31 July 2013, morning, Levada das Cruzinhas

Course

From the car park to the Madre of the Levada das Cruzinhas, along the levada via Cruzinhas to the end at Lombo da Cima, back to Cruzinhas and descent to the car park

Distance: 8 Km 100 Hm

Start: 09.30 car park at the junction of the gravel track to the Faja da Nogueira power station

End

12.50 car park at the junction of the gravel track to the Faja da Nogueira power station, followed by the walk on the Levada do Cedro Gordo

Condition

Levada easy to walk at the start, gains height quickly, very exposed without protection in the gallery-tunnel section, then easy again until shortly before the end; exposed spot with a rock overhang, a short stretch of crawling, then the protection is intact but it stays very exposed; after the gate easy again to the end

Notes

2 beautiful gallery tunnels; the road in Cruzinhas is passed underneath by a kind of siphon; the spot shortly before the finish takes quite some nerve; if necessary walk barefoot in the levada; the Levada do Cedro Gordo is fed via a small header tank from the Levada das Cruzinhas