Azores - Sao Miguel 2024

Photos are at:- https://photos.app.goo.gl/iQ5UD1h9RzHPAkS79

Monday November 4th
    First Bus tracker showed that the 22.40 304 bus would be late, so I wandered down the path to the Priory to waste time. In to McD and problems with the app. It wants to order at the nearest,which as I was on the bus was Cardiff Bay then in town, it says wait at a table only staff won't serve tables after 11pm, so by the time they realised the cheeseburgers were cold, they were nice and apologetic, but waiting was fine.

Tuesday November 5th

    The 0045 Flixbus was early, and I don't think the later 304 would have been in time. 
    Arrived Gatwick at 6am, more problems with the app, had to order breakfast at a panel, it killed an hour and a half. Long wait for the plane boarding was 9.50. Managed to sleep. Another long wait at Lisbon - had downloaded some TV, so was OK and an ice cream at McD.
    Pilot had us worried saying it was windy and diversion was back to Lisbon - also heavy showers happening. We did land and I risked walking to the hotel, took about 50mins and was nice with pavements all the way - even dottted line on them to match google. End of 24hrs travelling.

Wednesday 6th

The problem with Buffets is that you don't know where everything is until you have been a few times. Anyway it was nice but not completely filling Muesli tomorrow.
    Pretty depressed at Trump being elected, really lacked energy. 
    Walked the waterfront, visited tourist office and Military Museum, fortress. Up into towm - didn't like the shopping centre - nice waterfall though. Church Museum was interesting.
    McD in wrong place on Google Maps, and when I did find it they werent doing the Pork Rib. I tried to get it fixed. Sully Committee and half way through the Monday Night Game.

Thursday 7th

The intention was to check out the busses. Unfortunately I got to the bus stop rather early and accosted by the beggar again. Decided to walk, which was quite pleasant, nice sea views if you ignored the industry behind you. Mind you I like the airport.
   The Official walks turned out to be dead ends, and I decided I didn't fancy the climb back up from the bottom. Then came the real test - google showed a bus stop - but there were no signs and the busses did not stop. Had do walk back through the town on the main road which was probably the most hazardous thing I could have done. Eventually caught the 200 bus from the Airport.
    Finished the Game - Tampa Bay lost! Got a packet of what I thought were healthy nuts but turned out to be sweets.

Friday 8th

This time I did catch the 206 bus at 10.40. The pamphlet was wrong and the bus went up to Sete Cidades without the need to change at Varzea. Only problem now is how accurate is it about the return journey from there? Anyhow I was booked through to Mosteiros. Receptionist said bus didn't go to nice places, this was a nice place. Lots of photos of the waves breaking on the shore. Only problem was that I didn't walk very far.
    The return bus actually turned up on time (another 4Euros). Struck by the steep valleys and zig-zagging necessary as we returned. It had been raining in Porto Delgada, intended to go out but ended up finishing the Sully Newsheet and sending it out.

Saturday 9th

Relatively early breakfast and out for the 10am bus to Ribiera Grande. Youngsters on the bus chatting in English - from Slovenia and Germany - with Greek friends. Looked as if they were going to do the same route as I had in mind. Anyway, got off and started on the route which went to the top of the volcano but the weather wasn't good and it seemed to follow a tarmacked and busy road. Not that the route on Komoot was not without its difficulties. Route was barred as a couple of river crossings were out, but I went through anyway and was lucky that some workers put me back on track. Interesting small fumeroles, not where they should be and a geothermal plant. Diverted to the other route I had seen, which went to Salto do Cabrito. This was a pretty spectacular waterfall, with a hydro-electric plant. Very impressive. Back to Ribierta Grande, which has a really good surf beach and McDonalds. Bus back arrived on time and at least today I have done my distance +8 miles.

Sunday 10th

With busses rare the aim was to walk east along the coast and get back in time to see if Australia was carrying the American Football from Munich Germany.

    Surprised to see a cruise ship in port. Most of the walk was along a promenade but as time was getting short it did go around a volcanic headland with some interesting rocks. Came back to the road and didn't trust Google so walked back to a bus stop. I think I wasn't paying attention and the first bus went straight past. Wandered along to the next stop and a few stops further and waited. This time the bus did turn up and I got back to the hotle just in time to catch the game. Dashed out between games to get something to eat and got held up by a large queue in the supermarket but caught most of the next game and then gave up assuming that Arizona will massacre the Jets (will try and catch it later)

Monday 11th

Check out day and the bag room took my bag while I headed to the North Coast. 

    Driver sold me a ticket to Capelas, but only to the centre, came back to see why I hadn't got off, but luckily Google showed him that we were still in Capela, and he was happy that I was getting off. Wandered down to what was the old harbour. Actually, I just wanted to see the headland. Heady it was too, quite a climb, meeting a tractor was fun, as was wandering through a field of cows. The coast was really impressive, lots of caves and rock arches, really wanted to canoe it rather than looking down a cliff (I don't like the height. 

    The aim was to make McDonalds, but I gave up about 2pm. The coast was getting boring and there was a bus due, however, it meant I was back early so I went to the Ponta Delgardo one instead and had another go at getting google to change its location.

    Interesting getting into the new lodgings - there is only a remote reception - but managed and the room is big and modern - in fact ideal. Arizona didn't run the score up but wopped the Jets.

Tuesday 12th

Basket breakfast was OK. Difficult to prepare as there is no table in the room. Out too early and a little wander around town before getting the bus. Thinking I should try for the 9am bus tomorrow but not sure if it is a good idea.

Anyway got to Sete Cidades and began a wander along what I thought was a previous route but it wasn't. The route up was interesting, Komoot users specifically banned from the track so I had to take the road, which was probably more dangerous. First divertion through a picnic area worked and cut a corner. Second one didn't work. The track ended at a gully. Backtracked and then tried to climb up to the road, an interesting process. Eventually the track left the road for a ridge between caldera. The map showed them as tracks but while mantained they were prettty steep in parts and in others not well used and pretty overgrown. Not particularly nice given the drops on either side. Then I cut across fields to get to the road and nearly got caught in a bog. Main caldera ridge was an unpaved road but was taking too long, so I cut off and got to Varzea before 3pm and had an ice cream. 2hr wait for the bus and first use of the cagoule. Back to Ponta Delgarda about 6pm as it was getting dark.

Wednesday 13th

No cutlery in the basket this morning, so a quick trip to the kitchen to get a knife, interesting way to eat cornflakes. Anyway got out about 8.30 so made the 9am bus to south east coast, Agua De Alto - Ribeira Da Praia.

    The walk was fantastic. Crossing the stream was easy, as there was not a lot of water flowing. Narrow village streets with duck looking after her young, and cats lying around. Under the motorway in the narrow valley, past old hydro stations. Up to the reservoir. Extremely picturesque. Then up the lane to the top of the volcano and the caldera lake, a pretty constant climb. The downhill was again through steep sided valleys, and along a levada. Google said there was a bus due at 14.50 so I sort of hurried down the volcanic slope using the road rather than go down the pretty valley. Bus turned up on time and I got back to the hotel at 4pm. Photos processed, checked in for flight and this done all I now need is the Monday Night Football for 3hrs to have been a perfect day.

Thurday 14th

No breakfast, no reply until 09.30 by which time I was out and getting breakfast at the supermarket. They said they would refund the 15Euro but forgot to mention that it had to be in cash at the accommodation and by that time I had walked to the airport.  Bastards!

    Flight to Lisbon OK, ice cream. Flight to Gatwick left a little late and it was a rush to get to the North Terminal for the bus. Made it with 2 or 8 mins to spare depending on whether you believe my watch or my phone. Then the bus was 20 mins late. 

   Cardiff at 4.20am Mc D for breakfast and then to the station for the 05.15 train. Ticket machine would not do Senior Railcard and app gave me a digital ticket when I wanted it to instruct the machine to give me a paper ticket, anyway it worked. Home by 6am and electric turned on, gas boiler will be next, if I get up. 10am