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
No comments:
Post a Comment