Hike São Jorge Pico do Pedro to Faja do Ouvidor

Woke early on Monday 4th July 2016 to find that, for the first time since arriving in Velas, Pico was completly cloudless, suggesting that this would be a superb day for our hike.

 

At 0900 hrs Antonio collected us, and our old friends Per and Bitte of S/Y Pangea Ultima from Las Palmas, at the marina.

At 0920 he dropped us off at the start of our 17 km hike to Faja Ouvidor on the North coast 

 

Our route 

 

Setting off with the island of Pico clearly visible to the south

 

The track rose steadily from around 700 meters altitude 

 

Passing the peaks of Pico do Pedra, Pico do Carvao, Pico Verde and Morro Pelado

 

We passed close to the place where the tragic aviation accident took place in 1999

 

The eastern end of Pico island

 

Pico Peak just above a band of cloud

 

Looking back along our trail

 

The western end of Pico. During our hike clouds formed and disapeared again, an ever changing vista

 

Reached the 1053 meter peak of Pico da Esperanca, the highest point on the island

 

 

 

Looking north to the island of Graciosa

 

Pico

 

 

 

 

The island of Terceira, just visible to the east

 

 

 

The island of Faial just visible to the west of Pico

 

 

A convenient place for lunch - the previous occupants kindly vacated the prime spot for us - not many places to sit on the route

 

 

The village of Norte Grande

 

Norte Grande Church

 

The Faja do Ouvidor, our objective

 

 

The old access route to the Faja was fairly steep with many rock steps

 

With glimpses of the Faja do Ouvidor

 

 

 

Walking backwards down the steep road 

 

 

 

 

Our end point, the small harbour 

 

Telephoned our taxi at 1510 hrs and at 1600 Hrs the taxi arrived to take us back to Velas - total cost  €37.

We had refreshments in a cafe while we waited for the taxi.

A thouroughly enjoyable hike in perfect weather.

 

Hike São Jorge Ponta dos Rosais

The weather was sunny and pleasant in Velas, so we decided to make the planned hike from Rosais to The Ponta dos Rosais Lighthouse.

Caught the bus at 0940 hrs Friday 1st June 2016 outside the main supermarket in Velas to go to Rosais at the western end of São Jorge

 

 

Unfortunately, by 1000 hrs when we got off the bus at its end stop in Rosais, the clouds had descended and we were engulfed in cloudy mist and drizzle

 

So raingear on and we set off on the trail

 

The route

 '

Pleasant but damp and very little visibility. Luckily we had our iPad with us with the Navmii Portgal app which showed us our position at all times. Without this we would have had problems finding the right route as there were no trail signs and we could not see further than 50 meters or so

 

 

 

Wonderful hydrangeas enriched our route

 

After a while, the cloud started to thin

 

and our objective, the Ponta dos Rosais Lighthouse came into view in the distance

 

Yellow flowers like Foxgloves

 

Getting closer

 

According to Wikipedia, the Lighthouse complex was completed and inaugurated in 1964. 

Shortly after the lighthouse was completed, it was abandoned during the 1964 Rosais Earthquake, when seismic events and an underwater eruption hit the Ponta dos Rosais, causing damage to many homes and buildings in the parish of Rosais. The earthquake caused enough panic to warrant the evacuation of its residents to the neighbouring island of Terceira, which included the temporary evacuation of the lighthouse families. Over time these fears were mitigated and life resumed at the complex.

Then, on 1 January 1980, a series of seismic events, in the order of 7 on the Richter magnitude scale caused destruction to homes on Terceira, Graciosa, Faial and São Jorgeislands. These events caused significant damage to the structure of the lighthouse and buildings, necessitating a complete abandonment of the complex.

The lighthouse was automated and reopened on 5 July 1982.

 

Followed the path to the left  in the lighthouse complex to a low wall on top of the sheer cliff

 

Super view of the rocks and sea 200 metes below

 

Excellent place for our picnic lunch

 

Jeannette's quiche was excellent

 

Followed the more northerly trail back to Rosais

 

Unfortunately the cloud descended again and we were back in mist and drizzle

 

On the return we passed through the Sete de Fontes park

 

 

The mist and drizzle turned the park with its magnificent Red Cedars, Tree ferns, Palms and moss covered rocksinto a veritable Enchanted Forest

 

Picnic lunch in the "Enchanted Forest"

 

 

 

 

 

 

1415 hrs arrive at the road in Rosais which is on the bus route to Velas

 

 

1457 hrs bus to Velas arrives

 

The route