Day 5: We were driven from Santana to the start of the route on the high plateau of Paul de Serra. We walked further up to a 260-degree viewpoint at Bica da Cana, with a view of Riberia Grande. Descending then through prickly gorse bushes to the ancient Levada da Serra, and then through an escarpment through a laurel reforestation/conservation area. After lunch with amazing views to both sides, we continued on the steeply descending path into a ravine and then a climb back up to rejoin the Levada do Norte. We followed the levada eastward and through two long tunnels. The first was about a kilometer long, with very narrow and rocky footing. Dan turned enough to hit his backpack on the side of the tunnel, springing himself into the levada (perhaps only 18 inches deep), enough to soak him and ruin his camera! Undaunted, we all continued on into the final tunnel, again very long, but the path through this one was wide and paved, making for much easier passage.

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