Old Coastal Road

While researching road routes to towns along the coast I came across a road that neither Google maps nor Garmin maps would let me use as part of a route. This old road, named ER101, runs along Maderia's southern coast from an intersection a few kilometre west of Madalena do Mar to Ponta do Sol.   On the way home on Saturday, I was curios to see if we could use it.  

After stopping in Calheta for lunch we followed the coast road east. At the roundabout west Madalena a road sign indicated the direction to the highway and another sign said Local Traffic Only.  We continued on the local traffic section. This portion is in fairly rough shape but easily passable. After passing though a very old tunnel we noted cars stopped on the road in front of us.  At first we thought there was an accident but as we approached the parked cars we could see the attraction.   

They were all there to see the most infamous and somewhat secretive waterfall in Madeira.  The water from the falls land directly in the middle of the road. Every one that uses this road drives, walks or rides though the falling water. This part of the road is never dry. 

 

    And of course we had to pose for a photo. Then ride though the falls on our way to Ponta do Sol. 

This road was one of the first roads built in Madeira. It must have been quite a feat of engineering to build a road along this coast.   Below is photo of a an original, now unused, section of the coastal path with a small tunnel on the ocean side.