Using the hire car we circumnavigated the island of Faial and took in the highest point the Calderia at about 1000 m. The roads are excellent and there is little traffic to worry about. There are great view points and interesting little harbours to visit. The highlights are Capelinhos and the Calderia. Capelinhos is the new volcano at the western end of the island. This was formed in 1957 and it and the surrounding hillsides which were covered in ash are still sparsely vegetated. The old lighthouse damaged during the eruption is still there. The lighthouse keeper won some award for sticking by his post when all around him was erupting.

 

We have not seen the top of the Calderia whilst we have been here where as the peak opposite on Pico at more than twice the height has popped out of cloud on quite a few occasions. Even so not to miss out Norm and I drove to the Calderia rim and walked the 8km around the rim. A sort of striding edge with vegetation in the mist. The vegetation is impressive and even with the mist we got glimpses of the caldera floor and the outer slopes. Even Norm commented that it was an excellent walk even though it looked nothing like the Dales.

 

The weather is coming around to now and we are planning an exit from Horta tomorrow, 11 July. Today will be taken up with sorting out provisions and making sure everything is in one piece. We seem to have got that down to a routine now. A little different from when we were planning our first  long passage last year. RT seems in better condition when when we first set off. For starters we don’t have interminable problems with the heads or with water entering the steering box area and finding its way into my cabin. Anyway not to be complacent we will check everything before the off.

 

Looking down on Horta

 

Pico emerging from the Clouds

 

Pico in the background

 

Coastal Scene

 

Capelinhos Lighthouse

 

Capelinhos

 

Capelinhos

 

Capelinhos

 

Capelinhos

 

Capelinhos

 

Calderia

 

Calderia Rim Walk

 

Form of Hydrangea

 

Calderia Rim Walk

 

Calderia

 

A form of Hydrangea on the Roadside

 

Road Scene

 

One of the Many Little Harbours