The Pedras Brancas building and Smithman's route.

[ShiningInLuz]

To go towards the church, Smithman had to turn left at the car (go east).  To go towards the beach Smithman had to go straight on at the car, down a flight of steps (go south)


From things said in Aoifies statement, We have already ruled out the likelyhood of him turning right (west)

The short route to the MAIN beach is to the left, possibly past the church, though that would have been dumb.  Still left, this time on another back route, and still dumb, because of the roadworks at the time.

Forget the beach.  It turns up in the chapter headline of chapter 8 of Gonçalo Amarals book, A Man Heading to the Beach.  There is NO mention of the beach (other than the headline) in that chapter.

Aoife is clear.  She did NOT see where the man headed after sighting him.

From her sighting, it is likely, but far from proved, that the following happened.

He went south.  Probably, from his path, but not certainly as Aoife did not see him do this.

To the beach?  All he has to get past going south is - the Dolphin, Fernando's, Kellys and the Bull, plus the ones on the shorter East route to the beach.

The 24 hour ATM machine.  The Luz Tavern.  The 7/11 convenience store.

Then, if he takes the dumb route to the beach, he has to get past the Fortaleza plus the other 4 restaurants and the car park south of the church.

While, whether he takes the dumb route or the smart route, he has to get past O Poço and the Carlos Bar.

That's before he gets to the beach, which is overlooked by several establishments that were open and active at the time.

Then he has to bury Madeleine without having any sort of digging tool that the Smiths can see.

The searches started early, and it seems everyone thought the beach was a great place to look.  The beach was overlooked and there was no time to hide a body, plus it does for many other reasons.

Madeleine did not go into the beach.

[pegasus]

@ShiningInLuz If you look at his path across the junction it is obvious he was intending to go down Travessa das Escadinhas. Therefore if was going to a beach it would be the small beach not the main beach. Travessa das Escadhinas then at end right on onto Rua Calheta then either of two lefts to shore. Or Travessa das Escadhinas then first right Rua Salg then at end left to shore. (BTW latter route avoids being seen by peeps at dolphin and at bar just north of it)

[alphonse]

Was there a boat house or similar where a body could be hidden?  I am thinking of Miss Pennington´s statement about the guy on a boat on Sat 5th of May.

[misty]

Was there a boat house or similar where a body could be hidden?  I am thinking of Miss Pennington´s statement about the guy on a boat on Sat 5th of May.

http://www.paraisodaluz.com/
Have a look at photo no. 37, the white building on the right behind the wooden hut (which I believe is the Watersports Hut). IMO that may well be one storage place.
It's unclear where Charlotte would have been standing to have such a good view of the man by moonlight and watching him row away at low tide.

[Robittybob1]

Was there a boat house or similar where a body could be hidden?  I am thinking of Miss Pennington´s statement about the guy on a boat on Sat 5th of May.

Cite is requested to clarify what Pennington statement you are referring to please

[misty]

Cite is requested to clarify what Pennington statement you are referring to please

It's in news reports Sept. 2007, Rob.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/madeleine-boatman-spotted-kicking-something-in-the-middle-of-the-night-7296757.html
*snipped*
 mystery boatman was seen kicking at something in the middle of the night two days after Madeleine McCann disappeared, detectives have been told.

Former Mark Warner nanny Charlotte Pennington said she spotted the man in a small dinghy just off the Praia da Luz seafront at 11.30pm. She claims he was kicking at an object stored in the boat's hull.

When she moved closer to investigate, the man - whose name she has given to Portuguese and British police - stooped out of sight then hurriedly rowed away.

Portuguese police are taking the sightings seriously and Miss Pennington, 20, has twice spoken to Leicestershire detectives about her evidence.

She was working in the Ocean Club's creche on May 3, the night Madeleine disappeared. She is the only person to have given a full, public description of the events of that evening.

[Robittybob1]

Thanks Misty. 
"When she moved closer to investigate, the man - whose name she has given to Portuguese and British police so it appears she knew the man's name.   No doubt he has been spoken to and the issue cleared up as is second nature to the police.

[misty]

Thanks Misty. 
"When she moved closer to investigate, the man - whose name she has given to Portuguese and British police so it appears she knew the man's name.   No doubt he has been spoken to and the issue cleared up as is second nature to the police.

I'm sure it was dealt with as efficiently as CP's report of seeing RM in the vicinity of 5A on the night of May 3rd and also Dr Totman's belief he was Tannerman.....

[G-Unit]

I'm sure it was dealt with as efficiently as CP's report of seeing RM in the vicinity of 5A on the night of May 3rd and also Dr Totman's belief he was Tannerman.....

CP saw so much and told the PJ none of it in her statement on 7th May. Had she forgotten it all?

[Robittybob1]

CP saw so much and told the PJ none of it in her statement on 7th May. Had she forgotten it all?

Misty could we use full names for the benefit of the forgetful like me  Who is CP?

[Eleanor]

Misty could we use full names for the benefit of the forgetful like me  Who is CP?

I agree.  I am getting really fed up with Initials.  I don't know who anyone is talking about most of the time.

[alphonse]

First, thank you Misty for your reply. Yes, I am sorry for quoting something said to the press rather than from the files. I had forgotten that.

[barrier]

First, thank you Misty for your reply. Yes, I am sorry for quoting something said to the press rather than from the files. I had forgotten that.

You can be forgiven for that,seeing so much came from the press one would think they were the lead investigators.

Mostly nonsense Rowley said .

[G-Unit]

First, thank you Misty for your reply. Yes, I am sorry for quoting something said to the press rather than from the files. I had forgotten that.

Miss Pennington and a few others have shown an interest in communicating with the media rather than the authorities. I have quoted her myself, but only ironically. I have as much faith in her sighting  as I do in her claim that the twins weren't in the bedroom shortly after the alarm was raised.

Your point about beach hiding places was worth mentioning though.

[Robittybob1]

Misty could we use full names for the benefit of the forgetful like me  Who is CP?

Charlotte Pennington  CP how forgetful of me.