AWW 24.09.2008 -Sta. Margarida

Sta. (Tar)Macadamia, or the Blacktop Nutters Stroll.

Present:

Paul, Myriam, Ian S, Ian W, Janet, Ingrid, Lindsey, Yves, Serge (guest), Mike, Dina, Vitor, John O', David.

In spite of threats of rain earlier in the week, the day dawned bright and clear, and although clouds developed, there was never any real prospect of a wetting. Conditions were, in fact, almost ideal for the purpose. All gathered at the Por do Sol in Santa Margarida five minutes either side of the stated departure time, although there were casualties from the original starting line-up, with Rod, Alex and Hazel sending in sick notes. John H turned up simply to do the initial photo-shoot and promptly shot off again to minister to Hazel.

Orderly Starters

Leaders of the WWs can never remind themselves enough that however many times they have covered a given route, the unexpected can always happen, and paths can be missed. This week's leader re-learned this lesson twice.  The initial rock-hop out along the Cerro da Cha was uneventful, save for the drone in the leader's ear from Paulo a Pe complaining about rocky paths and ankles.  All appreciated as ever the view from the escarpment towards Messines and beyond, but the descent to the orchard was less successful. Having found his tenth and probably least convenient way down, DL expected to see at least some blood other than his own, but Mike having finally decided that no-one wants to become his blood brother, he was disappointed. This was slightly compensated for by Yves, who sat down unexpectedly on a patch of matos and took a barb or two in his derriere. Myriam appeared fascinated, as will be shown below.

Bloodless Brother

Pico Alto was attained without further mishap, and there followed a walk along the northern edge of the P.A. ridge in the shadow of the new wind turbines. These monsters, as ever, generated some discussion on the issue of renewables . It occurs to me that if the WWs were somehow able to collect all the heat energy produced by themselves on this topic, we might make a significant contribution to Portugal's carbon offset programme.

If we blow hard enough, will they turn?

Having diverted marginally in order to visit the Pico Alto trig and see the second View of the Day, the descent was made to the road below. The leader was able to persuade everyone, including I. S., that the bar at the base of the hill was in fact a mirage, and further progress was made. Turning onto the Conqueiros road, it appeared that the long-threatened blacktop coating had not yet been applied, but sadly it was soon discovered that work on this very project was underway further along the track. Not only that, but the tarmac continued down into the valley almost as far as Corchicas, and looks set to be extended. A new route must now be found.

They Don't Like It Up 'Em, Captain!

This Week It's a Rollover

Lunch was taken shortly after the turn away from Conqueiros. Yves located some of the vegetation piercing his person, but Myriam was not satisfied with a general description of 'bottom', and wanted more detail. Janet assisted in refining the terminology, and the crisis point passed. There were cries of 'too short, too short', but this was in reference to the length of the lunch break, and had nothing whatever to to do with Yves' nether regions.

What's All This About Bottoms?

Very good time was made along the Gaviao road to the tarmac near Casinha, where two members who shall be nameless decided that honour was satisfied, and took the direct route back to Sta M. The remaining dozen stouthearts turned slightly weary limbs towards the climb past Val Vigoria and up the steep hill to the Picota trig point, Ian S reminiscing fondly all the while about the even steeper ascent made to the same location three seasons ago.(There must be a Statute of Limitations on such awful recollections. No? Ah Me!)

Hell Hill

Hell, Yes!

From the wonderful view on Picota, the final stage of the walk was accomplished without incident, and the road-avoiding variation on the last ascent seemed to meet with approval. As did the Por do Sol, where there occurred an unexpected reunion with Maria, an ex-member of the group. Further investigation of Yves' complaint revealed that the affected area was 'still throbbing', but fortunately Myriam was now engaged in a heated argument with Paul about the translation of words from English to Mandarin. I shall never hear the name Nanking in quite the same way again. I do hope Lindsey does not end up in Tibet while following Myriam's directions.

After Six Sagres, it Doesn't Hurt a Bit!

Total Distance: 18.5 km; Moving Time: 4 hrs 21 min.; Total Time: 5hrs 27 min.; Moving Average: 4.3 km/hr; Overall Average 3.4 km/hr; Total ascent 497 m.; Max Elevation: 353m
'It is the bottom that remembers; it faces the past,
whereas we advance inexorably into the future.'
Jeanloup Sieff

AWW 17.09.2008 Aguas Belas Amble

The caretaker who came to unlock Silves cemetery at 0900hrs, had never seen such a crowd milling around, anxious to get in!! Alas he was disappointed as after the usual disarray, those that had arrived before the appointed time, arranged themselves into various cars and headed off to the start point at the Aguas Belas valley to the north. The clouds which had promised much, earlier, dissipated under the late summer sun, and the troops were sweating up in the paddock!

The amiable selection of walkers good-naturedly agreed to pose for Myriam's start photograph, and only one retiring walker managed to avoid showing his face to the camera.

Rod was the designated leader, and discipline had distinctly improved from last week!

Stats: Total Dist: 15.3 km; Moving Time: 3hr 55 min; Total Time: 4hr 51 min; Moving Average: 3.9 km/hr; Overall Average: 3.2 km/hr; Total Ascent: 526 m.; Max Elev.: 225m.

Track of the walk. The new system has defeated me in uploading a zoomable map, so to see it enlarged please click here

Regrettably for Blog Copy, the walk went far too smoothly, so I will leave it to Rod's own words to describe the event.

Leader: Rod

Present . Paul and Myriam, David L, John O´N, Pauline and Matthew, John and Hazel, Volker and Barbara, Dina and Vitor, Ingrid, Terry, Lindsey, and Yves

Dog. Rusty

Aguas Belas Amble.

Even the splendid walking weather couldn´t raise Ian Wilson from his slumbers and the forlorn Alex was left standing at the curb awaiting a lift which arrived only in time for them to find a row of empty cars at the departure point. History doesn´t relate what they did next, but the rest of us set off up the Aguas Belas valley at the spanking pace, according to he who measures these things, of 4.756 recurring kph.

(I look forward to a separate blog from Ian W.!! CB.)

Warming up!

A climb up over the ridge towards the Arade slowed things down somewhat and got heart-rates moving up a bit. This was followed, surprisingly with barely a grumble, up the short sharp ascent to the, by now almost obligatory trig-point of PICÔES, with great views over the Arade valley and beyond.

Use of the 'gorilla-pod' allowed us all to be in this pic!

A somewhat longer descent took us right down to river level west of the Barragem de Arade. Somewhat inevitably this meant another rather longer and tougher switchback ascent back up to the ridge.

Switchback!

There were easier ways up but a row of beehives and the obvious all round need for a bit of more serious exercise prompted the almost unopposed choice of the harder one. An early lunch was opted for at the top.

A gentle and level post-prandial stroll followed until we hit upon a stretch which had become pretty overgrown since the leader had last ventured around these parts on his horse and led to some muted oaths and very minor (in the absence of Mike P anyway) blood letting.

A final very sharp descent took us back down to the Aguas Belas Valley and back to the start point and on to the bar.

In all, despite the highish numbers, an event free walk; no straggling, nobody got lost or even distinguished themselves one way or another......something has to give!

CB's Comment: The first real climbing of the season, and on quite a hot day, so I think most were pleased that they made it, and we were all certainly pleased to reach the bar.

In the shade a number of walkers had removed their protective headgear, and the Chief Paparazzi, became fascinated with the similarity of style of several, and proceeded to take close-ups and even posed shots.

 

A take on the 3 Wise Glabrous Monkeys

A good start was made towards the Christmas Lunch Fund, and we said 'Aufwiedersehn' to Barbara and Volker who finish their holiday before next week's walk.

March on. Do not tarry. To go forward is to move toward perfection. March on, and fear not the thorns, or the sharp stones on life's path. Gibran, Kahlil

AWW 10.09.2008 - Bedlam at Benagil

Emulating China's "One Country - Two Systems" policy for Hong Kong, the first walk of the season didn't start too well!! "One Walk - Two Start Points!" Arriving 15 minutes early, and knowing that the walk was to start at Restaurant O Algar, Myriam and I joined the growing band of walkers excitedly renewing their acquaintance. 0930 came and went, and the cry went up "Where's the leader?" I decided to resolve this issue by dialling the mobile number given for Ian in the brand new AWW Contact list finalised by Janet the previous week. Alas not Ian, but Marguerite answered, and postulated that Ian had left 'hours ago' and that this was her phone. Realisation dawned, and I walked 100m down the hill and saw another group of Wednesday Walkers gathered at the bottom. I hailed them, and slowly they extricated themselves from the café there and plodded uphill after the leader, who was resolutely ignoring the phone ringing in his rucksack. I will leave it to Janet to extract the number from him!

The Lost Patrol arrive at the start

Anyway, at around 0948 we set off as an enormous group of 28. Apart from the usual suspects there were a reasonable number of visiting family and friends, and a welcome return of Barbara and Volker, friends of Hilke, whom we last met almost a year ago on Romeiras Rediscovered. Hilke is off investigating The Silk Road in Uzbekistan with her husband - but not on foot.

Leader: Ian S.

Walkers: Peter S., Mike, Rod, Yves, Janet, Carol and Tony (Janet's sister and brother in law), Pauline and Matthew (neighbours of Rod) , Terry and Jill, Volker and Barbara, (Hilke's friends), Ingrid, John H., John O'., Dina and Vitor, Chris, Ian W. Tina, Alex, Brian, Phil and Ann (friends of Ian S.) and Myriam and Paul.

Dogs: Oscar, Nandi, Tiggy, Rusty, Brontus, Maddy

Leader's Report

The Muse seems to have deserted The Leader, and he has delegated his reserved space to Phil, his long-time school friend who, despite knowing Ian for 55 years, agreed to take part in the walk! Here is his account!:-

I was conned into this on the mistaken understanding that we would be lunching at the cafe at the top of the hill ( base camp).

The walk up from where we had parked in the wrong place was enough to leave me in need of a paramedic within a few minutes of starting the walk proper.

I enjoyed the flat bits and the gentle downhill slopes but I was ill prepared for the rock climbing and death of a thousand cuts I endured to my calves when we were led off piste by our bewildered leader from time to time.

All I can say is that if he had been the same Scott in the Antarctic they would have perished singly and alone strewn out over a few yards rather than huddled together.

I needed the attention of a doctor on at least two further occasions on the return walk and found little or no sympathy from my host who seemed hell bent on getting back to the bar first.

After 55 years of knowing him nothing changes!
Phil (an erstwhile friend)

Stats: I hesitate to put up any stats, as I doubt if any two walkers went the same way, the same distance in the same time. The walk was conducted in what the RAF refer to as 'Navy Formation' ( Flying). ie Same Way; Same Day (but nowhere near each other!)

My personal stats were as follows:

Total Dist: 11.4, Moving Time: 2 hrs 50 min, Total Time 3 hrs 30 min, Moving Average: 4.0 km/hr, Overall Average 3.2 Km/hr, Total Ascent 322 m, Max Elevation 48 m.

You may extrapolate the group stats by allowing for the fact that I finished 20 minutes before the stragglers, and probably walked about 750m less by virtue of following the most direct route back to the start by GPS, and not Ian S.'s quickest way!

The 'Upper' Starting group

Not long after the start, The leader called everyone together for a head count, to find out how many were with him (assuming they were not lost already!)

Conducting the Choir

Another kilometre or so along the way, and the group had straggled out about 500 metres, so a halt was called by the very nice wooden tables at 'A Pirata' to regroup and water the dogs.

Maddy declined to sup from Ian's multi-coloured, porous and terminally sweaty hat which he pressed into service as a bowl.

A minor navigational error led the group to a peninsula, but this was cleverly spun as a 'Group Photo Opportunity' before we headed back the way we had come.

Don't step back!

Overall, the walk was flattish, but with so much news from the summer lay-off, those that couldn't walk and talk with equal efficiency were often lagging, much to the consternation of the walk leader, who was heard to pronounce "It's every man for himself on the way back!"

There was one descent!

After about 1 hr 45 minutes the advance guard arrived at the turning point, the Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Rocha, where a squabble broke out over squatting rights for the only shady seat!!

I wos 'ere first!!

The leader was champing at the bit to get back, so we headed off as the last arrivals arrived! It was here that I decided to take the GPS advice rather than retrace our steps (sort of) so I have no pictures of this half. Myriam came up with some wild life photography.

Nandi imitating a chameleon or vice versa!

It was with some relief that we found the bar that Ian had 'booked' open, and the owner, despite being short-handed plied us with cool libations. Some non-walkers also joined us for a lunch of sardines and carapau.

Ice Cold with Alex!

Did madam want fish - or fish!

Ever independent, Mike, who had been out at Benagil since dawn, doing some warm-up geocaches, had his own lunch, which he enjoyed with a case of wine near at hand, and closely guarded!

The Loneliness of a Long Distance Luncher.

This was a gentle and somewhat chaotic start to the season. For a more serious walk, 28 is far too many.

The Speech

The Leader gave a keynote speech during lunch at which he stressed that it should be remembered that those intending to walk should have the courtesy to let the leader know they are coming, and more importantly it is incumbent on each walker to ensure that he stays in line of sight contact with the walker ahead, to avoid getting lost. I think he has the support of everyone in this.

Much as we may wish to make a new beginning, some part of us resists doing so as though we were making the first step toward disaster. Bridges, William

Prologue - Who Did What last summer!

An unprecedented flood of emails followed my request for pix and stories of what went on in the off-season - as you no doubt anticipated!
Hilke was first off the mark with an apology:-

I am sorry to say that I do not have any photos of myself, I do not take photos and my husband prefers to take photos of historic building etc. to people. So, a blank here, I will have to cope with what you choose.

It took some searching, but I believe this is Hilke walking with a group of friends last summer, caught on a surveillance camera. The pub sign and the walking sticks are a give-away!!

Gordon was in second with this poignant picture of him sitting on a bench eating a sandwich with a Boy Scout in Switzerland.

Gordon's comment:- This was just after a swim in the Oschinensee lake, so no wonder I am a bit miserable!

Unfortunately the repair job on his right knee doesn't show too well, but we expect him to have a go at reducing his left knee to the same state on the coming RTC.

Yves weighed in with this:-

"Tried very hard to find a decent pic, but the present Mrs F has vetoed anything that would frighten the horses, so the spirit was there ..."

I admired his nerve in using the phrase "the present Mrs F"!!

I did however manage to find an archive photo of Yves in his former career!

Ian W. was the last contributor with this fine family grouping on safari in Botswana, and has the value added enhancement of a 50% Tilley Count

I am not quite sure why the sons in the back seat are being forced to wait for their inheritance until they get decent hats!!

And at last to our own activities:- Myriam went heavily into carbo-loading with a giant portion of fish, chips and mushy peas from the finest chippie in England in Whitby eaten al fresco!

During the month I was away, my Tilley went unwashed and developed a bit of mould in the damp English climate.

And our stay in UK was summarised by this telling photo while on a geocaching expedition!!

Click to enlarge to read the sign!

The DCB returned to his roots, and I had hoped for a pic of him performing in the Edinburgh Fringe, but this was the best shot I could get, with his National dress and Accoutrements of Office

Regrettably I had no submissions of pictures of AWW's couching in front of the tele watching the Olympics, but as is the nature of this blog, I am examining feedback from the countless webcams I positioned near your usual habitat, so you may yet find a photo of yourself gracing this prologue.

STOP PRESS: A late entry from Rod, who has apparently been taking the easy option in NZ, altghough it looks pretty much like the Algarve to me. I can't see how he can possibly get fit for the new season if he sits around all day!!!

Rod's caption: ´It´s easier on 4 legs; at least in NZ sheep territory`

This, then, is the test we must set for ourselves; not to march alone but to march in such a way that others will wish to join us. Humphrey, Hubert H.