Algarve Way Day 10. The Day We Got Damp.
The Water Babies:
Dina, Tina, Alex, Ian S, Ian W, Ingrid, Chris, Antje, Nan, David.
Welcome back to the AW story to Antje and Ian S in particular. We seem to be having a really difficult time recruiting dogs on the second half of the crossing, what with Maddie still recovering from her dodgy pig’s ear, and Tiggy and Sam still suffering from sore feet after their latest bid for freedom. 
Well, we managed the stats again, and photos, thanks to Ingrid. Interesting thing is, they showed a 200m discrepancy with Paul’s reading of 2008 for this Marmalete to Aljezur stage. We had the same problem a couple of weeks ago, I remember. Whose meter is running too fast, I ask myself??
Where has our great leader gone?
Today was possibly the least eventful day I can remember as far as the AWWs are concerned, and certainly the one with the least to comment upon during our crossing. One could say, ‘We set off, got wet, dried off, got wet again, dried off….’ and so on, because that was the pattern of the day.
First it rained…..
…then it didn’t.
There were no alarms and excursions, everyone arrived on time at the right place, no one fell over, everyone got there in one piece etc etc.
The Passil Valley Water Stick Dance – experts category.
.. and beginners section. The Hump doesn’t help.
We didn’t even have a lunch stop to take pics of, eating on the hoof to try to avoid another shower before Aljezur. And Ingrid forgot to taker a pic in the bar – what else could be missing??
The Passil valley was beautiful, even in the rain, and the cool temperatures helped us to move at a fine pace.
You can’t even stop….to tie your laces!
The weather in fact was not as bad as the forecast had suggested, with sunny periods between the showers. The constant donning and doffing of garments was a feature of the day, but never sufficient to cause a glimmer of interest until the leader removed his trousers in the car park at Aljezur – and even then no one was watching. A number of new plants were seen and noted, including low-growing blue lupins in the gorge leading up to the height above Aljezur, and foxgloves at various places.
Heart-rate is quite high enough, thank you!
Waymarks old and new
Drinks were taken at the bar in the square in Marmalete at start and finish. I suspect the young lady behind the bar is beginning to think she has a group of mad people to contend with, as we have patronised her establishment four times in two days, looking all the while as though we were intending to go somewhere else. Os estrangeiros – maloucos, todos!!
The most remarkable moment of today occurred some time after the completion of the stage – in fact after I got home. I received a message on my mobile congratulating the group on reaching Cape St. Vincent…from the Chief Blogger!!!!!!! Now there is a talking point!
Stats for Day 10.
Total Distance:- 18.6km
Moving average:- 5.1 km/hr
Overall average:- 4.5km/hr
Total time:- 4h 16
Moving time:- 3h 40
Total Ascent:- 262m
Maximum Elevation:- 411m
Quotes for Day 10.
‘Nothingmas Day – no it wasn’t, it was Nothingmas Eve…’
Adrian Mitchell.
Epictetus, Greek Philosopher.
Photo of the Day
I know I have odd socks – so what?
3 comments:
Needless to say it wasn't actually the CB who pressed the send button on the laudatory message!! Madam, who had been far to busy to minutely examine the progress via the blogs, seized the CB's phone while he was driving and sought to encourage les autres!
Can yo please read it again when you have achieved the feat, to save additional International SMS expenses in these time of credit crunch!!
Sorry for the bar picture, must be due to a Senior moment! This Paparazzi stuff is fairly new to me.
I promise for the Grand Finale I will have my act together!
Probably I was looking at the lunar calendar and thought it was the last week of the AW crossing. Will be in touch again next Wednesday.
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