opened up completely. Looking back from the higher parts, we can see Lagos and even the cliffs of Sagres, vaguely in the distance. Amazing to be able to look back on our last 5 stages! Around noon we walk into the town of Carvoeiro. With white houses, some hotels, restaurants and a nice beach. It really is a tourist town, but charming and with an authentic feel. Definitely one of the nicer towns in the Algarve that we've passed.
We take a break at the beach. It's still quite a long walk to Armação de Pêra and since we can't resist to photograph every little bend, we're not making much progress today. We look at the route we've prepared and see that we can cut some corners, which would bring us to a fair 22 kilometres and allow us to maintain a bit more speed. As a result, we'll probably make it to the village before the sun sets at 6pm. We continue along the cliffs and beaches. Occasionally a little more inland to speed up the pace and then back to the ocean. And with the orange sun low on the horizon, we walk the last stretch of beach. The long beach of Armação de Pêra. It's a still traditional fishing village where the fishing boats do not arrive at a port, but sail onto the beach to unload their catch. For us, it 's the end point of the stage. It felt like a long walk, but once again it was magnificent. And we are happy to get back to our little tent, just before dawn.
