AWW 26092007 - Suffering Sarnardas

Sarnardas Start Pic.

After all this time, and the fourth year of blogging, it never ceases to amaze me how, when a simple request for a photo call is made, how many of the group start a conversation, turn their back on the camera, adjust equipment, shrink behind a neighbour, and generally avoid being snapped in their full glory! We usually take a selection of snaps, and choose the one with the most faces smiling at the camera! So this was as good as it got!!



This was to be the first full walk of the season ie including a lunch stop and the necessity (for some) to port sandwiches and other tasty snacks at least as far as the midday break! Commentary on how long qualifies for a lunch 'break' and whether 1140 am constitutes a midday break may follow!

But first we have a matter of discipline and canine rights to consider.

I have received an alarming letter which was signed Oscar Tiggy and Nandi, and which was posted early on Wednesday when their plight was realised: this is the text in full:-

For sheer hypocrisy, you humans do take the dog biscuit. One moment, we are "Man's best friends"; the next, while your ladies are off gallivanting through the sybaritic emporia of Seville, you put your feet up on the chaise longue and refuse to take us on the Wednesday Walk.

No, it's not we that are mad, but for years we have seen it as our duty to devote ourselves to guiding you crazed out-in-the-mid-day-sun Englishmen through the Portuguese boondocks, protecting you
from all kinds of unseen threats sniffed out in the undergrowth, and ensuring that you paragons of civilisation with the residual navigational instincts of a pony-trap, do make it safely back to your motor carriages and your beers; and this is all the thanks that we get!

Remember. Every dog has its day; and ours is Wednesday.!

It is this sort of callous behaviour in denying our dogs their Right to Walk,
that gets the Wednesday Walkers a bad name! You know who you are, and it is no use pleading that you have a bad back (probably from sleeping on the cheque book to prevent it being brandished in Seville), or that you have an urgent recce to do on the West Coast. A dog is for Wednesday too! Enough said.

Andrew at top of climb

David had promised "One steep climb early on" and true to his word, we attacked the North Face of Soidos within minutes of setting off. Thankfully Mike was resting this week, as I am not sure if would have had enough DNA left after this ascent, as we had seen the results of his attempt at the direct route to the cache 'The Lagos 6 + 1. #3 Bensafrim" (a similar sort of climb), written in the flesh of his arms and legs, when he turned up last week.

Thankfully it was early and cool and the North Face was in the shade, so we all made it with varying degrees of pleasure!

The track of the walk - click to enlarge.

Here is the 'Updulator's' walk report as he saw it!

‘Suffering Sarnadas’

Chief Whip: David

Complement of
Masochists:

Paul, Myriam, Janet, Lyndsey, Andrew, Rod, John H., Mick, Vitor, Dina, Ian S., Ian W., Tina.

Whipping Dogs: Shorty, Maddie.

Statistics:-
Total distance:- 17.2 km.; Moving time:- 4.23 hrs.; Total Time:- 5.17 hrs.;

Moving average:- 3.9 km/hr.; Overall Average:- 3.3 km/hr.;

Total Ascent:- 647m.; Maximum Elevation:- 472m.

The walk took place against a backdrop of four days of cloudless skies and increasing heat, so there was some doubt in the leader’s mind as to whether or not to walk the whole planned route. In fact walk day revealed a little more cloud, sufficient to take away the full power of the sun, so things went as planned. Schoolteacher David took to task those people in the group who had not sent in their intention to walk, which amounted to about half of the total. He was then pursued down the road by Vitor, who demanded to know where in the rules such a requirement appeared. On investigation, it seems to appear in Rule 101, sub-section 24..

As the bar was not open, a reasonably prompt start was made, after the obligatory photo. The climb to Rocha dos Soidos had been well-flagged by the Leader, so the steep, rocky, somewhat overgrown upper section rated only a few hard stares as individuals crawled over the edge onto
the plateau. The fact that every time this climb is attempted, we come out at a different point, is a subject of some amazement.

Hardly broke sweat! at Soidos Trig Point.

Another photo at the trig was followed by the long descent down the firebreak towards the small lake which, in former years, has provided a welcome resting place and a swim for the dogs. The old restaurant now being converted to a private house, the owner advanced upon the group aboard a rather large tractor and informed us that we were on private land. A short conversation seemed to indicate that the whole of the Rocha dos Soidos was now private, though this was received with some scepticism. We were allowed to proceed to the new green gate on the track leading to the road, but it seems that if we are to walk this way again, we may have to seek permission in advance.

Paul 'charming' the tractor driver to allow us though his property!





Art shot by JH of the group confronting the new gate.
(Actuallywe had already walked round it, posing for this inflammatory photo)

The flock of sheep encountered on the recce was not in evidence as the group hit the old caminho towards Braziera, and good progress was made along the valley, with the temperature still thankfully at a tolerable level. A stiff climb over rough ground to gain the ridge for the start of the return leg was still something of a challenge nevertheless. Once on the broad ridge path, the Leader’s mind ( and stomach) turned to lunch, but he had to survive a near-mutiny by certain unruly elements (P.A. de V.and I.W. to be precise,) before a halt could be called. Never satisfied, the two then continued to mutter darkly that the lunch-break had been too short. Leaders are genuinely caught between those who insist on standing up as if at Passover, looking to move on before the sandwiches
have been unwrapped, and those who disappear into the bushes as if preparing for a siesta. Perhaps we should have a Rule about the length of lunch-breaks? (I’m wearing my metaphorical tin-hat, so hurl away!)

The Loneliness of a Long Distance leader!

"Could do with a bit of cheese sandwich for lunch!"

The exertions of the Serrao ridge did tend to silence the criticism, and it was with some relief that the trig was reached. Such was the state of fatigue that one comrade went on walking straight past, claiming that a halt would induce uncontrollable cramp, and the rest followed on, forgetting the Rule (number , anyone?) which states ‘Thou shalt take a photo at every conceivable opportunity, and ALWAYS at trig points.’
In mitigation, it has to be said that a photo was taken of the two Tilleys on parade, complete with owners – the SAME two who had been carping about lunch – what is it about Tilley Wearers?

Where are the Rest? -
The colour coded and dapper Tilley Wearer's reach the TP of Serrão first!

Comment: Despite having been left at the lunch spot by the abrupt and unannounced departure of the leader and non-Tilleyites, after 7 minutes and 23 seconds of lunch break, it was the two proud Tilley
wearers that reached the summit of Serrão ahead of the pack, and having waited for the leader to regain his breath, inveigled him into taking this publicity shot, conclusively proving that the wearing of one of Mr Tilley's Finest confers an extraordinary speed and climbing ability on the incumbent.

For some reason the Deputy Chief Blogger who is an ardent Tilley fan, had mistakenly brought another hat of dismaying ordinariness for this expedition, and is shown to his detriment in this pose trying to imitate the posture of a tree!

A Travelling Minstrel busking outside the Café

The rest was very straightforward, though it has to be said that the heat was building up rather ominously as the group descended from the ridge and made its way along the valley track back to the bar. An early finish made for a somewhat extended carouse, and Janet was able to fill lots of spaces in her little black book with names and dates for future walks. All the while outside a village ancient played on a small stringed instrument, and actually collected alms from some walkers as they left.

Ah well, another week
older……………………

Out of the sun and replacing lost body fluids - Ain't Life Grand!