There's no rest for the wicked (even on holiday) and next day a mini-bus picked us up early to take us near to Porto da Cruz to the north-east of the island. We were going on a levada walk! Madeira's system of irrigation, known as levadas, carries water down from the mountains on gentle gradients, providing a ready-made system of trails (it says here).
Our guide, David, was quite a card and very knowledgable about botany and the local farmers' way of life.
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| A branch in the levada. The levada keeper removes the stones at certain times each day for the individual farmer to receive his allocation. |
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| David demonstrates how the water is diverted along channels in the soil to water the farmer's plantations. |
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| Our merry troop |
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| The levadas are replenished by streams.... |
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| ...or small reservoirs. |
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| Some footpaths are easy... |
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| ...whilst others are perched on the hillside. |
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| Another system for diverting the water when necessary. |
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| Jim, David & Les through the cane plants. |
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| There are even tunnels where a torch is very useful. |
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| Don't tell Jim! |
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