AWW 30.04.2008 Paderne Premiere

Again there were unfortunately less bloggers than Tilley hats for Lindsey and Andrew's Premiere of their exhaustively researched walk, meeting at Paderne.
Lindsey rose to the challenge and by Thursday evening I had a script and a dozen photos in my Inbox . We were to be staying with friends in London, not only to cheer on Boris and enjoy Red Ken's discomfiture, but also to break through the 300 Geocache barrier accompanied by Oriana, in Richmond Park. There is a whole blog in that, I thought, if Andrew's pix, and Lindsey's prose get lost in cyberspace! As you will read, that didn't happen, and as my friend has a fine and fast computer, I am taking advantage of some time before he drags me out to the pub, and what he claims to be the finest Vietnamese restaurant this side of the Mekong Delta.
And so, with no more ado, here is Lindsey's account of the last walk in April.

Not quite the start, but most of the walkers.

Leaders: Andrew and Lindsey

Walkers: Mike Pease, Dina & Vitor, Janet, Stan & Elaine, Tina, John O´Neill, Ian Wilson.

Dogs: Nandi.

Stats: Total Distance - 17.6kms, Average Moving Speed - 3.7km/hr, Overall Moving Speed 3.0km/hr, Moving Time 4.46, Total Time 5.51 hours.

11 Wednesday Walkers and 13 sticks! (and one disembodied Tilley behind Tina!)

11 Walkers met at the Paderne Football Stadium and nobody lost their way thanks to the good directions! We drove in 3 4x4s through Paderne and left up a rather rocky track to a field and the start of the walk. Lindsey was driving one car when there was a request from the passenger in the back seat to go to the nearest cafe - request granted and Janet and Mike disappeared into the cafe supposedly to buy water but we think they needed their usual tipple of medronho.

Is that really a path?

It started cool and cloudy as we set off up a track and then off on rocky terrain to Monte Novo. The undergrowth was rather scratchy with lavender, thyme and prickly gorse but the WWs had been pre- warned.

Still life with clouds!

Mike undaunted didn't require gaiters, but the leader dressed himself for the imminent jungle in front.

We skirted up and around Cerro Grande looking across to the motorway and sea in the distance and continued around the south slope of Castanho. At this point John wasn't feeling too well so was given directions to follow the dirt road towards Alfontes where hopefully he'd come to a Taverna and possibly a taxi back to Paderne.

We spied this Agave and want to know from Myriam what made these holes. We think it was a WP.

(Myriam refuses to be drawn on whether it was a 'Wanted Person' that made the holes!)

We then crossed the Paderne Boliqueime road and headed up to the top of Cerro Samuel, where there were spectacular views towards Benafim.

Vitor of the Valley

We walked down into a valley and then up over Lombão and from a diverse and complicated route down to the river.

Lunch on the lawn

Here we relaxed to the sound of the water and had our lunch. At last Nandi could have a proper drink and swim in the clear river.

Nandi, 'A nadadora'

Andrew suddenly spied something in the bushes next him - a small bundle of Esc.20s had wedged itself between the rocks and the scrub.

We started back along the river path serenaded by nightingales. The river was still quite full and WW's were invited to trip down the steps for a swim. It was now getting quite warm.

After about 4kms we climbed up a rocky path and to the north of Cerro Samuel and over and down to the Boliqueime road and across the tarmac. Then on and up Castanha to the very top to more spectacular views from Lagos to Faro and Silves to Benafim.

A successful conclusion

Then back to Cerra Grande and the cars. John's car was not there so we presumed he and the taxi driver had discovered the rocky track and field where his car had been parked.

Back to Paderne and a well earned glass of beer.

Thanks Lindsey for the pix (I noticed you took more than Andrew!!) and the factual account. There seems to be a paucity of scandal and colour commentary recently, since Ian S. retired to his Lagos Penthouse! Hopefully a trained professional blogger will be back on next week's walk, but alas we ourselves will not be back in time for Mike's Odeceixe Odyssey on the 14th. I hope that he gets a few more entries for the walk, which after all is 90% downhill!!

"We will either find a way - or make one" Hannibal (aka Mike P.)

"One sees great things from the valley; only small things from the peak." Chesterton, Gilbert K.