Algarve Way 2009:Day 8 - 08.04.09

Day Eight. The Day we went Climbing.

The Southerners

David, Tina, Alex, Ingrid, Ian W, Hilke, Hedley, Lindsey, Mike, Dina.

The Northerners:

Rod, John and Hazel, Stan and Elaine, Yves

Dog on the Mountain: Misty.

Unfortunately, the GPS recorder borrowed from Mick decided today that it wanted to have a day off. Every time I turned it on, it went back to sleep after a short time. We therefore have no track or stats for this stage, other than it took us around 5 hours, and the previous estimate of 15k seems about right. I shall have to have words with the machine before next week.

Fears that the group could be reduced to as few as seven were allayed by the arrival of Dina, Mike and Hedley at the start near the Odelouca crossing on another beautiful spring day. We were threatened with high winds on the Serra – they were certainly strong in the early morning – but in the event we had only a moderate breeze for most of the day. As we walked towards the start-point, we noted a small group of riders approaching the Odelouca crossing, and supposed they might be the horsey contingent riding the Via Algarviana. Later conversation with Rod established that this was indeed the case.

The pre-walk photo was taken at a spot that Maurice will surely recognise, just below the small shed on which he painted a large ‘V.A’ and arrow during the marking of the original route. Our pretty cistus now sits alongside it. Do they have listed buildings in Portugal? Perhaps we should apply to preserve this little shed.

Wake up, wake up!!!!

The walk along the gravel road to the Fonte Santa turn passed without incident, though it was noted that work on the large flyover at the concrete bridge seems to have stopped. How long now before this road is covered in the black stuff?

The stream crossings on the way to the Fonte were made considerably easier and drier by the thoughtful placing of logs at strategic points. Some chose to ignore them, and the flip-flops and plastic bags were pressed into service once more. Apart from one or two damp feet, there wasn’t really anything to laugh at – We shall simply have to find more difficult obstacles next season - things are just becoming too dull!!

The Flip-Flop Brigade…

Versus the Bag Lady

It became a good deal more interesting – and potentially dangerous – at Fonte Santa itself. Hilke and one or two others had gone up to explore the well, and to have an interesting encounter with two people and their guide taking the waters, (stories of near-nakedness are always good for blog-writers) and Hedley and Mike were attempting to clear the next section of the route, which had become overgrown. The original crossing of the small stream leading from the Fonte had been allowed to grow over, and a new one created a little further downstream. This proved to be far more tortuous and difficult than the old one, and Mike took a nasty tumble onto one shoulder on a slippery rock in the stream bed. Fortunately, no serious damage seems to have been done, but that bit of Mike will probably be troublesome for a time.

Doesn’t look like a naturist retreat…..

The donkey track from the Fonte was itself very overgrown on the lower section, and blood was drawn from various members for the first time for several weeks. The truncated path was soon climbed, however, and the much wider new tracks made the long climb up towards the Alferce road less breathtakingly steep than previously. The path through the woods to the road had been made more attractive by the removal of the old rusting trucks which have littered the place for a number of years.

Fornalha itself had changed little, with various items of superannuated machinery lining the road as we neared the village. The elderly lady who always seems to be out of doors here counted the heads coming towards her, and uttered a ‘bom dia’ for each of them in rapid succession, indicating , if nothing else, that there is nothing wrong with her mind. The climb out of Fornalha on tarmac was followed by a further climb on brand new tarmac up the steep slope to the upper road. The reason for covering this former dirt-track quite escapes me, and it certainly adds nothing to the charm of the area.

Posing (sorry, Pausing) by the Pig Farm

On reaching the top road, before the final assault on the summit, Hedley decided that honour was satisfied, and departed for Monchique along the road, leaving the nine to wade along an overgrown path and under a canopy of fallen eucalyptus to the foot of the final ridge. The Leader was well-satisfied with the extra waymarking here,as the group made their way over rocks and through low scrub to the fire-tower, and a welcome from the Northerners, who had been wandering around their side of the mountain for several hours, awaiting our arrival.

Anyone home??

I think it’s the right mountain

T

Summit Conference

The air was still cool on the summit in spite of the sunshine, and little time was wasted, after the obligatory group photo, in commencing the descent to Monchique . This was accomplished without incident, and the combined group arrived intact at the 266 to find Hedley already well ensconced at the bar. The usual drinks, photos and pleasantries concluded another very satisfying day, marred only by the knowledge that we would probably be an even smaller group next week.

Did we really go up there?

Some Substitute Stats, for your delight:

Total Distance:- 15k, give or take an oz.

Total time:- Quite long enough, thank you.

Moving average:- Think of a number and halve it – then halve it again…….

Lunch stop:- Long enough for the leader to eat his nuts.

Total ascent:- Too much, too much.

Quotes for today:

I've learned that everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.” Anon.

"The difference between a mountain and a molehill is your perspective." — Al Neuharth.

You know, these gawpers really get my human!