AWW. 30th January 2008 Marmelete to Aljezur or Fainting in Coils

David's Painting Workshop or

The Flower Power Parade

Alunas: Paul, Myriam, Tina, Lindsey, Andrew, Hilke, Brian, John H, John O', Mike, Dina, Vitor, Ian S, Janet, Ian W,

Artista: David

Inspetores Convidados: Nick, Sam, Jerry

Gerentes do Transporte: Mike, Myriam

Representivo Unico do Mundo Canino: Maddy

It had been agreed that once a month David would lead the group and teach them all how to prettify the countryside by painting daisies on rocks, poles and ?perches (one for the English old-timers, that). This news was greeted with such enthusiasm that the largest group of the season gathered at Marmalete to trek down the Passil valley to Aljezur.

Class of 2008

One senior member was so excited that he turned up in his carpet slippers but, true to his bulldog spirit, he vowed to walk the rocky road nevertheless. (Looking for another wooden spoon, that's what it is.)

Where's the Pointy Cap?

Another early casualty was Brian's Tilley, but fear not!, Myriam was on hand to make it much worse.

Tilley Poultice

There was some speculation that David had suddenly developed a huge appetite, but the Yellow Plastic Box was not for comestibles but was full to the brim with the necessities of the true artista.

'Five sausage rolls, six bananas, three pints of Tetleys..'

David Lean should have been on hand to film the epic as the small army marched through the streets of Marmalete to the Aljezur road. At the first Daisy Point ("one I prepared earlier"), the Leader explained that from time to time he would dive off the track and slosh white and yellow paint on the nearest convenient piece of masonry or timber in what he hoped would be roughly the shape of a flower. No one seemed to question this odd behaviour, which goes to prove what a weird bunch the AWWs really are, I suppose. Painted flowers in the Algarve countryside - what an absurd idea.

No Fallers at the First

Masterclass

The other oddity of this walk was that with this Leader, everyone was walking downhill for much of the time, as the descent to the river was made. Had the Updulator finally flipped, or perhaps age had taken its toll? No one seemed to know, but all kept quiet for fear of bringing on an ASCENT. (Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!)

Arriving at the Passil, the usual stream-crossing oddballs emerged from the pack - rock-tossers, the odd black-plastic fetishist, the walk-on-water merchants, you know the type, but all overcame the obstacle one way or another, to continue on down the broad track and past a couple more daisies.The second stream was far more amusing, as Janet and Mike attempted a kind of dance during the former's crossing, but Mike had apparently forgotten the rule of the see-saw, and Janet ended up with soggy socks. Pity I only got the tale secondhand.

Three Bags Full

Don't You Dare Pull Me In

All Fall Down

Lunch was taken in a shady glade by the roadside, on what was a perfect walking day.

Paul a Traseiro

A seemingly irrelevant request for a concertina player as the group moved off again was answered by reference to a Portuguese musician encountered on another walk. (I'll take a rain-check, thanks). At any rate, there was no dancing, but a fairly rapid progress down the road towards Aljezur. Arriving at Nova Igreja, a pause ensued for a photograph which Mike assured us would remind Maurice of yet another historic moment in AWW history. (I think we should have a collection of these, bound in calfskin, for fuure generations of WWs to marvel at.)

The Balcony Scene (Ask Maurice)

On the walk into Aljezur, Luis the Taxi sailed past and was accosted to discuss the time of the return journey. This gave Paul the opportunity to lead the group into the first available bar by the market, rather than walking on the extra thirty metres or so to the one selected by the Leader.

Detentions All Round

Which leads one to the saddest task of all for a leader - to disqualify two -thirds of the group for failing to complete the walk. As a teacher, he should have remembered, I suppose, that pupils never do as they are told. So, gold stars to the Super Six who toiled up to the castelo, and letters home for the rest.

In fact we almost lost Andrew, who disappeared into the depths of the castle, having ignored a red and white chain across the track, and seemed likely to have been thrown into the nearest oubliette. The survivors beat a hasty retreat down a perilous travessa back to the bar, to join an already well-ensconced set of boozers (add that to the letters, Miss Smith), where a very lucky Andrew finally reappeared, none the worse for his adventure. (At least he seemed all right. Counselling may be required.) The taxis turned up only just in time to prevent the whole scene from degenerating into a sex romp, as Mike appeared to be about to investigate Janet's trouser pockets. And all because the gentleman wanted to paint daisies........

Fetch the Blue Pencil

Track of the Walk

Total Distance: 18.8; Moving Time: 3hrs 40 min.; Total Time: 4 hrs 35 min.; Moving Average 5.0 km/hr; Overall Average: 4.0 km/hr;Total Ascent 335 m.; Max Elevation 395 m.

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This week's quote is just for Ian. You didn't go quite far enough, obviously.

“If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would paint more daisies.” (Nadine Stair)

CB's relevant quotes:-

"Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when you do criticize him, you'll be a mile away and have his shoes."

"Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush."
Larson, Doug

AWW 23.01.2008:- Feeling the Pinch(o)

A first walk led by Peter this season, and a few other firsts in that we had two debutantes, Val and Sue, and Stan and Elaine returned for the second half of the season, having made cameo appearances in December, mainly the Christmas beanfeast.
I am having to embellish this account, as regrettably the leader didn't even manage to equal Ian S.'s 62 words last time. I am charitably blaming a satellite communications and InterWeb failure between Peter's isolated Outpost in Pincho and the CB's Inbox.
As I suspect this is his first walk eligible for blogging by myself, he perhaps didn't realise the implications of waiving the right to defend himself, and throwing himself on the mercies of a CB champing at the bit to publish before the weekend. But then, having led a pretty flawless walk with no controversial occurrences, and metronomic timing, he perhaps smugly asserted his right to silence with confidence! We shall see.

Most of the starters - spot the man with two hats!

The start photo is unusual in that it potentially had all the participants included(except Janet who was late!), because Val's husband, who had delivered her to the start, and was to stand by for emergency rescue if required, was pressed in to service as guest paparrazzi, and despite making a tyro's parallax error with Myriam's camera, achieved this stunning shot of parts of everyone, except for one - and this could become a continuing theme - who perhaps has ulterior reasons for not wanting his presence on Portuguese soil to be confirmed on a Blog which could possibly be surveyed by Those in Authority. No it is not Osama, unless he has taken to wearing a Tilley, which can just be made out behind the Hemp model sported by Ian W.

Lead Singer: Peter.

Just been to the Barber's Shop! (see link )

Backing Group: Val, Sue, Ian S., Elaine, Myriam, Ian W., Lindsey, Alex, Brian, Mike, Antje, David, John, Paul, Janet, (Stan)

And as Themselves: Oscar (the Comeback Kid), Nandi, Maddy, Tiggy

The Track - click to enlarge

Stats: Total Distance: 15km; Total Time: 4 hr 12 min; Moving Time: 3 hr 30 min; Moving Average: 4.2 km/hr;
Overall Average: 3.5 km/hr; Total Ascent: 516 m.; max Elevation: 260m.

A glorious cool morning in the car park of Solar do Pincho, promising pleasant walking conditions, and a good turn out of 17. Ian W. brought a commercial tone to the start, when he opened a car Boot sale and tried to convince Myriam that he had her size!

Plenty 0f room for growth madam!

Away from the hubbub of the bazaar, we soon got into our stride, broken only by the compulsory adjustment of clothing ritual about 500 metres from the start.
Unlike Ian S., Peter had not had the AWW secateurs on his recce, so it befell Paul with limited assistance from Brian, to clear the path for the troupe.

The Twin Towers!

Shortly thereafter, we made a brief detour to Guerreiros Trig Point for the Obligatory TPP, which again contained most of the walkers and two of the more disciplined dogs!

Ian adjusts his neckwear.

At some point along the walk, though I myself didn't witness it, Myriam snapped an entry for the AWW Wildlife Photographer of the Year (TBA) of this enormous python among some very large rocks!

The art of camouflage

While turning back from the trig point we noted a new site for yet another wind turbine. How Eco-friendly of the Government we thought in unison - and here is the eco-friendly road they had to drive through the untidy countryside to access the new site!

EDP Benefit Route

Our Leader, for whom EDP is a favourite subject, owing to their attempts to litter his estate with giant fans, was not the most cynical with regard to the mountains of EU cash being spent on these wind turbines, with no realistic hope of their ever paying their way!

And so to everyone's favourite topic - Lunch - which was achieved bang on schedule at a very user friendly bank, which avoided the embarrassing creaks and groans, as lunchers attempted to regain the vertical after a short break at ground level.

Alex is very attractive!

Lunch was taken near the Alamos Trig point, though Peter preferred to leave the ascent of that for another day, although it does leave us one photo short!
It was noted that the Recession is biting hard, as Myriam and I had to make do with ham and Colman's instead of the usual smoked salmon sandwiches. We are hoping for some food parcels soon!
The rest of the walk has receded from my memory being 5 days distant from this date of publication, but there was a minor navigational error that took us past a long line of bee hives, which fortunately were fairly inactive in the cool weather. Luckily Peter was on good speaking terms with the couple whose property and patio we had to negotiate to regain the trail.

There were rivers to cross:-

and descents to descend:-

And almost before we were feeling too fatigued, we found ourselves back at Solar do Pincho, ordering beers as if we deserved it! Sonia had magically materialised as we strode the final few metres to the café, bearing a supply of Drinking Chocolate, which made Myriam's day!
Sue found this the best part of her first walk with us!

Chocolate does one good!

Mission Accomplished

And so after some strategic discussions on The Shape of Walks to Come, including a projected mini-series of "Via Algarviana -the Authorised Version", in bite-size lateral episodes, we all thanked Peter for a very pleasant day, and retired to our country estates - some of us to wait for reports which never came!

Late Breaking News:
An unusually Reliable Source has informed the CB that Gordon (of the Gully fame), who was in hospital recently for operations on various joints and accoutrements, which in no way, shape or form could conceivably have been damaged, strained or even mildly disarticulated by his participation in two successive RTC walks, has been asked to leave the Hospital in question because of his insistence that his Brass Band hold rehearsals in his ward, in order to fine tune their next public performance!
This he has done, but as a sop to the medicos, he has engaged the services of two full time Masseuses/Night Nurses, to aid his speedy recovery. The Band and the Boy Scouts have clubbed together and donated their Christmas Club money to pay for these essential services, and we wish him a hearty Get Well Soon, and your place in next year's RTC has already been reserved!

"Leadership involves finding a parade and getting in front of it." Naisbitt, John

P.S.

From P.C.Plod to Detective Chief Inspector Blogger:

I think I have found your man, Sir.

Nice one Constable!
"Modesty involves finding a Trig Point and getting behind it!" CB. 2008

AWW 16.01.2008 Benagil Outback

Thanks to the scant literary exertions of Paul and Ian S, I now have to contribute a supplementary description of last week's walk. As it happened, during the stroll,Richard - having seen me taking a few candid camera shots - postulated that I was even then dreaming up pithy captions to go with them on the blog. I gave him a categoric assurance that the selection of photographs and composition of captions for the blog was entirely the prerogative of Chief Blogger Paul and that I would have nothing to do with the process.

"and to think we came here to get away from these dratted paparazzi! "

And then, blow me but what happens? I get the following email from the aforesaid CBP:-
"Hi John, I would hate you to get rusty, so would you like to supplement the Leader's report (when we get it!) for this week's blog?....I could send you the best of our photos, and (a likely excuse. Ed.) also I want to write a monograph about the processionary caterpillars we saw as a value-added enhancement!"

And the same day, CBP emails Ian S. to this effect: "Ian, I have funked writing the blog (that's nearer the truth. Ed.) on your walk yesterday, as scarcely anything went wrong! I couldn't bear to write about your luck in (a) avoiding even the slightest drop of rain, when all the indications were clearly for a torrential downpour (Uh?) , and (b) actually finding an open bar at the end in this deserted summer venue! ("Never in doubt!" shouted Ian S. as he arrived first at the bar again.) John, the DCB, has kindly offered to sing your praises or otherwise, so I would be grateful if you would send your detailed analytical notes to him. He has promised to be very gentle with you and I wouldn't have it any other way. You are reminded that anything you write may be given in evidence and may be twisted, distorted and used in any way that may malign or misrepresent your intentions. "

You may well ask "why all this preamble?" but it is very necessary padding to the actual report of a Leader whose mantra, when he is not walking or supping ale, is obviously LESS IS MORE. Here then is the report, in its entirety, set in large caps to make it look more than it is.(Talk about supplementation).

Quote - LEADER IAN S. WALKERS, JOHN, VITOR, DINA, MIKE, LINDSEY, ANDREW, TINA, ANTJE, ALEX, PAUL, MYRIAM, IAN W., PETER, JANET, BRIAN,SUE, RICHARD. DOGS NANDI, BRONTES (sic), TIGGY, MADDY.
TIME, CAN'T REMEMBER. DISTANCE,12KS APPROX. AN UNEVENTFUL STROLL FROM BENAGIL TO SENHORA DA ROCHA AND BACK. GREAT SEA VIEWS, ONE OR TWO "INTERESTING" MINI ASCENTS/DESCENTS, NO CASUALTIES; ALL VERY UNDEMANDING,WHAT A CHANGE. Unquote.

And that was it; 62 words!!!!!

Re the dogs, Peter keeps us all guessing as to which particular denizen of his Canine Pantheon will be with him week by week; this week it was SIBYL, not Brontes per report, nor yet Beeroe. (If I've got the spellings wrong, Peter, please correct me.) And we were all sorry to hear that Oscar has been retired from walks by order of his doctor. Oscar was an exemplary canine guide, always solicitous of Mike's progress or otherwise, and with the prudent characteristic of frequently surveying the way ahead from nearby vantage points, a trait that some of his human leaders could usefully copy.

Not a trig point in sight

The route map

Well, the full statistics for the walk, courtesy of CBP's technical gadgetting, are:-

Total distance: 12.2km. (Good guess, Ian.) ; Total Time: 3 hrs 51 min; Moving Time: 3 hrs 10 min.; Overall Average: 3.1 km/hr; Moving Average 3.8 km/hr. (Does anybody really get this stuff? Ed.) Total Ascent: 342m.; Max. Elevation: 48 metres. Tilley Count: 4; Gaiter Count: 1 pair.

That pair of gaiters

How else to supplement such a concise report? Well, I scarcely had my mind on photography all walk having, just before it started, been given a caution for illegal parking by a mock-sadistic Special Constable (acting, unpaid), and I was anticipating to get a huge fine on my return; but no fine, maybe next time.

But here are a few more pictures, captions and minimal comments.

The Gavotte contenders, Strictly Come Dancing

Francis Urquhart couldn't possibly comment (pic copyright Myriam)

Two bemused tourists stumble across a secretive Grupo Folclorico

Lunch on the benches at Albandeira gave a pleasant break for most, but Ian S's body language as he hovered around, disapprovingly watching us eat, would have done Basil Fawlty proud.

Our convivial host.

No need to go to extremes, Paul.

Back at Benagil, the bar was open ("Never in doubt!") but, being in off-season mode, wasn't best prepared for such a large turn-out of post-walk drinkers, despite the non-participation of four early leavers. Most of the chairs were in store on the roof, so the group was rather dispersed. CBP spent his refreshment time gloomily pondering on missed free lunches, past and to come; whilst the girls eagerly showed off their new gear acquired over Christmas.

Ian as a helicopter and traffic lights (caption copyright CBP)

Antje's new socks (aren't those gaiters effective?),

Alex's new thingummyjig,

....... and Janet's new Prada

CB's Comment and Contribution:and DCB's subsequent apologia:

Let me first express outrage on Brian's behalf for being written out of the leader's regrettably economical account of the proceedings. Being a Tilley Wearer as evidenced by the first pic in John's piece, I find it hard to understand how he was missed. OK so the Leader didn't spend too much time counting his flock, but even Myriam, who is often unaware of these things, recalled that there were 18 present!

Secondly a matter of quite serious note - global warming has apparently not gone unnoticed by the Processionary Caterpillars, who seem to advance to the pre-pupatory stage earlier each year. This was a photo of a nest in a comparatively low pine which clearly shows them in an advanced state of caterpillarhood!

Let's go boys!!

In fact a very high percentage of the pines along this walk were infested, and though we didn't see any on the ground, the effects their urticating hairs can have on dogs or even humans who touch them are not to be taken lightly. They are reputed to excrete a smell which can attract dogs, and should a dog eat one or two it may result in a painful death.

Should you want to read more on the subject, it is covered most comprehensively here

The Leader does a recce (unlike ours!!)

And in order to let me have the last word on rain - hopefully for this season, I address this to leaders past and future:


"When subjected to the rain of criticism, let's not curse the rain. Let's accept it as a part of life. Let's remember that the more criticism we can successfully handle, the more zest we will experience in our lives."

and to paraphrase a quote from Edmund
Waller:-

"Vexed walkers cursed the rain, for which poor gardeners prayed in vain."

DCB adds"The inadvertent omission of Brian from the Leader's report was entirely my transcription error. Brian's name was indeed in the original email to me."

and there is Brian's upturned Tilley on the bar table to prove he completed the walk. Did anybody drop a coin in it? Perhaps I should, to make up for the error. JH

AWW 09.01.2008 Not Mushroom for error! Cansado Reversed

Back in the Algarve after a great trip to Macao and Hong Kong for Myriam and myself, and almost fully up to date with WW activities thanks to the literary labours of the DCB and the ADCB, we were praying for a gentle reintroduction to the walking world - and so it came to pass. Desperate pleas from Hon. Sec. Janet for a Hero to step into the Breach and lead the walk as the designated leader, Rod, was convalescing from various self-inflicted injuries, and was doubtful, resulted in Mike volunteering his Cansado Circuit - but this time in REVERSE!!

Nine of the hardiest walkers showed up at 0930 in the forenoon outside Café Cansado on a grey and potentially rainy day, and Snapper Myriam got to work even before Lindsey and Peter had arrived! I had expected more new and innovative technical equipment to be on display after Christmas, but only Ian W. was debuting his new Canadian sourced anorak.

"I wish I had read the manual!"

Leader: Mike

Walkers (8): John, Lindsey, Paul, Myriam, Ian W., Peter, Tina, Janet

Dogs (3): Brontes (that’s the one with the long tail), Nandi and Oscar

Stats:(Resumption of service) Total Distance:13.9 km; Moving Time: 3 hrs 12 minutes; Total time: 3 hrs 36 minutes;

Moving Average: 4.3 km/hr; Overall Average 3.8 km/hr; Total Ascent 323 metres; Max Elevation 155 metres

Here is Mike's walk report illustrated by pix from John, Myriam and Paul.

Walk statistics: Chief Blogger to complete since my GPS was overcome by the occasion of his return to the fold. Nevertheless, we completed the walk to the minute of the advertised time – 3 hours 30 minutes. No doubt the Deputy Chief Blogger, the Assistant to the DCB et al, who maintained the blogspot so ably in his absence, will all be relieved that the CB is back with us once more.

We strode off bang on the designated time of 09.30 hours in a clockwise direction for this walk that we have done on several occasions anti-clockwise and which is a special with Janet.

CB: No apologies for publishing this picture, as the leader had predicted the occurrence and even refers to it in his report, but those of a sensitive disposition please look away NOW. The Dog Whisperer will be called in should it happen again!

Shortly after the start, Nandi, clearly having saved for the occasion, deposited a welcome back offering to the CB right in his path. This was not exactly appreciated but was also not unexpected.

As always when circuiting a route in reverse order the appearance of the countryside and the vistas that open up appear quite differently to the more familiar route. This walk has an ‘easy’ rating, though some who puffed up the occasional change in contour level were inclined to disagree with this assessment. Walk conditions were not ideal to enjoy the splendid vistas that open up overlooking the Barragem de Bravura and elsewhere. Nevertheless, it was pleasant enough walking.

John takes a two-pronged approach

Several muddy crossings of streams and one significant road wash-away, caused by a blocked culvert required some negotiating.

Water, water everywhere!

Some were left to find their own way due to the Leader's propensity for frequent explorations behind bushes at the tail of the party!

Amanita muscaria - Fly Agaric

With the moist, warm conditions mushrooms were out in abundance and, had Antje been with us, the walk would likely have taken considerably longer whilst she harvested the fruits of the campo. Some were quite exotically coloured bright red or yellow. Myriam has already researched these fungi and distributed her findings. It appears that had we eaten them we might have ‘danced on air’ throughout the rest of the walk. See link here

When shall we three meet again...?

A brief wetness, rather than significant rain, caused Paul to don over himself and his backpack his latest acquisition – a rather fancy light-weight poncho. This gave rise to the question as to whether Quasimodo (the Hunchback of Notre Dame) was a paid up member of the AWWs.

It is worth recording that the track that Paul had recorded on his GPS for this walk on a previous occasion showed up clearly a very faint caminho that was our route homewards through cistus undergrowth to the Café Cansado in Arão. Here we had hoped to meet up with Rod where we could have wished him well on his travels to the antipodes. Regrettably, he was under the care of the medics sorting out his convoluted back troubles so he was unable to join us.

The 'Wet' bar at Cansado

Comment: An accomplished reversal of the Cansado Circuit last done in September 2007. See link here
I have not published the map track as it was almost the same as on that occasion, apart from when the Leader and myself prematurely crossed a stream, and were rebuked by my GPS, and turned back to recross it. The stats were amazingly similar for both times, which proves something!
I was hoping for a lot of material for this my first Blog of 2008, but alas, the walk went far too smoothly, and we had time for a spirited discussion of East African politics and tribal characteristics by the two Old Africa Hands, Mike and John. The climactic conditions were apparently peaking for fungal development, so there were frequent stops to admire these specimens, but no-one fancied carrying the edible ones home for a meal, so we will have to make do with the pics:

Thanks to Mike for a relatively gentle stroll, and I believe the sub-committee convened in Café Cansado approved the reintroduction of at least one less demanding walk per month, so that those walkers marginalised by the strenuous training program before the RTC would return to the fold. Hopefully some of those will be able to prepare and lead some of these shorter walks in the months to come.

Let's finish with a couple of mushroom quotes!

"Life is too short to stuff a mushroom." Conran, Shirley

"Love is like a poisonous mushroom -- you don't know if it is the real thing until it is too late" (Unknown)