AWW 20.02.2008 - Webb-footed in the Wilderness, or What a Diff'rence a Day Made

Well, it really was tempting Fate too much! The sun had been shining all week - a local English-language rag had just published a report to the effect that Portugal had had its driest winter since Noah's Ark ran aground - and on 15th February the Webbs had announced that they would be leading the next walk. So then the heavens opened in earnest and, five days later, what had been intended to be a gentle stroll "By A Babbling Brook" became more of a human Grand National with a veritable Becher's Brook having to be negotiated at least twice, Yves earning an honourable mention for helping many of the shorter-legged runners cross the now-raging torrents of Ribeira Amieira: "Steady of heart and stout of hand"indeed.

The starters

Leader: Elaine

Runners: Paul, Myriam, Stan for once the Visible Man, Ian W, Yves, Tina, Peter, Hedley (welcome back), Vitor and Dina, John and Hazel.

Absentees: Man of Property, Ian "Forsyte" S. and Maddy.

Canine observer: Brontes.

The route

Chief Blogger's Statistics

Total Distance: 13.6 km; Moving Time: 3 hrs 26 minutes; Total Time: 4 hrs 35 minutes; Moving Average 4.0 km/hr; Overall Average: 3.0 km/hr ; Total Ascent: 306 m.; Max Elevation: 128 m.

The Leader's Report

"We started off from Solar do Farelo restaurant as a group of 13 plus 1 dog Brontes, wondering whether we would even start the walk in the dry. In fact we only suffered a couple of short light showers through the day and were far more at risk of getting wet from the feet up than from the top down! We climbed over the first hill to the west walking up through a very well cultivated orta - after Vitor and Dina finally persuaded the farmer that we could walk through (no problems when we had encountered his son on the previous Saturday). "

(Editorial Intrusion No.1.

The walk started sharp at 10.00, and then stopped abruptly at 10.02 until Myriam caught up with us.

At 10.06, we met the intractable farmer and paused for 15 minutes until Vitor and Dina's diplomacy and charm could prevail.

At last, the break-through ....

...and the crops he was so protective about

Back to Leader's Report)

"The first planned river crossing was impassable so we crossed by a very basic bridge further along. We turned south and then picked up a trail up on to the ridge and then down to the first barragem, which we had feared would be a flooded crossing, but was surprisingly ok. We walked through farmland, round a cork oak edged pond and then joined a wide track past umbrella pines to follow a track up to the top of the ridge. Following the ridge we eventually ended up on a long hunter's path high up with lovely views of Monchique to the north and the embryonic race track. Here we had a lunch stop with some sunshine.

"Continuing on the hunters' path we gradually descended to the valley to cross a trickling stream. That was the plan, however this had become a raging torrent due to the last couple of days heavy rain and the women needed lots of help, both physical and mental to hurl ourselves over the metre wide torrent. The chaps were very gallant and we all got across without mishap."

The leap of faith

We have lift-off!


"We followed the path to the next barragem and another raging torrent to cross, again without mishap after much deliberation."

(Editorial intrusion No.2.

"Much deliberation", forsooth! A typical English understatement. For nigh on half an hour Hedley, Stan and Peter heaved rocks, Yves and Ian W. rescued several damsels in distress with scarcely a foothold to secure themselves, Brontes had to be coaxed across with a long leading rein, while the paparazzi, looking unfeelingly on, had a field day.

Stan deals with the Northern Rock problem.

And then there was the Ladies Competition for Poise and Elegance under Stress....

The third runner-up.

The second runner-up

The first runner-up

And the winner is....Tina!

Elaine can't understand it; here's Stan in yet another photograph.

All across without mishap.

Back to the Leader's Report.)

"Our path then led us around a hill and then wound through a valley formerly well cultivated with fruit trees and bamboo, now sadly neglected. Past a second farm, this time with a friendly farmer and noisy but non threatening dogs, we returned to the basic bridge to cross back over the river.

Maitre du Vin Yves proudly unveils his Reserva Betoneira 2006, all ready for Les Bleus' forthcoming triumph.

In A Shady Nook, a sylvan nymph

(and it's not often one gets two oblique references to Donald Peers into one AWW blog.)

" We climbed up over the hill, well away this time from the unfriendly farmer, coming down past citus trees to find the path flooded by a ford about 200 metres from the end of the walk. Further along we found a wider crossing but shallower and with stepping stones and we all made it across with mostly dry feet! Only a few hundred metres from the cars and the beer - damp boots didn't matter.The walk was about 13.8 kms and took us 4 and a half hours, not really because of slow walking but discussions with farmers and deliberations about crossing torrents!"

Scrutineering the "Knees Up Mother Brown" entrants

And in the bar at last, in this shot from Ice Cold In Alex, Captain John Mills (Hedley) simply cannot believe his eyes -"a hot chocolate!!!!", -while MSM Harry Andrews (Stan), Sister Sylvia Sims (Tina) and Captain Anthony Quayle (Paul) share his astonishment.

"And yet a little tumult, now and then, is an agreeable quickener of sensation...such as a revolution, a battle, a Wednesday Walk." (After George Gordon, Lord Byron.)

CB's Quote:

Re the efforts of our part-time engineers:

"Build bridges instead of walls and you will have a friend." (unknown)

AWW 13.02.2008 - Myriam's Valentine's Eve Venture

The Eve of Valentine's Day in the Algarve, and the AWW are about to make history! The first electronically transmitted and led walk. Was it to be a Technological Tour de Force - or an Ill-conceived Internet Error message?
Things didn't start well as the CB (and Controller of GPS Affairs) had originally intended to send via email, a track of Mike's Marmelete walk to Andrew, for him to lead on this auspicious day, with his, as yet untested, new Garmin GPSMap 60CSx. However David had a change of heart (see what I'm doing!) and led his Marmelete leg of the Via Algarviana, instead of São Bras, two weeks earlier, so the Bensafrim Circuit was hastily substituted.
On top of this Andrew, unnerved by the responsibility, and still unwilling to RTFM of his GPS, eloped with Lindsey to India for the duration. The CB then volunteered Brian as substitute GPS Wielder, but in a late show of evasiveness, he arranged for Gail to fly back to Faro on Wednesday, and sacrificed his chance of fame by going to collect her instead of walking.
And thus it fell to Myriam to be the guinea pig (metaphorically of course) and lead the walk with the CB's GPS which hitherto she had been forbidden to touch, as a precaution against the electric fields which surround her, and incapacitate most electronic devices.

Track of the Valentine's Walk!

Here in her own words is Myriam's first leader's report:

1st Electronic Walk --- led by a Gadget Illiterate

Leader (Third choice): Myriam
Machiavellian Figure: Paul
Present: Antje, Hilke, Ian W. Alex, Peter, John, Hazel, Ian S. Vitor, Dina, Mike
Dogbots: Maddy, Oscar, Nandi, Tiggy, Sibyll.

Stats: Total Distance:17.5 km; Moving time:4hrs; Overall time:4 hrs 30 min; Moving average: 4.4 km/hr;
Overall Average: 3.8 km/hr: Total Ascent : 426 m; Max Elevation 139 m.

Starters and Myriam confidently holding the GPS!

13 brave souls arrived at Caseirinha at Bensafrim early enough for a coffee and a session of reassurance before starting on this adventure. Mike, who was supposed to be busy packing and making final arrangements for his Honeymoon trip with Bride Jyll on Friday, also turned up to give moral support to the leader. It was much appreciated. Brave they were also to admit that extra rations were brought! Before leaving the house, Peter was "warned" that he would be expected to arrive home in time to go to Almancil in the evening!

Antje ups the Tilley Count, while others enviously look on!

This was an exercise to utilise the GPS to a higher level. When Rod led this walk last year, Paul recorded the track. What better way than to test this technology by asking an easily disoriented Oriental to lead with the GPS?
The weather looked a bit threatening early in the morning, but the forecast was for no rain. Though the temperature was not low, the chilly wind seemed to follow us everywhere and most of us kept our fleeces on throughout the whole walk.

GPS says !!....... and the mimosas are out

So, armed with extra rations, warm clothing, all the proper gear for a good hike, including Antje's gaiters and a Tilley borrowed from Chris, the enthusiastic and hopeful 13 (Maurices's lucky number) started only 2 minutes after the programmed time of 9:30 am. As a precaution, the brave followers were asked not to walk in front of the leader in case of navigational errors! To follow the track on the GPS is not difficult. One only has to keep a close watch on the screen, making sure that the arrow which indicates the actual position is exactly on the track shown.

Very soon into the walk, the leader gained some confidence and got distracted, resulting in a back track of some 100 metres only. She was glad that there were no audible complaints!

The dogs can't see what all the fuss is about!

During the whole route, we crossed the Ribeiro de Bensafrim no less than 8 times (the number needs to be confirmed)! Most of the crossings were very shallow. Only 2 involved alternative routes. The more difficult one required some clambering up vertical banks. Everyone was left to her/his own resources.

Gaiters and Tilley lend elegance to the manoeuvre!

Hazel must have climbed the highest to make sure she would not fall back into the water. She was pleasantly rewarded finding herself standing among some very big cork oak trunks.

She dwelt among untrodden ways!

At another crossing, some were rewarded with a living lesson of procreation of toads which were so absorbed in their own world that they did not even bat their eye lids with so many voyeurs looming over the water!


Note: Look away now if you are sensitive! Another first for the blog - David Attenborough eat your heart out!!

Frog sPorn!

Do I detect a smug look on the face of the top Frog - rather like Yves on the progress of his team in the Six Nations!! Personally I would prefer a hot jacuzzi! Brass Monkeys have nothing on these toads!!

Lunch was taken by the Quinta da Corte do Bispo, the famous property rumoured to be the site of Ericsson's future sports academy. We found a bank out of the wind and enjoyed the quiet surroundings which may not be there anymore next time we come around!!

Ericsson's Folly in the background!

Readel's Runch!!

The second half of the walk was easy and flat, on good trails. So, the GPS led us pleasantly through fully blossomed almond trees and colourful wild flowers in full bloom. We also passed a herd of healthy looking cattle with calves, calmly grazing in the meadows.

Maddy disconcerted by public breast-feeding

There was only one hitch. About an hour away from the end, the leader was innocently pulled into a profound discussion of philosophy and theology by Hilke and Ian W. She was so interested in listening to the wisdom of fellow walkers that she forgot to look at the GPS! Holy of Holies, that distraction had caused the loss of some 5 precious minutes of beer time!! Again, there were no audible complaints, except from the Gadget Man who cautioned the leader to talk less!! Well, she has learned to ignore that comment a long time ago. When the right track was found, the conversation resumed!!
On approaching Bensafrim, we came upon some gorgeous, big wild irises which caused Ian W. to agonise over his failure to grow them in his garden. But being a lover of nature, he declared that he refuses to dig wild flowers by the roots on moral grounds.

Almond trees in full blossom

The GPS brought us back to the village of Bensafrim at the ETA. At the recreational park, we could not resist playing the wind organs again.

Unlike Myriam I will resist the innuendo about 'pumping organs'... Oooops!

At Caseirinha, stats were compared with Vitor´s GPS which was a back-up. As the leader did not dare to change the display of her GPS during the walk, Vitor was the consultant for time and distance.

Post match analysis!!

All agreed that this experiment was a success. Someone commented that it was worth leading a walk because the leader received so many congratulatory kisses!! A big "Thank You" to the 12 Brave Ones who showed solidarity to the leader. A special "Thank You" to the Gadget Man who was always there to the rescue whenever a GPS button was unintentionally pressed.

CB's Note: Yes I think we can claim success. The walk included some narrow paths through scrub, and Myriam picked up the turns without (much) prompting. This augurs well for the preservation of a good Central Library of Wednesday Walks, which may hitherto have been lost due to failing memory and health of our hardy band. My project for the future will be to record the whole of David's version of Via Algarviana, and post it where GPS users will be able to download it in sections, to augment the written descriptions already existing.

"To lead people walk behind them." Myriam after Lao-Tzu

AWW 06.02.2008 : Don Quixoté or Passing Wind (mills)

A splendid February morning at Raposeiras for an experimental remote control walk, with Lindsey bravely attempting to follow Mike's carefully researched and updated Bamboo diagrams. Doubts crept in before the start when turn 3 showed an arrow pointing to the right and the bold instruction "Turn Left"

No formal picture was attempted at the start, as with 22 Tilters keen to emulate Don Quixoté, it was beyond Myriam's power to impose any sort of order. Thus we have a gaggle of participants, outside Casa de Pasto Rodrigues, mainly with their backs to the camera!

Lindsey boldly took charge despite Andrew's failure to attach his GPS to her person in a useful position, and marched us all off reasonably close to 0930 hrs!

The gadget king assaults lady in tea cosy!

Here are (mostly) Lindsey's own words on the walk, as Mike also honoured her with this privilege!

Present:

Mike (reccier and Bamboo writer), Lindsey (Leader under sufferance) & Andrew, , Antje, Tina, John and Hazel, Ian W, Ian S, John O', Peter , Yves , Dina & Vitor, Stan & Elaine,Val, Paul & Myriam and Hilke and her 2 friends, Wolfgang and Monika

Dogs: Tiggy, Oscar and Nandi, Brontes, Maddy.

Mike's estimated stats: Time/distance (about): 5 hours 15 minutes/21 km

Paul's Official Stats: Total Dist. 23.5 km; Total time: 5 hrs 18 minutes; Moving time: 4 hrs 45 minutes
Moving Avg: 5 km/hr; Overall Avg: 4.4 km/hr; Tot Ascent 327 m. ;Max elev. 151 m.
Note: Don Quichoté didn't get everything right either!

Annotated Track of the Walk

A large group of 22 met outside the Casa do Pasto Rodrigues, Raposeira on a lovely sunny day. Mike was proper leader. Lindsey had been bamboo-zled into leading his walk to see if anybody could follow his bamboo diagrams. We set off through the village and up towards the first lot of windmills with lovely views. There was a slight discussion which small track to take in order to cross the small stream and then up to the windmills. There was further discussion as to which set of windmills to head for as there were 2 groups. Windmills were sprouting like mushrooms!

Several Mushrooms!

After that all went smoothly and Lindsey settled in to the idea of following the bamboo diagrams and not a map.

Of course we had to make the usual detour to have a photo at the only trig point in the area. (name not known). There was a slight mutiny at this point as some women couldn't wait for Mike's 'Private Location' and had to have a mini-stop.

Three reach the summit!

Note:The eagle-eyed amongst you may realise that there are only 18 in this pic. Plus the photographer, it leaves 3 unaccounted. I can only assume they were 'passing against the wind'!

10 minutes later we came to the magnificent views and a the perfect spot for Ladies.

Old ruins - but a good view!

We had lunch by the side of a dirt track with wonderful views and complaints from some people that it was too windy and they hadn't got their fleece.

John had his fleece - so picked a prominent spot for lunch

We then carried on at a good pace 5 to 6k per hour on a good track to Pedralva and came across a little hamlet with its own Pizza Pazza. The last 5kms were virtually straight back to the windmills which spooked poor little Tiggy with their noise. A photo was taken of Don Quixote but where was the donkey.

“He is mad past recovery, but yet he has lucid intervals.”

Miguel de Cervantes

We all returned safely to the Casa do Pasto and Lindsey hadn't lost a single WW on the way. Jyll arrived at the Taverna and we were able to cut a delicious cake baked by Antje and give Mike and Jyll a present of a silver photo frame and a card (beautifully drawn with African animals on it). In the absence of Rod, Paul came to the rescue and made a toast and congratulated Mike and Jyll on 50 years of Married Bliss.

Was it really 50 years ago?

Still Life by Myriam (stand on your head to read it!)

Who's for seconds!!

Jyll and Mike are off to South America for their Anniversary celebrations, and we all wish them a wonderful relaxing visit, and Mike hopes that his sins of the past 50 years are not recalled! Thanks to Antje for producing the lovely cake.

“Drink moderately, for drunkeness neither keeps a secret, nor observes a promise.”

Miguel de Cervantes