It was indeed a great pity that Zeus, the Greek God of the Sky whose temper controls the weather (it is as good a theory as any) had been a bit miffed during the latter half of December, and for the first time in the Algarve, the Wednesday Walkers were decimated by S.A.D!
The rain during the night, and a quick glance at Accuweather at 0700hrs, convinced me that it would be a good decision to take a rain check, and stay in bed a little longer, having made the call to the designated leader, Terry A. This was combined with a knowledge of the thick red mud of the Rocha de Pena area, which is capable of stilting one's boots up at least 10 cm and adding a couple of kilos to each foot!
I have no idea how many originally signed up for the walk, nor how many called off, but the Three Wise Men showed their noted tenacity, and turned up at Jaffers at the appointed time. One even had a camera, and so The Blog went On!
The Dog to Walker Ratio was particularly high!
Leader: Terry
Co-Leaders: David, Rod
No option: Rusty and Rosie
Terry's report as usual is concise, direct and to the point!
We three, we small band of brothers, decided to venture forth into the countryside, the rain we said will clear up in a short time but oh no it didn't it just got harder and harder, dry riverbeds were not dry any more, the puddles got deeper and we were getting wetter, so an executive decision was made to shorten the walk by about three hours so we circled round and headed back. David and a wet Rosy heading for home Rod and I back to Salir.
Rod and the Reptile
Pics of the multi-coloured snake brightened up what was a very wet and dull day.
Wish you were here!!
Alas I did not want to alarm the locals by having a post-walk drink, some who recognise me think me mad enough for just walking never mind in the rain as well.
So the stats, 3 walkers Rod David & Terry, dogs Rusty & Rosie ( sounds like a double act )
Time: hour & half, distance: who cares.
Unfortunate to end the year on a wet one, let's hope all the walks in 2009 are dry ones.
I think a note to Captain Peter is in order to say we do not want rain on a Wednesday please.
There was a distinct lack of information about where they actually went, but it was advertised as being based on the Rocha de Pena massif, hence the title of the blog. The lack of T.O.T.P.P. leads me to suspect that they didn't achieve the objective! It makes one question the adage "Better to have tried and failed than not to try and succeed."! Those that stayed dry salute you!!
I do pity unlearned people on a rainy day. Falkland, Lucius C.
If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything. Bible
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David's Postscript.
Rosie was let off the lead on a group walk for the first time this week, and behaved well for a pup.
After leaving T and R, Rosie and I trudged uphill back towards Covoes. Reaching the gravel track
2k from home, I let Rosie off the lead. She promptly disappeared into the scrub and 20 minutes of waiting and calling failed to elicit a response. I walked home - no rain by now - and was telling Dinah that the pooch was lost, when she appeared, trotting down the lane having worked out her own way home. I don't think we need worry too much about this dog.
Finally, I don't think Paul need worry too much either about the route. It isn't likely to figure in any future outing!
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