AWW 2007/8 The Final Count.

You may have noticed that we AWW Bloggers are partial to a nicely rounded statistic or two. John H has surpassed himself, and exceeded all specifications in his job description as Deputy Chief Blogger, and
produced a remarkable table delineating the efforts of the AWW's during the 2007/8 season. If you would like to see a complete version of the table, on a week by week basis then apply to John H. Regrettably there is no channel of appeal against the bald figures laid out below, although you may feel free to comment or pass on your considered analysis of the facts as they are. There was the germ of an idea that this could form the basis of an Awards Show to be performed at the Annual RTC Charity Dinner, but further discussion at sub-committee level is indicated.
Meanwhile enjoy and reflect on your personal contributions and attempts to stave off the ageing process during the past season.

AWW Walkers	2007					2008			Season
2007/2008	Total					Total			Grand Total
Distance (km)	314.9					417.3			732.2
Starters
Alabaster, Val	0					4			4
Ames,Jill	1					2			3
Ames,Terry	3					4			7
Akehurst, Paul	16					13			29
Edwards,Alex	5					5			10
Ferrer,Yves	1					4			5
Fielder, Andrew	3					0			3
Fielder, Tina	6					12			18
Frew, Rod	12					3			15
Gheyselinck, Thyl	2					3			5
Glienke, Hilke	9					10			19
Havery, John	2					0			2
Henley-Welch, Andrew	11					9			20
Henley-Welch, Lindsey	10					14			24
Holman, Brian	8					7			15
Hope, John	8					19			27
Hope, Hazel	5					5			10
Littlewood, David	13					10			23
Lo, Myriam	13					10			23
Mace, Terry	4					7			11
O'Neill, John	9					10			19
Pease, Mike	11					13			24
Peres, Dina	8					16			24
Peres, Vitor	8					15			23
Richards, Caroline	1					0			1
Schroder, Peter	0					11			11
Scott, Ian	14					11			25
Simons, Richard	0					1			1
Simons, Sue	0					1			1
Summerfield, Janet	6					14			20
Walters, Mick	9					1			10
Walters, Sylvia	3					0			3
Webb, Elaine	2					9			11
Webb, Stan	2					9			11
White, Hedley	0					7			7
Whittle, Antje	8					11			19
Whittle, Chris	12					5			17
Wilson, Ian	10					16			26
Visitors	8					31			39
Number starting	243					322			565
cumulative km	4390.4					5500.9			9891.3
Faithful hounds
Beroe	0					2			2
Brontes	0					3			3
Devinia	0					1			1
Maddie	14					8			22
Nandi	7					11			18
Oscar	8					6			14
Pooky	4					3			7
Rusty	0					2
Shorty	9					1			10
Sybilla	0					3			3
Tiggie	11					12			23
Canine guides	52					52			104

Please excuse the slight misalignment of columns above, but it was extremely difficult to get the table in at all let alone in the fonts, sizes, colours and alignment I intended!! Thanks to Terry M. for his consultancy duties.

And now the ads!! No not Tilley, nor Rohan - but this year's POTENTIAL version of the RTC. I say potential because I am still uncertain of the level of enthusiasm for the event this year. I don't seem to be getting much in the way of queries or even feedback, and it does take a certain amount of time, organisation and cajoling.
To get to the point, if you would like to walk one or both days, and participate in the Gourmet Dinner, Luxurious Accomodation, and Invigorating Breakfast, not to mention the Refreshing Post-Walk Sybaritic Delights, then let me know as soon as possible.
The Tides have enforced an early date this year - Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th November and will be a change of direction, from Luz to Carrapateira.

"Change yourself, change your fortunes." Proverb, Portuguese

As always, it will be in your own interests to be fit enough to complete the day or days that you sign up for, and of course wives, husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends and camp followers are most welcome to join the social side and be pressed into service as Bag Persons and Drivers. (Note the new PC persona!)
Any questions early please, and I can't see that the costs will be much different from last year apart from increases arising from the scandalous price of fuel! I am not sending this round yet as a separate circular. Just want to see if anyone has bothered to read the blog this far!!

On another matter, I have only had one taker for my offer to learn how to geocache, so far. Anyone else interested please contact me by Wednesday 9th July.

To finish:- "Silence at the proper season is wisdom, and better than any speech." Plutarch

Wednesday 19.06.2008:- The Omega Blog

I am Alpha and Omega.
That which was, is and shall be;
Numberless and unnumbered. (ie No stats this week!)

~Robert E. Howard~


As we started back on 25.07.2007 with Sparrowfart - The Event, so shall I finish with Sparrowfart 2008 - The Recce.

A highly unsuccessful bid to prolong the season by offering a Walk in the Woods, had resulted in less replies than I have Tilley Hats. This was a great pity, as I had arranged to meet Julie Statham's Benevolent Fund Walkers, and they were left hanging around near Pedra Branca, while Myriam and I opted to assist The Elderly Gentleman on his pre-brekker recce.

Remind me and I'll take you there one day!

And so it was that at just before 0715 hrs (non-negotiable) Myriam and myself met Iron Mike outside Café Cansado. A minor reshuffle of cars ensued, when it was alleged that we had occupied some spaces reserved for builders,(who still hadn't showed when we returned at 10 am. (They must have been waiting for calls from AWWs to provide alibis.)
Amazingly I had remembered to bring the Gorilla Pod, so we managed to get a starter pic of the whole group, the Pod suspending the camera from the upright post of a road sign.

Just after dawn!

About the recce itself, my lips are sealed, as it would spoil the surprise. There was some vigorous debate, so don't be surprised if your ears were burning early last Wednesday!!

Action shot of the Gorilla Pod supporting the camera taking a Trig Point pic at Monte Ruivo.

Also a pic of How Green IS my Valley, on this cool June morning!!

The sun is barely over the horizon, let alone the Yardarm as Mike gets stuck in to the Amarginha!!

The sluggard does not plow after the season, so he begs during the harvest and has nothing. [Proverbs 20:4]


Silence at the proper season is wisdom, and better than any speech. Plutarch

Whose and where?!!

I shall say no more!!

AWW 11.06.2008 - Suit ( & Boot ) Yourself!

The campaign to keep the season going has reached the second week in June, with a Magnificent 7 turning out for a walk originally advertised as 'Suit Yourselves'. This subtly delineated the option of making your own mature adult choice of whether you wanted to brave the fierce heat of late spring/early summer, and also was to present a further decision on this Rohan/Tilley Optional walk, to enable the men to wear Speedos or fundoshi, and the ladies to regale themselves in tangas, burqinis, or even fashionable swimwear from Mike's youth (see here)

The CB enjoyed an early morning frisson, when Antje telephoned to enquire whether we would be required to tramp through the usual cistus and gorse, because she wanted to know if she could wear her 'Crocs' to walk in. (For the uninitiated these are a form of hi-tech rubber clog favoured by Yachties in Cannes and Monte Carlo). When the CB benevolently replied that the walk would only go where the participants chose to go, she happily replied that she would indeed give her 'Croc's' an outing so that she could "Go naked" on the beach. This seared an image in the CB's brain which was only dispelled when she rapidly corrected herself to say she meant 'Go barefoot'!!

The route:- we didn't paddle for 5 km despite the above evidence!

King of the (Sand)Castle: Paul
Beach Bums: Myriam, Mike, Chris Antje, John H. and Terry M.
Water Dogs: Tiggy and Nandi.

Stats: Total Distance: 13 km; Moving Time: 3 hrs; Total Time: 3 hrs 15 min.; Mov Avg. 4,4 km/hr;
Overall Avg. 4 km/hr; Total Ascent: 31 m.; Max Elev: 16 m.

Due to a slight administrative malfunction, two of the starters (Mike and John H.) decided to RV at the New Railway Station, rather than the Old, where the more enlightened turned up with the Leader. Given the choice, the inescapable logic was that the Old Station was much closer to the bars and fleshpots of the Marina for the post walk Fiesta. Nevertheless, contact was made by video phone ie. John could see the leader when he called on his phone!

(Inescapable logic , my foot! The directions said "the Railway Station" which to most normal people -i.e. Mike and myself - meant the station from which trains run at present, not a ex-railway station, now sadly cut off from the iron way and abandoned in its fading glory, whatever its proximity to the marina bars. JH.)

The Old Station and starters (plus Myriam of course)

The group coalesces at the new Station.

The discussion centres on whether to wake Ian S. (Blue sleeping bag RHS) who had obviously taken up position much earlier so as not to miss the start. Group decision was "No - let the poor old B..... have a lay-in, away from building shelves for Marg!

And so a fashionably early start at about 0820 hrs ('Too late' cried Mike - Too B....y' Early responded Terry!) We set off right to the start of Meia Praia near the breakwater separating the sea from the entrance to the Marina (Lagos Creek). We passed the purpose-built Cat Hotel, sponsored by the 'Nandi' Charity (no relation).

Library photo of the Cat Hotel, with a cat perching on Myriam's rucksack!

The weather was gorgeous - that is why we live in the Algarve- but no breeze from the cooler sea at this hour.
Unfortunately, the tide was fairly well in, which meant soft sand, and more benefit for the calf muscles. Antje cast her Crocs, and both Chris and Myriam went naked of foot, whereas more traditional walkers such as Mike and John H. ploughed on in full walking rig with ski poles!

Barefoot indeed in the Park

The beginning of the beach - Myriam practices the Way of the Stork!

Almost in step - Myriam demonstrates imaginary ski-poles!

You will note that the Senior Member is missing from this formation photo. This was because he remembered an urgent appointment to check his Vetiver in the dunes.

Mission Accomplished!

Apparently all was well, as he emerged a minute or two later accompanied by the faithful Nandi, looking very relieved.

Guesses at the length of the beach were varied but after just over an hour and a quarter, the GPS gave the official figure of 5.2 km. A short pause was taken before we enjoyed the feel of real granite beneath our feet as we headed out to the end of the 'Mole'.

Real granite

No they weren't - honest!

The CB had again forgotten to bring his 'Gorilla pod' (you may guess whose fault it really was!) so the Obligatory Trig Point Timer Photo had to be taken from ground level.

This was the closest thing to a Trig Point on this Max Elevation 16m. walk

And so, having reached the end of the breakwater, we turned back admiring the neat location for the CB's geocache "Mole Mathematics", and set off round the lagoon at the back of the dunes to make it more of a circular walk.

The 'heather' was in full bloom near the lagoon

As you can see from the route picture, we had to go back to the beach for a short stretch after the lagoon to avoid an inconveniently placed golf course, but near Bar 'Quim we took the new wooden walkway towards the car park , and after an unavoidable 300 metres along the beach road we joined a newly maintained track of compacted sand along the railway line.
At the end of the track we cut through the scrub behind the building site that is Dunas Douradas, and across to the railway line near the new station.

There was some blatant trespassing - none of the above being in possession of a platform ticket!

At the finish we repaired to Do Cais Café, where the CB's cunning plan to indulge in the delights of a 'Full English' were revealed.

The afore-mentioned and half-demolished 'Full English'

Unfortunately Mike and John, being early risers had rather jumped the gun, and indulged in their muesli and toast at Sparrow Fart! However Antje couldn't resist the Full English, while Terry and Chris went for the Full French. Myriam predictably went for the Tropical Fruit Platter with a Honey Rider smoothie, which looked wonderful (if you like that sort of thing) but alas the photo failed. I think more walks should end this way!

In the absence of the Gorilla Pod, a passing tourist kindly took this Après Walk pic.

Amazingly, this beach ramble had amounted to 13 km, and in the later stages we enjoyed a cool breeze. I hope the weather and the AWW spirit allow a few more walks - after all Julie Statham is still going - and doing inland ones as well!!

We shall walk on the beaches, we shall walk on the landing grounds, we shall walk in the fields and in the streets, we shall walk in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Walking Group or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Winter Birds guarded by the English Channel, would carry on the struggle, until, in Gods good time, New Walkers, with youth and fitness, will step forth to the rescue and the liberation of the Old AWW's."(after Winnie)



Wildness and silence disappeared from the countryside, sweetness fell from the air, not because anyone wished them to vanish or fall but because throughways had to floor the meadows with cement to carry the automobiles which advancing technology produced. Tropical beaches turned into high-priced slums where thousand-room hotels elbowed each other for glimpses of once-famous surf not because those who loved the beaches wanted them there but because enormous jets could bring a million tourists every year -- and therefore did. Macleish, Archibald

And, finally, a movie at the CB's request entitled "Bye,bye Miss American Pie...and AWW's Magnificent 7 are too late to catch the last train for the Coast."

AWW 04.06.2008 - Five do Romeiras!

STOP PRESS!

An Emergency Bulletin has been issued by the Worldwide Walkers Forum (WWF) listing the Algarve Wednesday Walkers on the Extremely Endangered Species List for 2008. This is an abrupt change from the previous listing on the Mildly Apathetic List, on which they were placed after the Christmas Bean Feast.
According to consultant M.I. Bothe-Red, the alarming decline in AWW numbers over recent weeks is for a number of reasons:-
First, the species has failed to adapt to the increasingly hostile environment in the Algarve, brought about by fanciful media reports of 'Global Warming'. Despite having been established in the Algarve for more than 12 years, they have started to shun the outdoors by early June, when things start to get traditionally warm and brown.
Second, there is a shortfall of mating couples to produce further walking stock. On a recent walk when a lone male AWW was accompanied by 3 females, there were no reported attempts to reproduce the species, despite lack of competition by other males.

You know that the Tasmanians, who never committed adultery, are now extinct. Maugham, W. Somerset


Formerly, Golf and Gardening were the chief distractions preventing AWW's from turning out in their traditional haunts in the spring, but new reasons cited by WW Expert, Amina Bluefunk, are chiefly the desire to stand around watching builders install swimming pools or kitchens; the practice of moving to a new lair, or meeting visitors at the Airport. For 'Old-School' AWW's these pursuits were invariably scheduled for any day other than a Wednesday!
Another key factor, according to experts, is that with increasing longevity, AWW's are becoming exceedingly grumpy, and not responding well to constructive criticism. The relatively new practice of recording routes, statistics, interesting opinions and actual live photography and video, has led to an increasing shyness and unwillingness to face reality. As a consequence, a large proportion of Walkers have taken to mumbling indistinctly when in the presence of the CB and DCB, and doing a twirl or ducking behind a bush as soon as a digital camera is produced!

A rare sighting of AWW's emerging from cover.

This is obviously a serious situation, with only 4, 7 and 5 AWW's respectively turning out for the most recent walks.
A Sub-committee composed of Rod and the CB have decided on desperate measures to bring the species back from the brink of extinction. In the near future, an initiative will be announced to inaugurate a 'SHORT WALK followed by a SUBSIDISED LUNCH'. Rod was quoted as saying that " This should bring them out of the woodwork!"
We can only hope he is right!!

Breaking News
A mole has revealed that the the above initiative, which may take place in the Barragem de Bravura area is a cunning ploy. Despite the description as a 'short walk', it is thought that Rod will lead the unassuming participants in a full circuit of the Barragem, then back to the cafe, where reservations have been made for Dinner rather than lunch!
Watch this space!


And now to the Walk report for this week:-

Five do Romeiras

The CB arrived back from an invigorating tour of the Picos de Europa keen to demonstrate his buns of steel, and mountain-honed calves only to discover that there was an air of apathy about the walk for 4th June.
I quote from the Hon Sec's email of 25th May:-

"It is getting towards the end of the season and although the weather has been very comfortable so far, I am sure that we will soon be entering a blazing June . I have not arranged a schedule of walks for June so far."

Immediately the CB sprang into the breach, and offered a flexible version of his famous Romeiras walk, to be tailored to the sensibilities and abilities of those attending. In an unprecedented show of solidarity with the Hon Sec., who was arranging her daughter's wedding some weeks hence, the excuses came in thick and fast, without a single positive reply, until Terry M. deciding something had to be done, drove non-stop all the way from UK, and even brought Monica and Katie with him to swell the numbers.
With the CB and Chief Paparazzi this made a grand total of 5 who set out on a gloriously cool and clear morning from Casa Pacheco in Romeiras via Corgo da Fonte for a moderate and highly enjoyable ramble.

Leader: Paul
Present: Myriam, Terry, Monica and Katie
Dogs: None - but with a right to feel aggrieved!

Stats: Total Dist.: 12.3 km; Moving Time: 3hrs 5 min.; Total Time: 3 hrs 17 min
Moving Avg. 3.9 km/hr; Overall Avg.: 3.6 km/hr; Tot Ascent 317m. Max Elev: 361 m.

The Famous Five start at Corgo da Fonte

The CB had omitted to bring his latest gadget - the Gorilla Pod - so the timer photos were far from perfect and included bits of car roof which had to be edited out!
The route from Corgo da Fonte up to the top near the Marmelete road was still open as a result of the clearing and replanting activities in the area to the west. In fact there was copious evidence of the damage to the topsoil caused by clearing these hillsides and the heavy rain of the past few months. The path which was easily drivable last October was riven with great fissures where the water had rushed unhindered by any scrub.

An example of the effect of the rain on the cleared path.

Further up we saw a group of workers manually hoeing round some newly planted eucalyptus, of which there were many thousands in the area.

A spot of gardening in High Vis jackets ('Ealth & Safety y' know)

B y the time we had reached the top near the Marmelete road, we had only done 4.6 km, so I threw in a loop to enable the views to the south and west to be admired. It really is a massive area that has been cleared. This pic, looking back demonstrates the flower - filled meadow to the right and the bare topsoil to the left.

Man-made erosion! (or how to win EC Funding!)

After admiring the views and enjoying the cool breeze, we crossed the road at Loiros and started the descent to Zebro. This was an altogether different landscape, with a fine micro climate, and numerous species of plants and trees. Beside the path down, we came across garden flowers, apparently planted by a philanthropist, and several types of fruit tree, including some almost ripe pears. Terry went into 'Flower Photographer' mode!

A rose by any other name!

Myriam and Monica found lots of unusual flora that they earmarked "to ask Lindsey about"!

Despite these and other diversions, including meeting a Dutchman who didn't speak English, nor Portuguese, we rapidly approached the end of our stroll, - but not before Katie had enquired of Terry "Are we there yet Dad?"

Very soon we were seated in Casa Pacheco, receiving a warm welcome from Dona Aldina, and we even managed to get a reasonable timer photo of all of us, with Terry's camera, as previous attempts with Myriam's had resulted in alignment problems first, and then a picture of the car roof when the wind toppled the camera. Terry showed commendably quick reactions in reaching her camera before it slid off the roof. (memo to self: Don't forget the Gorilla pod next time!)

Five at Pacheco.

We few agreed that it had been a pleasant and satisfying walk:

The few who do are the envy of the many who only watch. Rohn, Jim