It’s another spa day for us…you can’t have too many! But first we have to earn it.

So, up and out the door to find our hike for the morning. We are travelling to the Serra da Estrela Nature Park about an hour away.

An hour uphill though! Switch backs and soaring scenery with a 1500 metre elevation gain. I guess we’ll be testing out our lungs again.

The trailhead is at 1950m above sea level and lies in the shadow of a huge reservoir which overlooks to the flat(ish) lands to the west. And we’re off – straight into a howling headwind and its all of 4°! Time to get our Canadian on and push through. Soon enough we are warm and down the trail.

For the next 1.5 hours we’re transitioning around massive boulders, deep blue lakes, lots of brush and the odd pile of snow. just like home. So many boulders randomly placed on the ground, a term called Glacial Plucking.

The end of the hike is marked by one of the reservoir’s overflow drain, or what some people call a bellmouth spillway, or glory hole! No matter what you call it, it’s quite mesmerizing to stare at.

Next, Spa Day!

Janelle has 3 treatments lined up while I have two. The next few hours should be splendid