Algarve Way 2009: Day 4 - 25.03.2009

 

Our request for volunteer bloggers was again successful, as Hilke offered to compose for Day 4. Her account of our exploits, with the usual photo interjections, follows. Thanks, Hilke!

Track of Day 4.

Day 4. The Descent to the Lowlands.

The second day of the second week saw some tired warriors at Tia Bia at 9 o’clock, the first day of more ups than downs had taken its toll. We even lost Alex because of her feet denying her their service. In her stead we had Terry A. as a new companion, he had already walked there from his home in Salir to meet us.

Guess who was up at 06.00?

This day David had a heart for those fans of trig points and did not avoid the first one on our way. After about half an hour of an easy climb we reached it, standing next to a windmill. And it was a special one: it even had the cistus symbol on it.

They could have re-painted the trig as well

Oh God of the Cache, Hear our Prayer….

Talking about cistus: astonishingly they were not out yet in this area although we had seen lots of them during the first week further east. But that was compensated by lots of others flowers (of which only Lindsay might know the names).

Here’s one we made earlier….

As the path was easy and wide, we had enough time to admire the beautiful countryside, the sun came out early, and we made good progress. So we came to enjoy a very special privilege of the English: the elevenses. Our way passed Terry A.’s house and he and his wife Jill kindly invited us to have water, coffee and biscuits on their terrace. That was a very welcome break, thank you both for your hospitality. Only after 30 minutes David succeeded in making us leave this oasis, except Terry A., that is. He had already done his day’s work, of course.

Casa Vida Nova – looks like they need one!

A little out of Salir we passed through cultivated land, and there was a group of five Noras still working with their cisterns beside them. Up to then we had come across quite a lot of them, not all of them working and never so many. An old man standing at the side of one of them showed us that he kept some fish in one of the wells (they looked like goldfish to me, you could call it a big bowl, he seemed very proud of them).

Tickling for trout – (with apologies to Arthur Ransome.)

In Almarginho we came upon a very old Alfarrobeira, even listed as a monument, a very impressive specimen of its kind.

Algarvean Ent – be very polite!

Lunch was in a very idyllic spot this day, low walls protecting cultivated land with olive trees offered comfortable seats, peonies (Lindsey told me that name the other day, do not think I have suddenly become an expert) abounded and everybody was eating his lunch happily except Myriam who couldn’t even be humoured by Ian S. singing to her.

Just covering my white legs.

In the early afternoon we arrived at the village of Penina where we suddenly heard a loud noise coming from behind us. The normal size EVA bus wanted to pass us in the narrow street and we all pressed against the walls, some of us following it with longing eyes when they saw it was on its way to Benafim, just like us. None of us dared to hop in when it stopped right in front of us, but three of us followed it on its way thinking this might be the shortest way. Not for us. David brought them back in line, so finally we arrived all together at the café in Benafim at the scheduled time. Our support team plus Alex was already waiting there for us and we got another of Marguerite’s praises for having finished another interesting part of the Algarve way.

Who’d be in charge of this lot??

Four down, eight to go.

As we would say in Germany: ohne Fleiß kein Preis!

  ADCB’s Comments:

This was indeed a much easier day than the previous three, and very welcome for that. The weather played its part – never too hot and with a refreshing breeze from time to time. The only black cloud in sight was the one emanating from Myriam’s brow, and if you didn’t look at her directly, the chances of being turned to stone were not great. The actions of a small breakaway group in the later stages of the walk were hardly in the spirit of the AWW, and could have led to complications, but that is for them to reflect on.

Run off again and I’ll have you on a charge

The route on this section, although marred by some stretches of tarmac, has remained intact, and there is no sign of any changes that would threaten it. The cafe at Pena has sadly closed and is up for sale or rent, but the one we used at the end is very pleasant in spite of being on the side of the 124. 

Well done to all involved for covering over 100k in the four days so far. The remaining sections, though not all easy, can hold no terrors now for such a fit and determined bunch.

Stats for day 4:
Total Dist: 24 km;

Moving Time: 5 hr 6 min.;

Total Time: 6 hrs 6 min;
Moving Avg.: 4.7 km/hr;

Overall Avg.: 3.9 km/hr;

Total Ascent: 492 m.;

Max Elevation: 523 m.

Quotes for Day 4.

‘Nothing helps a bad mood like spreading it around’

Bill Watterson

‘We started trying to set up a small anarchist community, but the people wouldn't obey the rules.’

Alan Bennett.

Finally, a caption competition. Submissions, please for the following snap of two apprentice walkers: