Bike ride along the old coast road, then hiking alongside the Levada Nova da Calheta
Bike ride along the old coast road, then hiking alongside the Levada Nova da Calheta, which happens to be empty just now. Dates scratched in the concrete suggest this levada (water channel) was constructed in the late 1950s.
Views out over the Atlantic - there’s no other land in that direction for at least 500km. The levada here is at about 575 m. altitude above the ocean. Enjoying windfall oranges at lunchtime, and then back, with my friend and his dog.
Calheta, like many towns in Madeira, is built on a rock shelf or basin on the mountain-side. The levada brings water from the wet side of the island for drinking and for the traditional cash crop of bananas.
A road gradient of 32% (1 in 3 or 18°) is not particularly unusual around here but posting a sign to warn drivers is rare; the little car copes fine.
Dinner back in Funchal was scabbard fish steak with banana and some Vinho Verde DOC from Quinto da Avelda.