AWW 03.12.2008: Marmelete Mystery Tour

It was unkindly suggested that Thyl's walk, the first for a long time should be subtitled "Loss Leader" or "BOGOF" in view of the current credit crunch and the events that took place towards the beginning of the walk. Thyl maintains that he never reads this Blog, and when asked if he would like to contribute a leader's Report, answered "Why would I want to do that!" Why indeed, unless he had a very good defence lined up!

However, I am not without sensitivity, and I have been very fair.

In Loco Ducis: Thyl

Adseculae: Paul,Chris, Antje, Rod, Ian S. Ian W. Lindsey, Ingrid,Yves, Vitor, Dina, Mike, John H.,

Canes: Maddy, Tiggy, Sambo.

Map of the track (followers version) Click HERE to enlarge

Stats: Total Distance: 17.4; Moving Time: 4 hrs 11 min.; Total Time: 5 hrs 4 min.; Moving Average: 4.1 km/hr; Overall Average; 3.4 km/hr; Total Ascent: 799 m.; Max Elevation: 639m.

The walk started fairly close to the appointed time, and was presaged by a squeal of brakes and an elderly Mercedes entering the car park of Café Sol da Serra on two wheels. The leader had arrived, after apparently some tyre problem, and a record breaking run up the hill to arrive on time.

Arriving at full speed!

There was still time for a group photo, but Rod didn't notice our leader, who in view of his camera shyness preferred to take the pictures!

Still Life Group by Thyl

It was a very cold day, as you may infer from the group dress code, and I at least was expecting some mud and dampness of the trouser bottoms. Ian S. however had been disadvantaged by Marg's early departure on a shopping trip to Seville, and was unable to find his longs, his favourite pully and his scarf!

And so we crossed the road and started the route, until it was noticed that there had been rather a lot of path opening activity in the area, uncounted in previous reccies. The most promising path selected petered out after a couple of hundred metres and Our Leader decided to turn back - no - he would go on alone to see if it was navigable. The group waited and caught up on The Year in Politics, until a faint voice was heard from a path way above us. The consensus was that Thyl was calling us to him, so we reversed and made our way up to where the apparition had called.

Alas, the only sign that Our Leader might have been there was a suspicious blue package, possibly of the sort left by Terrorists on buses, laying on the path. Our E.O.D. expert, Hilke, defused it and decided to take it back to the lab for DNA testing to determine the owner.

Another group static discussion ensued accompanied by much whistling, view hallooing and admonishments to keep quiet and listen for a reply - but eventually after what seemed like half an hour, without any further response, we decided to appoint a new leader (BOGOF) and continue along a previous walk in the area.

There was a frisson of excitement as John received a phone call, but it was only Hazel enquiring about missing builders!

Just in case Thyl was still in the area, we decided to mark our trail in a fairly obvious fashion!

We went thisaway!

After about 10 minutes along the old trail heading down towards the valley, I glimpsed a flash of red on the road far below!!

The Prodigal was in sight.

Eventually we met up again, but I was too far to the rear to hear the amazing adventures, but from the look of the seat of his pants, he had taken a typical Thyl route!

The river crossing at the bottom of the valley was rather uneventful despite the rain of the previous days.

The next exciting event was an encounter with an ex-Salamander, which Antje tried to hype up, by declaring that it was still alive, but faking death until we went away!!

Lunch came quite early, at about 1210 pm, but there were no complaints.

Sambo on the scrounge

A soft seat for John

After lunch there was a brief mystery when Ian couldn't find his waist bag. Somehow, it had appeared hanging in a tree far from where he sat.

Suspicion was thrown upon an 'eminence grise' - but nothing was ever proved!

It was an odd sort of a day for walking and there was much doffing and donning of shell garments as the effort of climbing, or the cooling effect of standing around or the occasional wind altered the ambient temperature. There were some magnificent cork oaks, freshly peeled as we wound up towards the new windmills below Madrinha.

After a long slog up ( opinion had it that this was the only walk we had ever been on which was 90% uphill!) we eventually reached the windmills, which were turning vigorously in the breeze.

Another still life by Thyl.

There were a few differing opinions on how to descend to Marmelete from here, but Thyl prevailed and led us on a rather unnecessary (some thought) loop, but he was either trying to ensure a respectable distance for the walk, or was trying to see how fine he could cut our return to the cafe before the threatened rain.

As it turned out his timing was immaculate, as within 2 minutes of the beer arriving there was a deluge.

It did soon abate, but not before The Ancient Mariner had donned full 'Sea-Going in a Force 10' gear!

Thanks to Thyl for an eventful walk which gave the Blogger plenty of material. After Antje's pronouncement on basic requirements for a walk, ably recorded on video by John on last week's blog, we can now add a requirement for the Leader to have more than a vague idea of where he wanted to go, and to stay with the majority of the group at all times! On the plus side, the cafe was open for a coffee and a pee at the start, and he arranged for the rain to hold off until after we had returned!

Aut viam inveniam aut faciam
(I'll either find a way or make one) Thyl (2008)

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

The Chief Blogger, as usual, leaves the post-script to me but, if he thinks he can sprinkle his text with the odd derogatory allusion to adseculae and expect me to rise to and swallow the escam, no way: video is my task, not Latin tags.

Meanwhile, down in the jungle, the grey beards conferred:

The CB became anxious about his TV slot:

while Antje and others made good use of their time by coaching Mike for his forthcoming WOSB (War Office Selection Board) practical for entrance into the Royal Signals. First results were not exactly promising:

However, the coaching team persevered and, subject of course to confirmation from the Adjutant General, it's believed that Mike did reach the required entry standard:

As the season goes on, we hope to bring progress reports as he tackles the heliograph, the semaphore, the bongos, and the jungle drums.

The final verdict on Thyl's walk rests with the ladies: