Day 6: Hiking & Swimming in Terceira

July 10, 2020

After breakfast, we drive to Gruta do Natal, where we were already yesterday.

This is also the starting point of the 'Misterios Negros' trail, a 4.9 km trail through the forest, fields, and lava fields.

We are the only car in the parking lot this morning at 10 o'clock.

We briefly make fun of who needs 2.5 hours for 5km, then we pack our backpack and start walking.

The weather turns out to be ideal hiking weather. If only the sun would shine now, then I would 'melt'.

It is quite humid, I don't need my sweat jacket anymore after the first 300m.

From half of the trail, it becomes really adventurous, to be exact 'exhausting'.

The path is barely recognizable, we climb and scramble over roots and lava boulders.

The kids love it, I desperately look for branches to hold on to here and there. Climbing over the lava rocks is especially challenging. You definitely need sturdy shoes here, as the lava stones are sometimes razor-sharp...

After mastering the ascent, we are rewarded with a great view of the surrounding mountains and forests.

Then we go downhill again. Since the ground is damp, the muddy stream bed that we now walk down turns out to be a true slippery slope.

You have to be very careful where you step.

At the end of the stream bed, we enter the forest - cross-country - past cow pastures and their remains to the next descent.

Another stream bed awaits us, this time with gravel. So be careful where you step again, as the downhill path is steep.

In the end, we go through the forest again towards the road.

Now comes the least spectacular part, because we have to walk the last kilometer along the road.

Our legs are quite heavy when we reach the car. It took us just under 3 hours, but we took our time and took lots of photo stops.

But it doesn't matter, we are on vacation after all!

None of us has the desire for another hike now, so we quickly cancel the drive to the 'Serra der Santa Barbara' viewpoint due to thick clouds.

After a short consideration, we decide to drive towards Praia da Vitoria, as there is supposed to be a sandy beach there. We at least want to take a look.

On the way there, we make a stop at the 'Serra do Cume' viewpoint.

From up here, you have a great view over the fields, all the way to the sea, to the islands of Sao Jorges and Pico.

The weather improves suddenly at the coast at Praia da Vitoria. We can watch as the sunlight breaks through the clouds, until part of the coast is finally in the sun.

So let's go there!

In Praia da Vitoria, we choose the 'Praia Grande', a beach next to the marina with umbrellas, showers, and a promenade with small cafes and restaurants.

There's not much going on here. The few umbrellas, however, are pretty much all occupied. We find ourselves among the locals.

Many young people meet here at the beach, but families with children are also out and about.

The sand is hot! We have our bathing suits with us, but not everyone thought of flip-flops or something similar.

We don't sit on the towel in the sun for 5 minutes when we are already drawn into the water.

Compared to the pools in Biscoitos yesterday, the sea here is really warm.

So let's go in!

We also make it into the water much faster and enjoy the sand under our feet in the cool water. How nice!

But we don't swim for too long, as the estimated water temperature of 22 degrees quickly becomes fresh.

We leave the sunny beach around 4 PM.

The outside temperature display in our car shows +26 degrees.

Crazy! On the beach in the sun, it felt like over 30 degrees.

As soon as we drive a few kilometers out of Praia da Vitoria, it gets darker and the thermometer drops to 21 degrees.

Crazy!

Back in Biscoitos, it is heavily cloudy.

Too bad, I had hoped that we could still visit the pools in the sun. That was so nice last night!

We spend the rest of the evening in the house, playing card games and starting to pack our suitcases.

Tomorrow we are going back to Sao Miguel.