Algarve Wednesday Walkers 2007/08

AWW 2007/8 The Final Count.

2008-07-03T22:57:00.012+01:00

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

2008-06-19T14:35:00.003+01:00

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!

2008-06-13T06:02:00.010+01:00

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!

2008-06-05T17:24:00.003+01:00

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

AWW 28.05.2008 Vascão Variations, or The Updulator Has Left the Country.

2008-05-31T12:21:00.018+01:00

A turn-out of double that of the previous week, for a walk equally delightful.
However, most of us, especially me, had expected that the Chief Blogger, aka Paulo a Pe, would be keen to join us after his lengthy sojourn in Blighty, anxious to introduce a breath of fresh air into the blog. But no, he wasn't there, so you're going to have to put up with my stuff one more week. Apparently, CB has found the strain of being a first-time grandfather greater than he had bargained for and he needed to rest. Well, we can sympathise with him; it is really tough choosing a suitable Tilley for a baby when the selection is limited to pink or blue offerings in BabyGro, tastefully appliquéd with little elks, maple leaves and chipmunks. However, take heart, Paul, the manufacturers' promise is that next season's Tilleys for Toddlers catalogue will bring you a much wider choice. Various other surmises as to the reasons for his absence were voiced, but tact prevails as always and they won't be published.

But back to the walk.

Late on Tuesday, David was still not sure if anyone was going to turn up but then he switched into true Recruiting Officer mode, and cajoled or otherwise persuaded 7 other people to join him. Finally, having shown quite remarkable and charitable forbearance when half of his party swanned off on their own midway through the day -a deplorable lapse of discipline some would no doubt say, but which led JohnO to entitle Part 2 of the walk as Indiana Littlewood and the Raiders of the Lost Path - he signed off his season with the following masterful Report.

Statistics:
Start: 10.am
Finish: about 2.55 pm
Distance covered: The longer bit, something like 17.5kms
Walking time: 3hrs 29 mins
Resting time: 1 hr 29 mins

The Starters

The Leader's Report:

Present:- Terry A, Jill A, Andrew, John H, John O’, Tina, Matthew (visitor), David (corporeally). Not forgetting…..RUSTY!!!!

It turned out to be a really pleasant day weather-wise, thank heavens. Had it rained, things could have taken a very ugly turn. Billed as a short walk – which it was - it could have been even shorter, but for some ended up longer than intended – am I making sense? Probably about as much as I made out on the trail Wednesday. We met more or less as arranged, the faithful few arriving complete with vertigo after the Monaco of a drive into the hills. Andrew was a little en retard, Lindsey having phoned just about everyone she knew to get the message to us. But I had cleverly left my mobile on charge at home, and no-one else seemed to have theirs turned on, so it was fortunate that we were still imbibing coffee at the bar when he arrived. John O’ had interpreted my reference to ‘a longer than usual lunch at the Vascão’ as an intention to lunch at a restaurant, and had therefore neglected to bring sandwiches. This was neatly rectified as the combined forced of the Ladies of Ameixial set to work to produce the necessary in a little under ten minutes – not bad going for (almost) the Alentejo. All present and prepared, we drove the short distance towards Revezes to the start-point. I will not describe the first half of the walk in detail, save to say that I missed the way once near the start, necessitating a climb up a steep slope that had been prepared for re-planting.

(Not all reactions to this climb were as polite as Tina's.)

(Shortly after this, we were diverted by a botanical lesson on the subject of lichens conducted by Andrew and Terry, plus a wee bit of worldly wisdom from John O')

The Nature Lesson

(Copyright: John O')

And then I managed to descend to the river too soon, so we arrived at a crossing point, rather than the one I was intending to reach. Lunch was nevertheless taken here, still in rather cloudy conditions, but not cold.

Idyllic lunch spot

We then proceeded to walk eastwards to the water-mill crossing-point, but I’m afraid my memory and sense of direction had entirely forsaken me, and had it not been for Terry’s better recall, I’m not sure we would ever have found it. And then the fun really began. Someone who shall remain nameless – but we know where you live – suggested that we cross the river into the Alentejo and find a way back to the lunchtime crossing point, rather than retrace our steps (not one of my better suggestions, I have to admit. ACB). OK, I should have said no, but you don’t like to discourage enterprise, now do you?

So off we went up a good track that clearly went in the wrong direction after about 200 metres. Andrew and I cut across a meadow to get a better look at a possible route, and Andrew’s wanderlust quickly got the better of him. Finding a track, he went up and over the hill like a hound on the scent, the rest trailing in his wake. Terry decided that he needed support, so set off in pursuit with John H and Matthew for company, whilst I tracked back down to the river with John O’, Tina and Jill. The High Level Gang can perhaps tell their own tale. We lowlanders crossed the Vascão at a convenient place – though we did have to paddle – and made our way back to the lunch-time point without further ado. Now, were the others ahead or behind? Leaving a cryptic message under a stone on the stepping-stones, we decided they were probably ahead, and trekked off back to the cars. In fact they arrived about five minutes after us, having covered almost 4k more than the official upper limit of the walk – not allowed, guys – penalty points will be awarded, and you’ll start at the back of the grid next season.

The High Level Gang's Report:

Andrew having long disappeared high up into the badlands of Alentejo, Terry and two others volunteered to go rescue him. In fact, we soon caught up with him, not in any trouble at all but resting under an oak tree, admiring the view. We decided to remain on higb ground and swung north and westwards, in Terry's terminology protecting David's flank as he made his tactical withdrawal to the south-west down in the river valley. Winding our way eventually back down to the stepping-stones, we managed to decipher the Leader's message deposited some 15 minutes earlier, and then we knocked off the final hour's stretch at a cracking pace, covering it in 40 minutes flat. One doubts, however, if this detour was quite what Matthew had been led to expect.

We returned to the bar in Ameixial (I shall remember the second ‘i’ from now on) and enjoyed the flavour of the ‘real Algarve’ for a short time. People still hang their washing out along the main road here. In the absence of an obvious purse-bearer, the normal payment procedure was ignored. Please address all complaints to Andrew, who started the rot by paying for his own on receipt. I make that three strikes in a day, not good. All this apart, the area once again did not disappoint. It is beautiful and peaceful and full of wildlife. Storks nesting, a hare, multifarious birds, including a golden oriole. The mill crossing of the Vascão is the prettiest place I have found in the whole region. The inaccessibility of the place is it's guarantee to remain unspoiled for a long time, I suppose, but it would be nice if it were nearer to us. A good end to the season (if it is) in spite of the glitches. Oh, and when the Boys come round to get me, I’ll be long gone. Thanks to all for your company again this year, and I’ll see you in September.

(To conclude, a few pictures of the Algarve -Alentejo border and Rio Vascão countryside: not as rugged as CB's Picos de Europa terrain, but most pleasant all the same.)

Peaking in the Picos: 17-24.05.2008

2008-05-31T10:54:00.006+01:00

While waiting with anticipation of the next magnum opus from David re his walk last Wednesday, I thought it would be not too inappropriate to publish some 'holiday snaps' from our recent hiking trip in the Picos de Europa. One reason was that it is wonderful walking country after the relatively minor undulations of the Algarve, and second it may whet some enthusiasm for an AWW International Walking trip at a similar time next year if there is enough interest and committment.

The National Park Information Centre.

A good place to start would be the National Parque de los Picos de Europa information centre situated in Potes. From the outside this is an architectural curiosity, but inside is a beautifully laid out series of rooms and exhibitions which tell you everything and more. A Park Ranger meets you at the door and gives a comprehensive brief (in Spanish) on the geological and geophysical layout of the Park, and will advise on the best and most interesting routes and walks within your capabilities.

Luis and the Park Ranger discuss routes.

We were on this expedition with a group of Portuguese walkers, members of Caminhos e Veredas and led by Luis Alves, a prolific ultra long distance walker who has not only circumnavigated and diagonally-crossed Portugal on foot, but also done most of the perimeter of Iberia. We met him several years ago when we accompanied him on his Algarve leg of the route round Portugal. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the footpaths in Portugal, and has regularly led expeditions of his club members in the Picos.

Traditional Team Photo
Luis, 'Çao, Lurdes, Carlos, Jorge, Myriam, Paul

We were only 7 on this trip, a comfortable number, and happily on this day, we could all fit in the Toyota Landcruiser, that we booked to take us on a spectacular cross country drive from our base at Espinama to Posada de Valdeon for the start of a walk along the beautiful Cares Gorge. If we hadn't taken this off-roader, which is specially licensed by the Park Authority, we would have had to do a circuitous route of about 100km rather than the shorter but infinitely more exciting paths across the mountains.

The start of the Cares Gorge

Further along the Gorge

The weather turned after halfway - it is raining heavily here.

We entered the gorge in beautiful sunlight, although it did not reach to the depths, but the views were truly spectacular. However, halfway the mountain weather took over and we had a storm and some heavy rain. Out came the wet-weather gear, and I managed to snap this odd-looking troll on the path!!

Green Goddess!!

On another day, Luis announced that we were 'going to buy some cheese'. He omitted to mention that the village where the cheese factory was, Treviso, was almost 900 vertical metres above the start point Urdon in the Desfiladero de Hermida, which is another spectacular gorge.

The routes are marked and described.

We had a very good day for this walk, and on the way up, whenever we stopped for a breather - which was often, the views were wonderful. The path looked extremely precarious from a distance, but was not too bad if you had a good head for heights.

On and Up!

Looking back 'from whence we came!

We even saw a Polar Bear....

One little bird (and one fat buzzard) sitting on a wall!!

While in England, my daughter Tanya had thoughtfully sent me a new gadget - a Gorilla Pod (search Amazon) which in effect allows you to set your camera on almost any uneven surface or tree branch, fence, whatever and take a timer photo. For this one the camera was propped on a cliff face. It really is one of the most useful gadgets one can have!
Also, during the trip, she presented me with a first grandson on May 24th in Shanghai, which was cue for a celebration with a decent Rioja.

Luis and Paul on the final run in to Tresviso.

Until about 20 years ago, this precipitous path was the ONLY way in to the village of Tresviso. However now a road reaches it from the back, and it is in process of being smartened up for tourism. There is a nice little bar/cafe there , and a taxi service can be booked for those that weaken. We were not allowed to and descended the 900 metres, Myriam's knees protesting, and my thighs joining in the chorus!
For those avid statisticians among you, the figures for this walk were:-
Total Distance 14 km; Moving Time 3 hrs 20 min; Total time 7 hrs 42 min. Moving Average 4.2 km/hr; Overall Average 1.8 km/hr Total Ascent 905 metres.

On other days, we took the cable car to the top of Fuente De, and walked a circuit round and back to Espinama, but were in cloud at the top and didn't see too much for about 10 km.

The easy way up - and down!

We had a splendid week overall, although as usual the weather was very variable in the mountains. Our Hostal was already at 900 metres. The only downside was the food. We were on half board so ate the bulk of our meals in the restaurant attached to the Hostal. It could do with a visit from Gordon Ramsey!! The upside was that my starving frame consumed the fat that I had built from all the pies, pasties and curries I had enjoyed in UK, and I arrived back in the Algarve at a similar poundage to when I left back in March, - another first!!
I was elated that our altitude training, rigorous diet! and buns of steel would stand us in good stead to rejoin the AWW at an unprecedented level of fitness, but alas we were unable to join David's walk on the 28th, and will have to enjoy it vicariously when the blog arrives.

If anyone would like to spend a week in the Picos next May, please express an interest to me as soon as you can, and we can start to organise something.

"People have a natural tendency to flee to the mountains when things get tough."
Briscoe, Stuart

AWW 21.05.2008 A Carrapateira Exclusive

2008-05-24T12:43:00.037+01:00

This week's walk, in complete contrast to the low ribaldry characterising the previous one, was an exclusive, extremely decorous and civilised affair, the Leader even allowing us to remain seated for the Starter photograph. And, what's more, her walk was very much as advertised, unlike some we have known!

The starters

Leader: Antje.

Followers: Janet, Hazel, and JohnH.

Canine: Tiggie

Statistics:
Distance: 14.50 km approx.
Overall time: 4hrs 20min
Tilley Hats: 50% ratio!!

The Leader's report.

A very select few met in Carrapateira and I leave it to the reader to decide if the reason for the low turn-out was - a walk too short, a walk too far, the fallout from last week's walk, a rival Gardening Club attraction, or what? Feel free to comment.
The weather was perfect for walking, cloudy with the occasional breakthrough of sun.
Going inland from Carrapateira, a gentle climb took us to the first and only trig point of the walk. There the same unfortunate dog as in October last year was still tied up near the rusting car, but he had acquired a couple of mates, untied.

(Here the Leader modestly forbears to mention her act of kindness in freeing up the unforunate dog's lengthy chain which had become trapped round some scrub, which she uprooted)

Act of kindness

After following the ridge for 20 minutes or so, we descended into the valley and continued there intending to turn off right uphill again. But what used to be a broad path for the long climb upto Monte Velho was now a wide, deep and unappealing ditch of uncertain purpose. And so the rule of always re-recceing a known walk was yet again confirmed.

However, it did not prove very difficult to find another path, a little further along past Herdade de Beicao where, in the best imperial explorers' tradition, we also acquired the help of a native guide (in the guise of a large brown dog) who led us in the right direction, uphill and then skirting Monte Velho and back towards the sea.

(The fields were colourful with flowers and the birds were singing; well, two of them were, at any rate.)

Dawn chorus

Having crossed the Carrapateira road, we then encountered a large field of oats where we used to walk alongside a ridge. After unsuccessfully trying to skirt this field, because the adjoining brush was far too prickly, your leader was encouraged to go through it and so we did, very carefully.

Prickly stuff

The oat field

The rest of the walk ran smoothly; lunch was enjoyed with a splendid view out to sea.

Antje's guide dog

The ladies who lunch

We returned to start after just over 4 hours, and having covered a distance of 14.5kms.

Post-mortem

Aftere the walk, Antje's native guide dog, who had been with us for some 11 kms, did not seem to want to go home. So, rather than abandon him to the fleshpots of Carrapateira, Antje in a second act of kindness ferried him 3kms back along the valley to Herdade de Beicao.

AWW 14.05.2008 Westward Ho! or Algarve/Alentejo Border Patrol

2008-05-16T16:40:00.048+01:00

Pre-amble: Segueing effortlessly from the previous week's walk, Terry A. reminds viewers that the Masked Man IdentiQuiz competition remains open.

Now this walk had, of course, been advertised as being "mostly downhill " . The penny dropped , of course, right at the starting point which was a steep upward-facing slope and when Dina told us that Vitor, refusing to come out, had said that we were all "louco". Mostly downhill it was not. The Leader's report follows without too much ado; but I shall leave it to the reader to derive the truth of the matter from the fact that his own official statistics are silent about metres ascended, from the way in which he rides roughshod over all the provisions of the Trades Descriptions Act, blaming all the hills on recent shifts of tectonic plates as well as on the Chinese, and then, showing a masterly touch of diversionary tactics, worthy of von Clausewitz himself, shifting the focus of his report completely away from the walk itself and instead to a previous totally unrelated, albeit esoteric, conversational topic which, gentle reader be warned, is not for the eyes of those of a modest of disposition.

Thanks to Dina for photographic contributions, and to Terry A. who, having had the opening words, also gives the closing ones.

The Leader's Report: "Warning: Portions of this blog are XXX rated and should be viewed only by broad-minded AWWs. News Flash: Shares in Western England Breweries tumbled on news that Ian S would not be attending the planned rugby thrash. However, AWW Futures rose sharply in compensation. With Rod regrettably still suffering from his ailment we were fortunate that Ian S. took up his slot, thus making two taxi-loads for the return journey, to whit: Johns O’Neill and Hope, Dina (Interpreter with taxi drivers), Hilke, David, Terry A, Ian S and Mike (Leader, or, if you were one of those who fell for all his pre-walk publicity, mis-Leader).

The Starters

Statistics: Total distance. 26.1 km; moving average 4.4 kph; moving time 5 hours 59 minutes. We met up at the Monchique Helipad at 08.00 and, following the drive northwards to the Algarve/Alentejo boundary in 2 cars, we were able to start the walk briskly uphill westwards (“downhill all the way” said the leader) at 08.35 hours. The mild, somewhat cloudy conditions made for perfect walking and the views northwards to the Alentejo and southwards towards Serra de Monchique were superb.

Views north

Serra de Monchique
We reached the trig point ‘Algares’ (455 m) at 12.00 noon right on schedule. There are now two fire watching towers but no one was in residence. The Leader proclaimed that, since his last undertaking this walk, there must have been some seismic shift in the tectonic plates resulting in a number of significant un- and up-dulations that he swore were not there last time. He held the Chinese responsible and, no doubt, Myriam will be able to offer some explanation on her return.

Without injury, we managed one such rather steep and rocky un-dulation (now known as The Leader's Revenge - "They want downhill; I'll give them downhill!) down from the trig point to join the road into Relva Grande where we ate a late lunch at Café Portela at 13.30 hours. At this point JohnH, who had not been feeling well for some time but who had stoically continued, gallantly escorted by IanS, took a taxi driven by a winsome Anabela to Odeceixe. There they endured the hardships of sipping ale whilst awaiting the arrival of the foot sloggers. This proved a suitable pick-me-up and aided John’s recovery.

Transport of delight

(It is not clear to your Editor whether IanS.'s selflessness in depriving himself of a further 9 kms walking was motivated more by concern about JohnH's health or more by doubts as to the wisdom of his being allowed to go off alone with the aforesaid winsome Anabela; but let IanS. speak for himself).

"The walk then continued through superb meadows of cereals and wild flowers – a delight to the eye but bad news for the Leader’s hay fever. Dina maintained regular telemovel contact with the taxi drivers due to meet us at the end which worked well as we only had to walk for 10 minutes up the tarmac, parallel to the Seixe River, before they appeared. The cost per head for the considerable journey back to the Monchique Helipad was €12. "An interesting discussion had been held during the preceding week’s walk on May 7th as to whether jihadist suicide bombers were rewarded in Paradise with 70 virgins or 70 black olives. Clarification is to hand through an article by Ibn Warraq dated 26/01/07. "Firstly, it is only in the ‘Islamic Traditions’ that the number of virgins is stated and, in any event it should be 72 not 70, though whether the additional 2 makes a material difference is a moot point. Nowhere in the Koran is the actual number of virgins in paradise specified. Secondly these heavenly delights await specifically martyrs, not those committing suicide which is expressly forbidden in the Koran. There are several Koranic references but sura vv 12-39 is apposite. “They shall recline on jeweled couches face to face, and there shall wait on them immortal youths with bowls and ewers and a cup of purest wine that will neither pain their heads nor take away their reason . [Wine Mine to advise, Ed] ….” "It does seem that the Arabic (pl) ‘Abkarun’ is correctly translated as virgins, though some Muslims claim the word should be more correctly translated as ‘angels’. The word ‘hur’ occurs four times in the Koran and is usually translated as a “maiden with dark eyes”. The Koranic commentator and polymath Al-Suyuti (d.1505) elaborated on the matter: “Each time we sleep with a houri we find her a virgin. Besides, the penis of the Elected never softens. The erection is eternal; the sensation that you feel each time you make love is utterly delicious and out of this world and were you to experience it in this world you would faint. …….” "Now, as to the AW Walker who asserted that it was juicy black olives rather than virgins that awaited the suicide bomber in Paradise this appears to be without foundation. From Luxenberg’s assessment (as yet unassessed), it does appear that there could be a mis-translation between the Syriac word ‘hur’ meaning white with ‘raisin’ implied. Ibn Warraq perhaps has the last word to say in the matter: “…prospective martyrs would do well to abandon their culture of death, and instead concentrate on getting laid 72 times in this world, unless of course they would prefer chilled or white raisins, according to their taste, in the next.”

End of Report

Well, last week, the theme was "Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme." This week, it seems to have been "Raisins, olives and Black-Eyed .............Peas."

The end of a long day

Terry A. has the last word, or Orogenisis.

AWW 7.05.2008 Messing about Messines or A Dance to the Music of Thyme.

2008-05-08T18:43:00.062+01:00

Your correspondent, just back - jet-lagged and disorientated after a trip to Remotest Thule - had scarcely managed to drag himself out of bed and to the starting line at Torre when he was confronted by HWMBO with the news that the Chief Blogger, still ensconced in his sybaritic fastness in the middle regions of Gorrrdon Brrroon's Brrritain and apparently content to manipulate his puppet strings and hurl his insults, as Jove his thunderbolts, from there, expected me to do both the snapography and the blog for the day's proceedings. If any of the details of what follows are inaccurate or incomplete, blame the aforesaid disorientation; corrigenda will be gratefully received. And was it only me, or did other people see strange visions passing before them even before the walk started?

Who he? Answers, on a postcard please, to Terry Ames.

The Leaders: Elaine and Stan Webb.
The Followers:David L.,Terry A., Terry M., Vitor and Dina, Tina, Janet, Ian W., Lindsey, Hilke, Mike P., Brian H., John H., and 4 newcomers, namely Eva, John, Julie and David.

Track Sniffers: Nandi and Rusty.

Tilley Hat Count: who knows? (sotto voce -or cares?).

And various statistics, courtesy, first, of Vitor:
Distance 15.1 km

Moving time 3.49 hrs/mins

Resting time 39 mins

Total time 4.28 hrs/mins

Moving Average 3.95 km per hr

Overall speed 3.38 km per hr

and, second, of Brian:

Distance 15.2 km

Moving time 3.31 hrs/mins

Resting time 54 mins

Total time 4.25 hrs/mins

Moving average 4.32 km per hr

Overall speed 3.44 km per hr

Total ascents 337 metres

Max elevation 242 metres.

The starters' photo was attended to with commendable alacrity by the participants, egged on by an admiring but noisy gallery of pugs, poodles, lapdogs, long-haired mini-spaniels or whatever in an upper window across the road.. And the trek began reasonably promptly at 9.35am.

The starters.......(Stan and Vitor being modest and camera-shy as usual).....

... and their admiring fans.

Now the Leaders'Report

The walk was one we had put together several years ago and derives from 2 walks from Maurice's Silves Walks book, so thanks to Maurice. When we reccied it first we did it with Pam and Ian, so the walk holds fond memories of Ian and keeps Maurice's walks going - we saw several blue blobs - so they may be low tech but they certainly last!
The walk has been changed as the hill down from Torre to the nora is now too prickly to pass through - ironic in view of what happened later - and the trig point we used to go up to on the way back from Amorosa to Torre is so overgrown that you can't find the trig point and so we do a contour walk along the side of the hill with views to the south.

19 of us and the 2 dogs Nandi and Rusty set off from Torre down a track and then along the road a few hundred metres to join a track down through a farm across the river and up on to the ridge leading to Amorosa. We stopped to admire the menhir and to get some tips about them from Mike Pease. (Mike alluded to their prehistoric phallic fertility symbolism while Terry A. sensed the mysterious underground power of Ley Lines.)

And did the earth move for you too?

We then continued to the well-restored nora on the path out of Amorosa village.

The nora at Amorosa

We crossed the EN124 to start the other side of this figure of 8 walk. Some road walking took us to a track up the hill and all was going well on a pleasant track until I decided that we should try to avoid more tarmac and get views of Messines at the same time -bad idea- hunters trails seemed to disappear and we didn't find the ploughed field which leads to the relevant pylon - so many prickles and scratched legs later and very few moans (much appreciated), we arrived at the path which led to the road past the cemetery anyway -won't do that again. (While we were thrashing around in the thorn bushes, Mike kept our spirits up with a dissertation on the somewhat controversial achievements of the Chindits as they thrashed around in the Burmese jungle during WWII. Stan then led us in circles for a while as some of the elderly hippies present sang snatches of Scarborough Fair..."Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme".)

We then followed the railway line from Messines, provoking a passing goods train into a burst of frantic hooting, (well, it's not often a long-distance train driver has an audience of 19 enthusiasts).

Hilke leading the Trainspotters' Brigade

and their visual reward

We then climbed up the slope for a scenic lunch spot with 'seating' for lots at the top.

12 Green Bottles

After a leisurely lunch, we meandered through a couple of hamlets and along a track which led us back to the EN124. The final section went through a couple of farms at low level and then we went through some low scrub for our 'walk back in thyme' and joined another farm track to bring us out in Torre, shortly before 2pm.

Some Local Colour

In a lengthy article about the Chindits, Wikipedia has this to say about how they moved: "Since there were often no established paths in the jungle along their routes, many times they had to clear their own with machetes and kukris." Maybe the Chief Blogger will consider a revision to our equipment specifications for next season's walking; Tilley Hats and GPSs are all very well in their place, but are they of much use when the going gets really tough?.

AWW 30.04.2008 Paderne Premiere

2008-05-02T18:20:00.006+01:00

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.

AWW 23.04.2008 Bensafrim (almost) Unblogged

2008-04-26T16:01:00.003+01:00

You just can't get good help these days!! The CB, undergoing an enforced mercy mission in UK was relying on the DCB or the ADCB to continue the long tradition of telling it like it is during his absence. DCB then decided to flee from his responsibilities on the flimsiest of pretexts, and the ADCB was apparently overcome by indolence or apathy, and failed to attend the scene of the most recent exciting perambulation through the tricky topography of Bensafrim.
It is only thanks to the dedication and sense of responsibility of the designated leader, Rod, that you are now reading what might have been a blank page, or worse, an exotic fantasy based on nothing but lewd imagination from the depths of Warwickshire!
Rod duly submitted the walk report and a meagre selection of photos, to flesh out the bones of this issue, and despite entreaties to the GPS Operatives, Andrew and Vitor, I have yet to receive any stats!
So here it is - and feel free to comment if you Walked the Walk, and are aggrieved that your satirical comments or heroic actions went unrecognised. I am unable to add to the story.

Here we go - start at Bensafrim market

Leader: Rod
Present: Tina W, Mike P, Lindsey & Andrew, Alex, Peter, Alfredo, Dina &
Vitor, Ian W, Janet
Hounds: Pookie, Nandi & Cibele

Technical Details: apply Gps Carriers, Mike P.and Andrew
Distance approx 19.8 km. Elapsed time including lengthy interludes, 5.5 hrs.

Focus on the blue blob!

From there we continued, without excessive exertion, through spring flower strewn countryside, away from the AWW track and up to the first main ridge. From there we had a splendid view of the current re-forestation programme....some alfarrobas and pines but mostly wind turbines, stretching almost uninterruptedly along the skyline from the Mata Nacional in the south to the top of Espinhaçao do Cão
in the north. After feasting our eyes on that for a while we carried on up past Corte Pero Jaques ( whoever he was) to the densest part of the wind turbine forest until we eventually happened upon the hotel high on the main ridge but now virtually enveloped by technological cultivates, and now neighboured by a prominent, but at least green-painted, water treatment plant belonging to Aguas do Algarve. Once, in more primeval days, we had stopped at this hostelry for a beer, but, not tempted this time, we started our descent and once away from the turbines we entered the domain of David Fry. He purports to be developing a carriage (equine)driving tourist
facility...its a bit difficult to judge at first sight whether everything is in a state of creation or decay however, although we did come across a few horses and a sheep. Just as we were about to sneak away a bearded biped emerged from a stone dwelling and engaged our leader in earnest conversation for a while. Mr Fry himself! Business was not easy he confided...with which it did not seem difficult to agree. Part of his tourist programme, according to local rumour, included naked rides, sort of Lady Godiva like, around the countryside but despite a lengthy anticipatory interlude nothing, sadly, emerged to corroborate this.

Colourful flowers!

After this relative excitement it was clearly time for lunch. Some fallen sobreiros provided seating facilities.

Ladies who lunch!

From there we followed a little used but pleasant track which wound its way gradually down towards the main road north of Bensafrim. We passed through another equine
tourist facility, Feiteira, which never materialised and occupied now only
by a lonely but certainly healthy looking burro. And so back over a final
ridge and on to the Football Club bar.

The Munch Bunch

Regrettably, the narrative ended here. Not one of the popular post walk photos, not even an Ian S. story to add a frisson to the saga. The lunch photos seem particularly dispirited, and I can only conclude that despite the good natured complaints about Myriam's papparazzi techniques and constant bullying to pose, she was sorely missed.
Rumour has it that Lindsey and Andrew are leading next week, and I, (as I am sure all our readers do) look forward to some exciting colour commentary, some technically perfect photos from Andrew's state of the art cinematic equipment, and extremely accurate stats from his top end GPS system! Perhaps David L. will be stirred from his torpor to once again invigorate us with purple prose and incisive political comment.
It is that, or a fly on the wall documentary of our latest geocaching exploits, photos of Myriam's new groundbreaking high speed footwear, and numerous pix of me gorging on pies pasties and pints of ale! The choice is yours!

I believe the true function of age is memory. I'm recording as fast as I can. Brown, Rita Mae

A facility for quotation covers the absence of original thought. Wimsey, Lord Peter

AWW 16.04.2008 Picota Panoply

2008-04-17T14:07:00.008+01:00

Picota Panoply or a Walk of Two Halves

Group at start at Foz do Banho. Usual suspects under the 'bushel'

Another huge turnout at 23 walkers and 3 dogs, with many of the starters declaring that they might have to leave at the halfway point because of assignations/injuries/apathy/lack of fitness etc. The walk was billed by Ian W. as "just over 6 hours and has a get out after 3 hours" which inevitably led to the grand attendance! Augmented by Myriam and myself on a 4 day stopover in between filial duties in UK, the weather looked promising and it was anticipated that the full course would near 1000 metres in total ascent - a record since records began. Myriam would also attempt to catch up on gossip since we went back to UK in mid-March, and update everyone on goings on - a tall order in only 6 hours!!
As both Deputy and Assistant Chief Blogger had taken advantage of my temporary return to the Algarve to absent themselves, I had to place the leader Ian W. under some pressure to submit his walk report before Thursday evening as we were flying out early Friday. He failed as his extensive social obligations precluded his journalistic commitment.
I loaded maps, stats and pix in preparation for his prose, and flew out hoping that my dialup connection would not be overcome by a learned and lengthy exposition and analysis of the walk. I need not have lost sleep, but the delight was that as the walk itself, the report came in two halves, both from the Leader and the Director of Traffic. There may be some duplication, as I had anticipated some comments in my preambles, but you can detect the varying contributions by the colours of the text!

The track - pink for the whole route and green for where the part-timers opted out and returned directly to the Foz

Leader: Ian W ; Soft option: Diane W.

Present: Full walk: Janet, Tina, Hilke, Dina, Myriam, Terry, John O' , Thyl, Paul
Sampler Walk: Rod, Peter, Roger, Pamela (guests of Peter), Ian S., Brian, Antje, Stan, Elaine, Vitor,
Lost Patrol: Chris
Disappointed Dogs (only half a walk) Tiggy, Maddy, Pooky

Stats:
Short Course Total Distance 12.73 km (others unknown!)
Full whack: Total Distance 19.7 km: Moving Time 5 hrs 15 min.: Total Time: 6 hrs 37 min
Moving Average: 3.7 km/hr: Overall Average 3.0 km/hr
Total Ascent: 953 m. Max Elevation 783 m. Start Elevation 197 m.
Tilley Count (by popular demand): 6

In the event we missed the 1000 m. climb by only 47 m and were 300 m short of the 20km. Ian W. is going to recce a 'loop' to augment the stats next time he does this walk - if he can find anyone to go with him!!
There were several comments that "that was the longest 20 km I have ever done!"

Peter 'forgot' his boots, and nearly fell over trying to conceal his sturdy alternatives from ace papparazzi Myriam

Terry's tribute to Maurice!

He wore the boots and carried the rucsac bequeathed him by Maurice when he went back to UK. They seemed to work very well! And now to the field reports from our joint leaders:

Sex, mobiles and the walk leader´s wife - apparently too much of all three. Arrival at the Foz was greeted by an overbearing W.L.´s W. who directed all to park around the corner so as not clutter up the forecourt, thereby generating the ire of the restaurateur around the corner. She begs your pardon. With fourteen men, nine ladies and three dogs there was undoubtedly too much sex. Mobiles will be revealed in time.

On the rocks! wending up Picota. Note the dead trees from the fires a few years ago.

Start was delayed by the inevitable to-ing and fro-ing to cars parked around the corner and the compulsory photo, so a punishing pace was set climbing the first incline, the top of which afforded a good view of bright orange cranes towering over Longevity. It would be a long time before we saw them again. Slashing through undergrowth past the walk leader´s house we emerged back on tarmac for a few metres before beginning the proper assent of Picota.

John O' demonstrating that it is not as easy as falling off a log!

Progress with so many bodies, often in single file, skirting boulders, negotiating trail bike ramps and scaling fallen mimosa was slow but the cry on, on from Ian W. at the front and Ian S. at the back encouraged us to spend less energy on conversation and more on physical exertion. The advance guard reached the summit within the allotted 2 hours.

The rocky path to the summit. Slopes of Foia in the background.

Obligatory Trig Point Photo. (873m)

This was taken by Thyl, who had worked out that the best way to avoid being in the group pix was to borrow the camera and take them himself!

Some, mistaking this for the lunch break sat down. A record photo and we set off at a bruising pace - well, some toes were bruised. At this point, as the line of walkers became long and straggly a mobile phone rang and the owner stepped off the path to answer. A call to his wife 15 minutes later confirmed he was lost having missed a turn but as all paths led down he was confident of finding his way back to the Foz. This delay along with a hard fall by one of the more seasoned walkers resulted in a later than expected regrouping on the lower road.

On the way down - group is strung out

Over (and under) the sticks!

Lunch among the spring flowers

Here the sheep were separated from the goats and we thirteen bleaters took the shorter route back to the Foz led by Ian S´s raging thirst.

(I take no responsibility for the above, written by the Traffic Warden)

Soon after lunch it was time for the parting of the ways. Diane led the sheep to the bottom of the hill, while the goats followed Ian over a succession of ever increasing undulations!

Looking fondly back from whence we came

Heading off down the tarmac road  towards Fornalha, 10 stalwarts stiffened their pace to try to arrive back at the  Foz before dark, having spent one hour too long in the descent from Picota.  (the stalwarts were Paul and Myriam, John, Janet, Hilke, Thyl, Tina, Terry M,  Dina and Ian W)

The cistus are really huge this year - and sticky!!

How Green was My Valley!

Myriam performs gymnastics while negotiating a gate at the start of a bridge!

After just over 1km we headed south west on a mainly downhill track, which eventually after one or two mishaps reached the Monchique road in time to see Rod and Ian S. floating past leaving fumes of tea beer and diesel behind them. We crossed the road, followed the river downstream and crossed a bridge to start a stiff climb to the ridge.

Heads are down! A long steep slog, west of the Monchique road

Panoply of spring flowers

At the top of the ridge we were able to see the whole route of the walk from  beginning to end. Quite the view. We followed the ridge dropping down into the  Caldas de Monchique valley and wound our way up to the Foz. Unfortunately we  failed marginally to complete 1000m of ascent by about 50 m. Had the walkers  been prepared to climb to the leader's house they would have done the " Munro"  and received a free beer, but they were all too tired and it was after all,  4.30, and some had pressing engagements. As usual, Thyl found his own way down  from the ridge and no doubt through brambles and leaping the  stream.

Back at the Foz - morale is rising - but where is Thyl?

We lingered over our beers, and Myriam graciously volunteered to walk back to the distant car park where she had been ordered some 7 or 8 hours ago by the Director of Traffic, and bring the car to the front of the cafe. On her return she reported that Thyl's prize Mercedes was still parked there, and no evidence of the adventurer having made it off the mountain. The CB attempted several times to contact the responsible walk leader, but he, having already lost one walker earlier, had disconnected his comms rather than risk breaking the AWW record and losing almost 10% of his flock! On our way back down the road to the A22, we saw a man laying down and preparing to sleep on the hard shoulder next to the white line. We stopped and went back to look, but alas it wasn't Ian S. We roused the elderly gentleman, who was obviously (according to Myriam's finely honed sense of smell) on his way home from a neighbouring hostelry, and moved him to a safer position in which to recuperate his faculties! Good deed done we went on our way, praying that Thyl had merely decided to include Foia in the day's walk, and would return soon!

"We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal, and then leap in the dark to our success." Thoreau, Henry David (Excuses for not completing a Walk #287)

AWW 9.04.2008 Start Your Engines, or Terrapins and Virgins.

2008-04-09T18:06:00.023+01:00

Most of the group came well-prepared for lousy weather, and it was indeed a dark and stormy morn. Now read on.

The Leader's report:
"Despite the doomsday warnings in the walk notice, a number of members had expressed interest in joining this "Start Your Engines" circumnavigation of the "Autodromo Internacionais Algarve" located north of Mexilhoeira Grande. However, after some 50mm rainfall the preceeding day and night, only "The Lunatic Fringe" of the AWW were actually present for the Starter's Flag,numbering 6, to wit:

Leader: Mike "To Blame" Pease
Fellow Lunatics: Lindsey (the one lady present,but in trenchantly good form); Hedley (returning to UK shortly); Terry M (always a mine of information and a photographic contributor to this blog); Thyl (recently emerged from the forests of Nicaragua - but, on this occasion, without his usual straw hat but wielding a City brolly and, despite his misgivings about blog photographs and blogs in general, another able photographic contributor); and JohnH.

4-legged Friends: zero.
Just as well as they would have had to have been manhandled over the various obstructions we met. (Fair comment; Mike "To Blame" had obviously done his recce, but "various obstructions we met" !!! Strewth! There were more fences to negotiate than in your average, run-of-the-mill Grand National and Aintree's Stewards would surely have had something sharp to say about the amount of barbed wire, never mind the width of the Becher's Brook which came later)

Tilley Hats: zero.
Rain: see below.

Walk Statistics (to keep the CB happy in his Shakesperean retreat):

Distance: 16.5km

Moving Average: 4.6 kph

Moving Time(no record of what we did when not moving): 3.36hrs

Actual Time od Circumnavigation: 4.hrs 35 m

The Starters

We reached Penascobo trig point (157 M) in 30 minutes flat, from where we had excellent views of the remarkable progress in construction of the motor racing track and its linked facilities. Hedley had assured us that, whilst it would be cloudy for most of the day, the sun would come out briefly and we would probably have no rain. That is precisely what happened - just a few drops fell towards the end as we free-wheeled in to receive the Chequered Flag.

A strange pair of hands by the trig point

Much calculation was made as to the likely length of the perimeter fence (two-thirds of which took us about two and a half hours to get round). Thyl estimated that he could easily fit 10 golf courses of 60 hectares each within the race track perimeter.

"How many golf courses did you say...... ?"

The circumnavigation necessitated much walking alongside the perimeter fence and cistus bashing but we were able to view track layout, pits and infrastructure development from various angles. We crossed several minor fences with no ripped clothing (apart from JohnH's trousers).

"What boots it at one gate to make defence,

And at another to let in the foe?"

(Samson Agonistes)

Having crossed the Pereira to Senhora de Verde road, we commenced the ascent towards Boi (125m.), where - earlier potential meadows having been vetoed by Lindsey on account of unacceptable bovine smells, and this venue "above the poo-line" meeting with her discriminating approval- we had a pit-stop for lunch, pleasingly and refreshingly overlooking the surrounding countryside.
Below Boi, we took the path known as that "The Wise Virgins". That of "The Foolish Virgins" ascends to Boi and then rejoins the main route by way of much cistus bashing. As we ploughed our way through the considerable undergrowth, there was considerable discussion on the derivation of the nomenclature for such a particular group of young ladies, on its relevance to the AWW, and also disappointment that it had nothing to do with sex. Terry M. scores top points here by correctly identifying the source material as one of the Gospel parables (Matthew 25. 1 - 13 to be exact) and that it was a matter of home economics, candles and Tesco's "Best Buy Lamp Oil". (Just ask Terry.)

This learned discussion came to an abrupt close when we had to face up to a totally unexpected stream in full flood. Undaunted, however, we all girded our respective loins and leapt across the deluge, happily without any repeat of the recent unfortunate incident involving the Chief Blogger.

I know it's a leap year but this is ridiculous

All safely across, the route provided few challenges, but Hedley espied a terrapin plodding along, perhaps in search of a FV terrapine. Poor fellow - we picked him up, carried him in my hat (never mind the smells!), and released him into a nearby dam. No doubt, he will be complaining of the injustices of life. (Sub-editorial: why is it that we all assumed Hedley's Terrapin was a male? It could equally well have been a female out on the razzle)

Hedley's Terrapin

And now, if we're lucky, a movie.

Our very own David Attenborough

Excitement for the day now over, we coasted back to Cafe-bar Goncalves at about 2.10 pm."

The Survivors

To conclude, some shots of the race track construction site, around which no doubt Paul and Chris will be hurtling in a few month's time.

For afficionados and for the simply curious, there is, so I am told, a website for the Autodromo Internacionais Algarve, and that is http://www.autodromodoalgarve.com/en/index.html.

CB's motivational nugget:

What is there that confers the noblest delight? What is that which swells a man's breast with pride above that which any other experience can bring to him? Discovery! To know that you are walking where none others have walked; that you are beholding what human eye has not seen before; that you are breathing a virgin atmosphere. To give birth to an idea, to discover a great thought -- an intellectual nugget, right under the dust of a field that many a brain-plough had gone over before. To find a new planet, to invent a new hinge, to find a way to make the lightning carry your messages. To be the first -- that is the idea. Twain, Mark

Well done John, with the first video blog - shame there was no more detail about the contents of Mike's hat or whether he donned it again!

AWW 2.04.2008 The Wanderers' Return or Two Dams for the Price of One

2008-04-07T09:47:00.015+01:00

I would have been worried about this blog being published later than usual, had I not happened to meet a Very Senior Walker in one of Algarve's most fashionable shopping venues over the week-end. When I mentioned that I hadn't yet been able to wheedle a Leader's Report out of Rod, the response was that said Very Senior Walker could not give a toss about the blog. Much consoled by this salty breath of fresh air, I relaxed and let Rod take his time with his submission.
Wanderers' Return the day truly was, with Rod just back from the Antipodes and Mike from his Chilean adventure, both with a sufficiency of traveller's tales to regale us between Barragems do Arade and de Funcho.

The first event of note was that Ian S., stung by an earlier apparent reference to his personal navigational skills, managed to arrive at the right Barragem this time. Hence his look of triumph.

Now details for the record:

Leader: Rod.

Walkers: Chris and Antje, Ian and Diane W., Andrew and Lindsey, Vitor and Dina, David L, Yves, Hilke , Ian S., John H., Peter S., Mike, Val, Alex, Hedley, John O, and Antony Frew.

Dogs: Maddie, Nandy, Oscar, Tiggie, Pookie and Devinia

Tilley count: who knows.

Trig points: Nil

Statistics (courtesy Vitor):

Coordenadas da partida...... 37 14.325 - 008 22.671

Distancia percorrida............ 17,7 Klm

Média................................. 4,3 K/h

Media Gera.......................... 3,7 k/h

Tempo percorrido.................. 4h 07 m

Tempo parado...................... 41,09 m

The Starters at the no-longer-existing bar

"Now, when I was in Tierra del Fuego... "

And now the Leader's report:

"The billing as a short(ish) walk round the Barragem do Arade, along with the wonderful weather, produced quite a sizeable turnout...even though there was no pre-ambulatory coffee. The billing, in the event, turned out to be somewhat illusory as our dear leader added on an extra loop to take advantage of the lovely spring flowers, or so he said. The three to four hours turned out to be about five (although partly ascribed to a more than usual number of stops) (One unscheduled one when Nandy lost Mike, whose thoughts were possibly still far away in South America)
We set off from the no-longer-existing bar at the Barragem round the dam in a clockwise direction. There were a number of moans during the first two hours, that since nobody had even seen any water, they had been misled by the billing. (Can't imaging what they were complaining about.The next picture was taken at 9.44 a.m.; water very visible.)

The rebels were, however, quickly distracted by swarms of quite aggressive bees. Alex´s hair seemed, well quite understandably, attractive to them and disentangling them (achieved without a single sting) was the cause of one of the longer interludes.

I'll tak the A road and you'll tak the Bee road

On eventually sighting some water...below the Barragem de Funcho, the party temporarily split into two; some opting for a shorter route to the lunch site and others going up over the dam itself.

Tilleys and Non-Tilleys

The object of the latter was to get a view of the Barragem de Funcho and to see some unusual and very attractive Acacia trees. Lindsey, of course, was able to enunciate, without a stumble, the full Latin name and will doubtless be able to repeat it should anyone wish to know.

No complaints about the lunch accomodation

John O doing his Spike Milligan impersonation

After lunch the views of the dam lake became quite frequent and the moaners eventually realised they had indeed completed a circuit. (Then they started complaining about the tarmac.)
Enthusiasm was mildly diminished by the fact that the selected post-walk watering hole proved to be shut but a detour to Casinhas, before dehydration became too apparent, saved the day."

No complaints from these three.

"Always bring money along with your complaints" (Plautus)

CB's eggs:

Glad to see the wanderer's have returned. We too will be returning wanderers in due time, so I shall have to quote:

He travels best that knows when to return. For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move. Stevenson, Robert Louis

AWW 26th March 2008 - They Came to Querenca

2008-03-27T09:51:00.019Z

(Truly, a blessed relief, a Leader's report so well-presented that scarcely a comment needed, just add photos)

They Came to Querença – but NOT via São Brás.
OR Learning Stops At Sixty

Voyagers from Western Parts:- Stan, Elaine, John O’, Ian S. Ian W, Tina, Dina, Vitor, John H, Janet, Lindsey, Andrew.
Native Guide:- David.
Faithful Canine Companion:- Maddy.

The omens for this voyage of exploration into the wastes of the East were not auspicious. The native guide provided the wrong directions, and might have sent all to the frozen north had he not been persuaded of the error of his ways by his far more route-savvy wife. Frantic smoke signals at the eleventh hour prevented a disaster, and all turned up in the right place at roughly the right time – even Ian Scott! Janet managed several circuits of the newly refurbished square at Querenca before finally coming to rest.

Post-modern Querenca Plaza

Opinions on the said refurbishment were generally not complimentary, and there was a general wagging of wise heads when it transpired that The One Responsible was none other than the native guide’s Angry Neighbour, encountered on a previous expedition.

The members of the expedition should have known better than to hire a guide whose years had exceeded six decades. Not only had he learned nothing from the mistakes made on a previous foray into the same territory, but he added one or two more errors for good measure, including the aforesaid brainstorm around directions. That the whole party emerged unscathed from the experience was a matter of great wonderment to all.

All were in fine fettle following the obligatory brew of local stimulant and the customary Daguerrotype record of the party, taken as ever by the Official Recorder, alias Deputy Chief Blogger. In spite of missing his way for the second year in a row, the guide managed to bring the party to the first objective, a beautiful watering-hole in a deep wooded valley, where preparations were made for the climb to the heights above. This passed without incident, as did the ensuing walk across country. However, age once again caught up with the guide as he reached a path frequented by the metal-monsters-with-dirty-breath, and first marched the party one way and then the other in search of a safer route. Good fortune took him the right way, and soon the original route was rejoined

"I wonder which way it is."

First, the preparations.....
...and then the climb.

This passed without incident, as did the ensuing walk across country.

The Native Guide finds water

Vodaphone Vitor brightens up the Trig shot

Fortunately, the highland section of the excursion was successful if strenuous, with excellent views stretching as far as the homelands of many of the explorers. The native guide refused to repeat his chest-baring display, prompting some to ask for a portion of their money back. Explorer Andrew had a ‘charging-off’ day, insisting on clambering and striding where others feared to tread, and on the descent from the heights he was forced to retrace his steps after one such detour. Such was the steepness of some parts of the descent that progress became very slow for a time, but eventually the valley was regained.

The trick is to bend at the knees, Janet says

And at last the guide had a success, locating a path missed on the previous outing, which took the party up the hill to the Summit of the Departed, stimulating a lively discussion on the merits of different methods of disposing of the dead. Explorer Stan seemed at one point to be volunteering to bury himself. An explanation is awaited.

The safety of the native village regained, more local stimulants were consumed, and the weekly tribute paid to She-Who-Holds-The-Dosh. And then we all went home.

(but not before Ian S. won a prize for getting the Portuguese for Vodaphone correct.)

(And now for the really technical stuff.)

Distancia percorrida....... 18.1 klm

Velocidade média........... 3.7 k/h

Velocidade media geral.. 3.2 k/h

Tempo de deslocação...... 4h 50 m

Tempo de paragens......... 44 m. 25 s

Coordenadas:
Partida............ 37 11.953 007 59.250
Chegada........ 37 11.953 007 59.250

Almoço........... 37 13.681 007 59.136

CB's 5p worth:-

I will never give in to old age until I become old. And I'm not old yet! Turner, Tina

AWW 19.03.2008 Rain Stops Play or An Exercise in Diplomacy

2008-03-22T09:29:00.007Z

P.S 18.05.2008 Now, at last, Val's photos of that special walk. Thanks, Val

The Starters
Picota, bathed in sunshine!

The ravine

Lunch

Ian does the statistics

Welcome back

Talk about being passed a Poisoned Chalice! The C.B., unfortunately, has to go to the UK, so asks me to do the next blog. "No problem, Paul." Then the walk gets cancelled.... again "No problem"... no blog needed. But then I hear that a walk of sorts did in fact take place, by which time I was miles away; I begin to detect over the airwaves certain sussurations of offended feelings; and C.B. tells me that he still expects a blog. But how on earth can one blog about an event (or non-event) which one did not take part in and, what's more, without exaccerbating said wounded feelings? Well, here goes. Anyone wanting to sue may get my lawyer's name on application.

First, the leader's apologia:

"It was not one of my most inspired decisions to cancel the walk, but it was safe. Because I did not finally decide to cancel until there was clear blue sky, many walkers turned up. In order to avoid being lynched, I hastily agreed to lead a short walk for the 8 people waiting at the Foz. We did what Ian S. and I call the Medronho walk, a gentle 13 km with only 2 river crossings. We had fantastic views and no rain, and I can only apologise to the walkers who were told that the walk was cancelled. And also too bad for those who had decided not to walk. The rain, of course, did come, but long after the walk was finished."

Pictures, courtesy Val, will follow in a subsequent edition.

Statistics, courtesy Brian and his GSM, are:

Distance:13.6km

Moving average: 4.5k. Overall average: 3.5k.

Total ascent: 436m

Tilley Hats: 2.

Participants

Ian W. (leader), Val, Chris, Antje, Alex, Marcela, Hedley, Hilke, and Brian.

Canine support: Tiggie

No route map available on my system, but anyone wanting to scrutinise the area has only to consult map no.585 of the Cartas Militares de Portugal (of which more later) over, I would guess, the Cerro da Arriqueta/Castelo da Nave areas.

What do I think? Well, a leader's responsibility is to see that the halt, the blind and the lame (and I'm describing only myself here) walk out and return safely; the macho types can probably look after themselves. A huge amount of rain had been dumped on Picota in the wee sma' hours of Wednesday morning; several experienced walkers had already called off; the weather forecasts for the day were dire; so, knowing as he does how treacherous the downward tracks on Picota can be, I think Ian was right to call it off. He was not to know that Boreas, Zephyros and Notus (Peter will explain the mythology) were going to play silly b****rs among the clouds and contradict the forecasts. I was disappointed of course, particularly as I had been hoping to establish at first hand if there is any truth in the rumours that The Fantastic Fantonis (a.k.a. Peter and Janet) are about to turn professional on receiving a lucrative offer from Cirque du Soleil, following their gravity defying exploits of the previous week. (This is merely an excuse to introduce at least one photo, even if it is a repetition.)

Let's hear it for The Fantastic Fantonis

And now, back to the subject of maps. When we were told that the walk was off, Ian S. (the long-suffering leader of the previous week's Alferce Amble (his motto by the way is, pace Marshall McLuhan, "The walk is the recce" )) and I decided instead to follow up on an enthusiastic recommendation of Thyll's and to go in search of some maps in Faro.
First stop was the Instituto Geographico Portugues, Rua Sao Francisco, No.4, just off Largo de Sao Frncisco (free parking). They sell the Carta Militar de Portugal but, being a department of the Ministro do Ambiente, they are not at all commercial in style. Rather, the ambience is redolent of academia and administration. We got only one of the maps we were after there, but the staff were cheerful and co-operative enough and they gave us with the name and address of a bookshop as another source, which proved a success.
This shop is Livraria Simoes, Rua do Alportel, No.86-A, near Igreja do Carmo, Escola do Carmo and Largo do Campo da Feira (pay parking). It has a large stock of the maps which one can browse through. Cost per map: Instituto - euros 6.20: Livraria - euros 7.
Ian also found another bookshop which stocks the maps, Livraria Bertrand, Rua Dr. Francisco Gomez, No.27 in the pedestrian precinct area, near the Marina.
The scale of the maps is 1:25,000, and the Algarve is covered by something like 40 maps, each one covering 10km north to south, 16km west to east. The detail is good. Paths, contours are clear. In rural areas you can pick out individual casas, cisternas, mine entrances (but not WineMine's as far as I can see), windmills, ruins, etc, etc. Ideal for presumptive leaders and property speculators alike.
Thanks, Thyll.
So there we are. I suppose that, with 2 Tilley Hats featuring in the stats, the substitute walk has to count as an official one. C.B. may want to comment.

BlogBackupOnline - Measures against finger trouble!!

2008-03-17T12:11:00.003Z

I had been spending sleepless nights worrying about whether the blogspot server would suffer an irresistible attack, or just lose interest or even quietly close down, thus consigning this valuable record of our adventures to the darkness of oblivion.
Now we can all sleep easy thanks to my discovery of BlogBackupOnline, whose badge you can now admire in the sidebar below 'links'. More information can be found here.
This is an automatic facility that does a daily backup of the blog and stores it securely online, to guard against unforeseen events or even finger trouble from our contributors (you know whom I mean!). Even the pictures are backed up, unlike most other schemes, but the downside is that nothing this good is free. I have subscribed to the Professional Version for which I get 250Mb. However the guys at BBO have generously agreed to double our storage capacity if we carry their badge proudly, and recommend this to our friends. Consider it done.
In the words of a competitor to Blogspot (Vox) "This is Good"

AWW 12.03.2008 Alfer(ec)ce Adventure

2008-03-13T16:54:00.006Z

Alfer(ec)ce Adventure: (NB Pronounced 'Alf a Recce Adventure)

First of all, and unusually for me, a retraction and an apology! I refer to the supplement to last week's Blog, entitled W.W.N.W, which was a new feature purporting to be a preview of this walk in tabloid style. Regrettably, it turned out that as with most tabloids, there was a tiny iota of fact, and a great deal of supposition and embellishment. I had (in good faith) even alleged that Ian S. who was to lead this week had started taking leadership seriously, and had performed a recce with a witness and cameraman. Little did I know that the recce had consisted of standing at a good vantage point in Alferce and waving his arm at the ridge to the east, and then a short stroll downhill to the first river crossing, where he proceeded to play at arranging wobbly stones, while being photographed, and then back up the hill to glow in his sense of achievement over several bottles of Sagres!!

wild goose chase: 1592, first attested in "Romeo and Juliet," where it evidently is a fig. use of an earlier (but unrecorded) literal sense in ref. to a kind of follow-the-leader steeplechase.

The truth will be revealed in the following account!

The First XV outside Bar O Carlos,
(thanks to Alex's delayed action camera!)

Thyl turned up for the first time since long ago, having been on a Central American Adventure, and we also had Alex and Marcela standing in for Chris and Antje who were away on a romantic Anniversary trip to Spain. At least Tiggy enjoyed the walk! Most of the other 11 had been lured in by the promise of '18km and quite hilly'. Some of the more cynical among us had seen through the hyperbole and opted to stay at home!

Leader: Ian S.
Cannon Fodder: Alex and Marcela, John H., Ian W. Hilke, Lindsey, Peter, Dina, Paul, Tina, Vitor, Hedley, Janet and Thyl
Best Friends: Tiggy, Beroe

The track - note the 'Wild Geese' vantage point to the south!
8km before lunch and 11km after!

Stats: Total Dist: 19 km; Moving Time: 4 hr 41 min; Total Time: 5 hrs 53 min.; Moving Average: 4.1 km/hr.;
Overall Avg. 3.2 km/hr; Total Ascent 888 m.; Max Elevation: 397 m.

First of all let me praise the Leader, but faintly! Bar O Carlos was open and serving coffee for which my designated driver Alex, and Marcela were extremely grateful, having radically underestimated the time needed for preparation, feeding and emptying dogs, and attending to their own essentials. Nevertheless by some inspired driving, and my refusal to allow them to stop and pick up provisions on the way, we made it to Alferce with 10 minutes to spare - and we weren't the last. We eventually formed up and followed the confident leader out of the village at 0939 hrs.

The McScott Technical Tartan All-Terrain Jacket

The warm sun which we had enjoyed on the coast had been replaced by a gloomy cloudcast with northerly winds, and our Leader was resplendent in his highly individual cold weather gear. A chorus of "I'm a Lumberjack and I'm alright..." was quickly quelled.

No one tests the depth of a river with both feet. Proverb, Ashanti

(Except AWW's apparently)

The first crossing

After a nice downhill stretch of almost 3 km, we reached the first crossing, which was almost as advertised in last week's preview, except in reality, it was deeper and the stones which had been wrestled into position were too wobbly to trust. This led to a general doffing of footwear, and a cooling pedicure, except for Vitor, who attempted a risky traverse upstream and wet his trousers almost to wallet level!
I had been waiting for a chance to reveal my latest tech equipment, a pair of waders made out of wetsuit material, which with the brief exposure kept my feet warm and almost dry!

A fine calf!

We all towelled off to varying degrees and rebooted ourselves (in the archaic sense), only to find that 100 metres along the track on the unreccied portion of the walk, we had to recross the river, and it was deeper here.
With a cry of delight, Ian W. discovered a fallen log across the stream and nimbly flitted across.

Natural bridge

Alex too managed to cross safely, but when the CB (100kg) attempted the crossing, Alex (105 kg) had not fully vacated the log, and at the critical time the support gave way and the log dropped about 20cm, just enough to unbalance me. I executed a half turn and lunge towards the safety of the bank, but failed miserably and performed an almost perfect belly flop just short of the target. I now understand what they mean when they say you can drown in an inch of water!! I was wet to the chest, and both my camera and phone were fully submerged before I struggled to my feet, blushing! After that I didn't need any bridges - to boldly splash...

Peter has a 'moment'!

The river became even more persistent as less than half a kilometre further on we came to crossing #3.
Again there was a fallen log, but this time high above the water, and it gave Janet a chance to show off her balancing skills!

Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees. Jackson, Stonewall

(from Famous Last Words)

Blondin - who's he?

And that was the end of the serious water sports. We now had a long dogged climb up to the Trig point at Montinhos, where after the obligatory photo we took lunch after 3 hours and 8 km.

Pre-lunch pose at Montinhos TP 397 m.

After a generous lunch break by Ian's standards we pressed on to the south. Ian, as he repeatedly assured us, had 'done' this several times before. Thyl, too expressed himself familiar with the area. I myself could not recall being this side of the valley to the East of Alferce before, but then my memory is not quite infallible these days. The path along the ridge top was broad and the views magnificent, and the sun, at last drove the clouds away and brightened our spirits. The 'plan' if I may loosely call it that was to head south until we saw a decent path down to the valley to meet with the diagonal path going up the opposite side, which would inevitably take us to the famous piggery beneath Monte Velho to the south of Alferce.

"Cross my heart - I know where we are going!"

I must state that I did notice that the path we were on seemed suspiciously recent, and coincidentally went from pylon to pylon - and I was fairly sure that the pylons led to near Silves, but Hope springs eternal, and J.Hope, the Recce accomplice did not utter a word of dissent. After a couple of km. the cunning pylons decided to span a deep valley, and the path ran out at what would have made an admirable ski-jump piste. Alas no snow and no skis!
Undaunted the Leader announced Plan 'B' - or was it 'C', and we retreated, apart from a conciliatory avoidance of one of the peaks. We could see exactly where we wanted to go, but there did not appear to be any viable paths down the steep side of the valley.
After passing below our lunch spot, we continued north, ignoring the path we had taken on the way up from the valley, and set about a circumnavigation of the northern end.

"a kind of follow-the-leader steeplechase."

We almost found the path the leader and Thyl confirmed they had 'done' several times before, but eventually a minor rebellion resulted in a surge towards the immaculately surfaced San Marcos da Serra road, and the long uphill grunt on tarmac to the Alferce junction.

"Show me the way to go home..."
Now that's the way to cross the river in style!

It was a long steady slog up the road, but the Leader managed to stay in the lead and reached Bar O Carlos several lengths ahead of myself and the thirsty Alex.

...and this was fairly soon 'Ice Cold in Alex'
(just couldn't resist that one!!)

The faithful followers trailed in at intervals, and soon we were becoming ungruntled, and agreeing that it was one of the best led walks we had ever had!!

See no Evil; Speak no Evil; Drink no Evil!

The Leader was soon in cracking form, and promising even more ambitious and debilitating Mystery Tours. Fortunately the Secretary convened a meeting of the Sub-Committee, and a surprise virtual drug-test confirmed that he would be red-carded and sit on the bench until the end of the season along with Johnny Wilkinson and Dwain Chambers.

Leader's perks!

We are not retreating - we are advancing in another direction. Macarthur, Douglas after Ian S.

AWW 05.03.2008 Ferragudo F(ar)olderol

2008-03-07T10:12:00.013Z

Ferragudo F(ar)olderol

Brian, making his debut as a leader had engineered a wonderful day for walking - gin clear and with sufficient breeze to keep even ladies of a certain age cool. 8 of the more meticulous walkers had responded to the request to confirm their presence, but in the end we appear to have had a quorum of 21, although I was under the delusion that there were 22. If you have been missed from Brian's cast list then please remonstrate loudly, as I have been unable to find a single photo that contains all 21 (or 22). I guess I must assume some responsibility, as Chief Paparazzi, Myriam, was again taking a precautionary rest day, and had failed to pack my camera! The designated photographers, whose work appears in this blog were John H and John. The words are from the leader's own keyboard (mostly)!

Most of the starters (how difficult it is to look at a camera!)

Leader: Brian

Ramblers: Paul, Hedley, Ian W, Diane W, John H, John O, Chris, Antje, Stan, Elaine, Vitor, Dina, Janet, Lindsey, Hilke, Yves, Peter, Terry, Monica and John G.

Os Cães; Tiggy, Nandi and Oscar.

Tilley Hat count; 7 (A new AWW record - invest in Tilley shares now - if not the hats!!)

Notable Absentees;

Myriam (All that housework is not good for my knees).

Ian Scott (How many properties is he buying?)

Mike (Hence discussion on the U.S. Democratic nominee race had to be cancelled).

Tina (Was ashamed to be seen with us in her local village).

David L (Presumably painting flowers).

Meeting point: The Square in Ferragudo

Stats: Total Distance: 14.4 km; Moving Time: 4 hrs; Total Time: 4 hrs 45 min.; Moving Avg.: 3.6 km/hr; Overall Avg.: 3.0 km/hr.; Total Ascent: 594 m.; Max Elevation: 58 metres

Track of the walk (out and back) (click to enlarge)

The weather clear and cool with a strong northerly wind that ensured that fleece lined jackets were the order of the day. Not one pair of bare legs to be seen.

The morning started disjointedly as there was more than one cafe open. The early birds settled in one but when the local squire (John O) arrived he hauled the rest of us across the square to another cafe to ensure he collected commission on the sales.

It took 15 minutes to pull the troops together and gather for the obligatory photograph.

GPS’s were then synchronised and the walk finally got underway at a leisurely pace along the harbour side to the lifeboat station. From there we continued past the fishermen’s huts to Praia Grande. Completely ignoring the "No Dogs" sign (who reccied this walk?) we walked to the east end of the praia and followed the cliff path to Praia Pintadinha, climbing again to the new lighthouse.

Not yet warmed up! (Spot the fake 'Tilley' among the front runners!)

The climb to the farol

The Old and the New!!

Blogs are lighthouses erected in the great sea of time. Whipple, Edwin P.

The next point of interest was the restaurant at Caneiros beach. This was one of the restaurants featured in the local press because the beach erosion, caused by the storm the previous week, had left the foundations a little exposed. Nature appeared to be repairing the damage it had caused. The discussion in the group was more concerned with the price of the meals with the consensus view that it was overpriced. The dogs appreciated the stop as they were treated to a well earned drink.

Modern take on a Beach Shack!

After approx. 1 hour we had a spell of steady walking on the cliff tops. Those that were thinking of taking of their first layer of clothing quickly changed their mind as we felt the full force of the wind.

Some old ruins!

A halt was called at the ruins of a windmill. Suddenly ramblers disappeared in all directions. Each seemed to have their own appointed spot to meditate. Time was then lost as we could not decide if someone was still lost in the wilderness. They were eventually found with a lead group that had decided they could lead themselves to the Promised Land. Order was restored until we reached the point at which we were due to turn back and retrace our steps. The leader had carefully chosen this point so as not to upset three Alsatians that guard a villa adjacent to the path. Unfortunately a good number of the walkers took it as a challenge and had to prove they did not scare so easily. When the leader refused to change his plans they reluctantly returned.

Water Garden with Naiads!

Peter making sure Oscar and Nandi are clean for Mike's return!!

The return walk was uneventful. A sheltered spot out of the wind was selected as the lunch stop.

How green was my valley!

Don't jump Yves - it was only a game of Rugby!

(Yves had thought it safe to return to walking two weeks after the resounding thrashing of Les Bleus by Les Rosbifs in Stade de France- Wrong!!!)

The pace, which had been leisurely, noticeably picked up as we neared the bar. (Note to Ian S). Don’t worry you would still have made it first.

The leader and his trusted senior advisor arrived first and selected the bar before there could be any discussion on the subject. Of course it was the coldest spot in the square as the tourists had all the seats in the sun. Myriam put in guest appearance but unfortunately was too late to negotiate the bar prices.

The shady side of the street

Antje always gets a laugh from reading a Tilley, while Stan tries to duck out of shot behind Terry's beer!

OK, so there was a bit of criticism about the choice of bar for the post walk drinks, but at least we had it to ourselves in the sub-zero temperatures - and the beer didn't get warm. Thanks Brian and here's to many more!

I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.
Allen, Fred A.

And now another value-added enhancement to the blog:-

W.W.N.W :- Wednesday Walkers Next Week

It could be somewhere near here!

Stung by the cruel criticism of one (or two) of his previous Leads (in this very Blog) and determined not to defend his Wooden Spoon in the 2006-2007 season, Ian S. who will lead next Wednesday coerced a witness (John H.) and with a camera set off on a recce of the proposed walk. Here are the details as disclosed by John:-

W.W.N.W are privileged to bring you an AWW first: an exciting preview of next week's walk on the wild side! See for yourself the dizzy heights, the plunging depths, of this unspoilt terrain.

Meet, as we did, with a horny-handed artisan, labouring, without the benefit of EU funding, to span raging torrents so that you can skip daintily and dryly across, using only such material as nature in the raw provides.

Witness, as we did, the patriarchal care with which said artisan shepherds his brood of porco preto, in anticipation of next year's Monchique Sausage Festival. And much, much more! (20 kilometres more, I reckon.)

I personally can't wait!! Sign up now - and pray there is no more rain, otherwise three bags might not be enough to get you across the river!!

AWW 27th February 2008

2008-03-01T20:03:00.007Z

Stoned Again,

Or, How Many Flowers Can you Paint on a Piece of Algarve Rock?

Present:- Paul, David, Terry M, Vitor, Dina, Ian S, Janet, Hedley, Antje, Sam and John.

Representing Os Caes: Tiggy.

This was the second occasion that David had turned up looking like an odd-job man, but the truth was more mundane. We were going to paint flowers again. Yawn!

Bursting with Enthusiasm - Yea, Dave, Let's Go Paint!

The aim was to walk the section of the Algarve Way from Aljezur to Carrapateira, and that is exactly what we did, with very few problems or hiccups. Perhaps the nearest to disaster we came all day was in deciding how many cars to take to Aljezur at the beginning, and even more taxing, how many to take back to Aljezur at the end. Perhaps the title should read How Many AWWs does it take to work out fours into two (sic).

Leaving the market bar at around 10.00, we marched to the top of the hill, and promptly down again as the short climb to Aljezur Castle was easily undertaken. Then some tarmac bashing to reach the interesting part of the walk, along the broad coastal ridge down to Bordalete.

'90' Now I'll Just Turn it Round

It was on the quite attractive central section of the walk that some WWs suddenly found themselves turning into quarrymen, as waypoint after wayppoint was reached with narry a stone in sight. Hugging giant boulders like Geoff Capes after a heavy session on the beer, they strove to provide the Leader with the wherewithall to plant his precious daisies.

More striking still was Antje's sudden desire to plant them at every available opportunity. No sooner was one left behind than she was on the hunt for the next likely spot. Had all her suggestions been taken up, they would have made a chain long enough to go round a sumo wrestler's neck. (Notice my thing about big stwong men this week? Must contwol myself.)

No, I will not put one on the top of that eucalyptus

Lunch was taken on the outskirts of Monte Novo, and the cavalcade then moved on through the village, noting the rather striking new building on the northern approaches. It was beginning to look as though there would be precious little to talk about in the blog. (You've noticed?) The weather had been beautiful, the going good, navigation errors noticeably absent. We descended to the Carrapateira road and then , Oh Joy! Ian did a detour.

He's Trying to Find Buckinghamshire

Leading the trusting bulk of the party off the road, he strode off into the wilderness betwixt road and sea. Paul and the Leader observed this folly from the safety of the road, and began to think about being first at the bar. Of a sudden, the wanderers were lost in a forest of bamboo, and what precisely happened to them between then and the moment they reapeared outside the bar at Carrapateira may remain a mystery for all time. No one seemed keen to talk about it, much, one assumes, as old soldiers have no wish to talk about a battle. There was not even a photographer to record their trials.

Laugh? I Nearly Bought a Round

There followed the usual junketing and the aforesaid struggle to get the arithmetic right. What is the use of having ex-bankers on the team if they can't do their sums? This and other questions were swirling round the Leader's head as he turned the wrong way out of the village and found himself heading for Vila do Bispo........ Even worse, he has now discovered that he trashed the stats that Paul so carefully wrote down for him, after recording his waymarks on algarveway.com. I think I'll just go and change my library book.

And then this Mongoose Jumped out of the Bamboo

I Cannot Tell a Lie - It was Him

Its the Missing Bit That has me Worried

'So Many Roads, So Many Choices, So Many Detours, So Many Mistakes'

Sarah Jessica Parker

CB's 5 centimos worth:

While I remember them, for John Mottram's sake :- The Stats:

Total Distance:20.6 km.; Moving time: 4 hrs 4 minutes; Total Time: 5 hrs 15 minutes: Moving Average: 4.9 km/hr; Overall Average: 3.9 km/hr: Total Ascent 298 metres: Max Elevation 163 metres.

"Anyone who proposes to do good must not expect people to roll stones out of his way, but must accept his lot calmly, even if they roll a few stones upon it." Schweitzer, Albert

(David) "... comes like an idiot, babbling and strewing flowers." Millay, Edna St. Vincent

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

2008-02-22T10:58:00.054Z

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

2008-02-14T11:18:00.006Z

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)

2008-02-07T15:30:00.001Z

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

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

2008-01-31T10:48:00.000Z

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.

Advertising Feature

Olientar Rady, Lepailel of Tirrey Hats. Velly Good Lates fol Wednesday Warkels. No Gualantees.

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)

2008-01-27T12:23:00.000Z

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

2008-01-19T11:29:00.000Z

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