Here we go!
John is friendly and very passionate about Madeira. He owns three of these trikes and they are specially imported from Germany. After a few safety instructions and adjusting belts and straps we got on the road.
First stop was Câmara de Lobos a picturesque fishing village where Winston Churchill famously
painted a view of the bay.
Ready for the festival of St Peter.
It looked a nice place but we declined stopping for too long because we had been enjoying the drive. Sitting in the trike is comfortable and a relaxing way to enjoy the scenery. So much better than a car or bus.
Pico da Torre.
It only took 8 minutes to get up here from the bay.
At this point we bumped into one of the other trikes, John's colleague was chauffeuring a British couple. My brother joked, "did he warn you about the ejector seats?!"
At this point John suggested warmer clothing, as we were going above the "banana line" where the climate changes suddenly and banana plants cannot grow anymore.
Curral das Freiras.
Misty.
This view of the Nun's Valley is absolutely stunning. The nuns hid here in the past when Madeira was under attack from pirates, and made it their home.
John pointed out the empty "terraces", the small flat plots of land around each house. In the days before the bridges and tunnels were built, people had to be self sufficient and ate from their own land. Now they are largely fallow. He lamented the passing of the old ways, but it is bittersweet as the new roads mean better access across the island to medical facilities and for emergency services.
Cabo Girão, a skywalk on top of the cliff.
You can see how the bridges and tunnels just cut through the land, dramatically reducing travel time.
After more than three hours enjoying the twisty roads through the beautiful villages of southeast Madeira, it was time to head back. Now we took the short cut.
All in all a memorable adventure. With just two passengers, John can give a very personalised and bespoke experience. There's not a set menu, it is up to you where to go within the time. The price was great too. Very much recommended!
Why hike when you can trike?!