AWW 08.10.2008 The Windmills in Mike's Mind!

Like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning
On an ever-spinning reel
As the images unwind
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind.

Actually the second visit to Mike's Don Quixote walk this year, the last being in February, and you can refresh your memory here

Despite having this recent material to reference, Mike proudly proclaimed that the predicted walk would be:

"Time/distance (about): 5 hours 15 minutes/21 km

Overall rating: Very easy

Terrain: level (more or less)"

much as he had the previous occasion!

His  written exculpation follows later, but as the last couple of blogs have been mild and uncontroversial, I thought I would take the opportunity to open the case for the prosecution early.

 

A more orderly group of 11 starters - exactly half the previous number  -the shy and retiring Thyl took the photo to avoid undue publicity. As you can see, Maria made a comeback after meeting us by chance in Sta. Margarida a couple of weeks ago, and Hilke was back from her adventures on the Silk Road.

Stats: Total Dist: 23.7 km.; Moving time: 4 hr 55min.; Total Time: 5 hr 40 min.; Moving Avg.: 4.8 km/hr; Overall Avg.: 4.2 km/hr; Total Ascent : 362m (more or less level!); Max Elev. 147m.

The track - an expandable version can be accessed here

This time Mike didn't have Lindsey to virtually lead the walk with  Bamboo Diagrams, (nor write his blog report) and bravely shouldered the responsibility of finding the way, and keeping the caravan on time, personally. To this end he set off up the 'level' climb to Alto de Raposeiras, (the clue is in the name) at a cracking pace, with which my GPS, set to walk mode, could barely keep up, let alone the rest of us - except Antje who slipstreamed him! Unfortunately the official photographer was left so far behind that no photos exist until we reached the first windmill!

Telephoto shot of Mike on the level going for the windmills. Even Tiggy was left behind!

It was during this phase that it is thought that an 'Asian Rynx' attempted to slow Our Leader down by slashing at his left calf. Unfortunately it didn't finish the task, being left in the wake, but we saw the evidence at the top of the level climb!

The dogs enjoyed the remnants of the previous night's rain, but we had a nice breeze, to get the Windmills going and some sun.

The rain had brought some wildlife out, and I slipped into David Attenborough mode to film a video of a dung beetle, with colour commentary by interested Walkers, but regrettably I have so far been unable to get it into a form to show here, so you will have to make do with a still.

The appearance of the dung beetles led to a joke by Ian S. which I can't recall but perhaps he will submit as a comment, which led to a grammatical discussion between Ian, Thyl and myself, and involved the use of the word 'onomatopoeically'  which as far as I can recall was the first time this word has been used on a WW!

Soon after this, Maria came across some roses and Champagne which must have been left there by an anonymous admirer!

Rumours that an Elderly Gentleman disguised as a Walk Leader had passed this way minutes previously  were unconfirmed, but since the Champagne bottle was empty, and thereafter he frequently visited the trackside foliage,  you can draw your own conclusions!

After more conversation worthy of 'The Bloomsbury Set' (qv.) we reached the one and only Trig Point of the walk, Pardieiros, - and Mike managed to conceal his surprise (since it was a level walk) and rallied the troops for the obligatory.

Maria volunteered for the risky stuff as I scampered back after setting the timer and the Octopus, only just making it because of the spiky undergrowth. Thyl could clearly be seen by Maria, but alas the camera only captured his left elbow behind Ian S. If he had tried to hide behind Myriam, we may have seen more of him!

Lunch was a little later than normal, but we had around 13 km under our boots by then, and we waited for a spot with a view over the Pedralva valley.

After lunch, a short (but level) downhill allowed the leader to surreptitiously increase the pace to get back on his schedule,  and if you took an average between the time we spent walking and the total time en route, he brought us back to Café Rodrigues bang on time!

However Myriam tried to sabotage his efforts by summoning help to put one of the  jousted windmills back up!

I will now append the Leader's report verbatim, uninterrupted by comment or illustrations, to demonstrate what I and the other Bloggers have to work with!!

 

Herewith a very brief walk report. I see no point in waffling when there was little upon which to comment.

Walk statistics: Chief Blogger to complete. I will defer to his GPS  because I have no alternative although I reserve my position that the walk was exactly 22 km, as advertised. Furthermore, had it not been for whatever activities, seemly or otherwise, may or may not have occurred at the rear of the column, we would have completed the course in 5 hours 15 minutes (again, exactly as advertised).

Walkers (11): Paul; Myriam, Maria (SHE’S BACK!), Hilke (returned to the fold after the summer), Ingrid, a brace of Ians, Chris and Antje, Thyl (most welcome after quite an absence) and Mike.

Dogs (4): Nandi, Tiggy, Maddie and Sambo (forget the political correctness)

Regrettably, Andrew and Lindsey had to cancel at the last minute.

Apart from the walk leader having a difference of opinion with a bramble (convincingly won by the bramble) shortly before arriving at the first wind turbines there was little else to cause unseemly merriment.

Don Quixote would have had a splendid time as we counted the best part of 60 wind turbines located in three separate farms along the route.

The obligatory photograph was taken at Pardieiro trig point (144 m) using Paul’s octopus.

The walk was advertised as level (more or less) and so indeed it was. However, the walk leader suspected that some walkers had surreptitiously smuggled spirit levels about their person to check on this assertion. In any event by the end, the spirit had been downed and there was no bubble left.

               Di! Ecce hora! Uxor mea me necabit!

(A mention in dispatches for the best translation!!)

Back at the cafe´Myriam was preoccupied with fund raising and Anniversary card signatures so rather neglected the photography, but I took a couple from the comfort of my bar stool!

                                           Re vera, potas bene.

                                              Vescere bracis meis.

Apologies for the pseudo Latin tags, (Si Hoc Legere Scis Nimium Eruditionis Habes) but I fear I am regressing to the  Lower Remove again. John H. please explain to those who may have missed out on a Classical Education.

I admit, I was still suffering the next day from the after-effects of the long sprint home (what hope for the RTC!) but it was a good level training walk, and let's hope that in the next few weeks we can find the odd undulation.

It's all to do with the training: you can do a lot if you're properly trained. Elizabeth, Queen

A good memory is one trained to forget the trivial. Fadiman, Clifton

AWW 01.10.2008 Picota Panoply

After the torrential rain of last Sunday, Ian W. the designated leader was in some doubt whether to go for the valley or the hill. In the end the Hill won, and as I said to him at the start - "At least there is only one hill on this walk!!" And there was!  And a few of the walkers noticed it, as there was little breeze, and the humidity was high. And as it was Chinese national Day, both Myriam and I felt conditions were reminiscent of a walk,  had we been in Hong Kong.  And our fellow ex-Hong Kongers, Ian W. Chris, Antje and Rod knew what we meant!

Leader: Ian W.

Present: Ian S., Chris, Antje, Alex, Tina, Andrew, John O'., Lindsey, Rod, Janet, Vitor, Dina, Paul, Myriam, Ingrid.

Canine Contingent: Maddy, Tiggy - and making his debut, Sam(bo)

Stats: Total Distance: 13.7 km; Moving Time: 3 hrs 45 min; Total Time: 4hrs 38 min; Moving Avg. 3.6 km/hr; Overall Avg. 2.9 km/hr.; Total Ascent: 608 m.; Max Elevation: 778 m.

The track of the walk can be seen enlarged  here

And so, 16 walkers and three dogs gathered at the Foz de Banho, which was open for coffee (kudos to the leader!) Luckily Mike had chosen today to complete a recce of the leg of the Algarve Way up to Marmelete, otherwise we might have had an interesting discussion on who to bar from the walk on the grounds of exceeding statutory starting numbers!  A word of warning, Iron Mike is leading next week, so confirm your presence early and be one of the first 15 applicants (First XV?) or prepare to be obsequious and tender a substantial bribe to buy a discretionary place!  Mike would probably not have enjoyed the walk, as there was nowhere near enough bramblage and gorse to warrant him wearing his new long sleeve/long trouser ensemble!

Ian W.  showed great concern for the CB who is off to Lisbon for a long weekend, and mailed his report in on Thursday forenoon.

And here it is:-

16 stalwarts met at the Foz de Banho on a hazy, humid, but sunny morning to climb Picota. As we were about to head off the first mini crisis occurred. Tiggy started to limp and hold her front right (?) paw up. Ministrations by Myriam were successful, and after the obligatory photo, we set sail for the mountain.

An orderly start

10 seconds later, Sam's raging hormones take over. He may get a surprise in November!

Because of the construction of the Longevity Wellness Resort we took the route through Caldas village and up behind the Rouxinol restaurant.

Over or Under?

Progress was fairly slow as we climbed up the valley above Caldas,  with walkers straggling far behind the leaders, until we were halted by the second crisis of the day. One of the soles of Andrew's boots had started to flap and first aid in the form of string was administered tied around the boot.

 

Fit to be tied!

Ascending the granite boulders.

Last grunt to the summit 

We pressed on uneventfully, before reaching the summit  of Picota at around noon, where we found 4 fit looking GNR GPIS Department troopers having lunch. ( and a cigarette).

They were on some form of exercise which involved going to various trig points and recording some details.  And they get paid for it!!

As a result, we missed getting the normally obligatory trig point photo, although Myriam took a few lunch photos from behind a bush, so requiring some lunch - eaters to have to rise mid bite , in order to be seen.

Marmots at lunch!

The view from the top of Picota was poor because of the haze, but the new race track was clearly seen as a gash in the otherwise fairly green landscape. Half way down the mountain, Andrew's sole parted company from the boot and he was on his upper.  By the time he got back to the Foz, he was down to the sock, but claimed not to have a blister.

Relaxing hard!

There was a rumour circulating that we should finish more walks at the Foz because of the choice of beers available. (More kudos to the walk leader - Bohemia (limited quantity) available!

Getting some shut-eye!

Whilst quenching our thirst, Myriam did a whip-round for the 50th wedding anniversary present for  Maurice and Esme. Myriam had got a silver frame very nicely engraved together with a card to send in honour of the auspicious event.  (This is not the best kept secret in AWW history, (you know who you are!) so I see no need to exercise editorial discretion here!!)

"What am I bid for this charming antique........."

And that was about it! Myriam remarked that it was a 'Hope-less' and 'sole-less' walk, (John being absent through preparation for a Wino's Tour of Hungary, to be led by Rod (who made it) starting on Thursday.

"and as in uffish thought he stood" -Is his Mine on the Wine?

It is easier to go down a hill than up, but the view is from the top. Bennett, Arnold

 

AWW 24.09.2008 -Sta. Margarida

Sta. (Tar)Macadamia, or the Blacktop Nutters Stroll.

Present:

Paul, Myriam, Ian S, Ian W, Janet, Ingrid, Lindsey, Yves, Serge (guest), Mike, Dina, Vitor, John O', David.

In spite of threats of rain earlier in the week, the day dawned bright and clear, and although clouds developed, there was never any real prospect of a wetting. Conditions were, in fact, almost ideal for the purpose. All gathered at the Por do Sol in Santa Margarida five minutes either side of the stated departure time, although there were casualties from the original starting line-up, with Rod, Alex and Hazel sending in sick notes. John H turned up simply to do the initial photo-shoot and promptly shot off again to minister to Hazel.

Orderly Starters

Leaders of the WWs can never remind themselves enough that however many times they have covered a given route, the unexpected can always happen, and paths can be missed. This week's leader re-learned this lesson twice.  The initial rock-hop out along the Cerro da Cha was uneventful, save for the drone in the leader's ear from Paulo a Pe complaining about rocky paths and ankles.  All appreciated as ever the view from the escarpment towards Messines and beyond, but the descent to the orchard was less successful. Having found his tenth and probably least convenient way down, DL expected to see at least some blood other than his own, but Mike having finally decided that no-one wants to become his blood brother, he was disappointed. This was slightly compensated for by Yves, who sat down unexpectedly on a patch of matos and took a barb or two in his derriere. Myriam appeared fascinated, as will be shown below.

Bloodless Brother

Pico Alto was attained without further mishap, and there followed a walk along the northern edge of the P.A. ridge in the shadow of the new wind turbines. These monsters, as ever, generated some discussion on the issue of renewables . It occurs to me that if the WWs were somehow able to collect all the heat energy produced by themselves on this topic, we might make a significant contribution to Portugal's carbon offset programme.

If we blow hard enough, will they turn?

Having diverted marginally in order to visit the Pico Alto trig and see the second View of the Day, the descent was made to the road below. The leader was able to persuade everyone, including I. S., that the bar at the base of the hill was in fact a mirage, and further progress was made. Turning onto the Conqueiros road, it appeared that the long-threatened blacktop coating had not yet been applied, but sadly it was soon discovered that work on this very project was underway further along the track. Not only that, but the tarmac continued down into the valley almost as far as Corchicas, and looks set to be extended. A new route must now be found.

They Don't Like It Up 'Em, Captain!

This Week It's a Rollover

Lunch was taken shortly after the turn away from Conqueiros. Yves located some of the vegetation piercing his person, but Myriam was not satisfied with a general description of 'bottom', and wanted more detail. Janet assisted in refining the terminology, and the crisis point passed. There were cries of 'too short, too short', but this was in reference to the length of the lunch break, and had nothing whatever to to do with Yves' nether regions.

What's All This About Bottoms?

Very good time was made along the Gaviao road to the tarmac near Casinha, where two members who shall be nameless decided that honour was satisfied, and took the direct route back to Sta M. The remaining dozen stouthearts turned slightly weary limbs towards the climb past Val Vigoria and up the steep hill to the Picota trig point, Ian S reminiscing fondly all the while about the even steeper ascent made to the same location three seasons ago.(There must be a Statute of Limitations on such awful recollections. No? Ah Me!)

Hell Hill

Hell, Yes!

From the wonderful view on Picota, the final stage of the walk was accomplished without incident, and the road-avoiding variation on the last ascent seemed to meet with approval. As did the Por do Sol, where there occurred an unexpected reunion with Maria, an ex-member of the group. Further investigation of Yves' complaint revealed that the affected area was 'still throbbing', but fortunately Myriam was now engaged in a heated argument with Paul about the translation of words from English to Mandarin. I shall never hear the name Nanking in quite the same way again. I do hope Lindsey does not end up in Tibet while following Myriam's directions.

After Six Sagres, it Doesn't Hurt a Bit!

Total Distance: 18.5 km; Moving Time: 4 hrs 21 min.; Total Time: 5hrs 27 min.; Moving Average: 4.3 km/hr; Overall Average 3.4 km/hr; Total ascent 497 m.; Max Elevation: 353m
'It is the bottom that remembers; it faces the past,
whereas we advance inexorably into the future.'
Jeanloup Sieff

AWW 17.09.2008 Aguas Belas Amble

The caretaker who came to unlock Silves cemetery at 0900hrs, had never seen such a crowd milling around, anxious to get in!! Alas he was disappointed as after the usual disarray, those that had arrived before the appointed time, arranged themselves into various cars and headed off to the start point at the Aguas Belas valley to the north. The clouds which had promised much, earlier, dissipated under the late summer sun, and the troops were sweating up in the paddock!

The amiable selection of walkers good-naturedly agreed to pose for Myriam's start photograph, and only one retiring walker managed to avoid showing his face to the camera.

Rod was the designated leader, and discipline had distinctly improved from last week!

Stats: Total Dist: 15.3 km; Moving Time: 3hr 55 min; Total Time: 4hr 51 min; Moving Average: 3.9 km/hr; Overall Average: 3.2 km/hr; Total Ascent: 526 m.; Max Elev.: 225m.

Track of the walk. The new system has defeated me in uploading a zoomable map, so to see it enlarged please click here

Regrettably for Blog Copy, the walk went far too smoothly, so I will leave it to Rod's own words to describe the event.

Leader: Rod

Present . Paul and Myriam, David L, John O´N, Pauline and Matthew, John and Hazel, Volker and Barbara, Dina and Vitor, Ingrid, Terry, Lindsey, and Yves

Dog. Rusty

Aguas Belas Amble.

Even the splendid walking weather couldn´t raise Ian Wilson from his slumbers and the forlorn Alex was left standing at the curb awaiting a lift which arrived only in time for them to find a row of empty cars at the departure point. History doesn´t relate what they did next, but the rest of us set off up the Aguas Belas valley at the spanking pace, according to he who measures these things, of 4.756 recurring kph.

(I look forward to a separate blog from Ian W.!! CB.)

Warming up!

A climb up over the ridge towards the Arade slowed things down somewhat and got heart-rates moving up a bit. This was followed, surprisingly with barely a grumble, up the short sharp ascent to the, by now almost obligatory trig-point of PICÔES, with great views over the Arade valley and beyond.

Use of the 'gorilla-pod' allowed us all to be in this pic!

A somewhat longer descent took us right down to river level west of the Barragem de Arade. Somewhat inevitably this meant another rather longer and tougher switchback ascent back up to the ridge.

Switchback!

There were easier ways up but a row of beehives and the obvious all round need for a bit of more serious exercise prompted the almost unopposed choice of the harder one. An early lunch was opted for at the top.

A gentle and level post-prandial stroll followed until we hit upon a stretch which had become pretty overgrown since the leader had last ventured around these parts on his horse and led to some muted oaths and very minor (in the absence of Mike P anyway) blood letting.

A final very sharp descent took us back down to the Aguas Belas Valley and back to the start point and on to the bar.

In all, despite the highish numbers, an event free walk; no straggling, nobody got lost or even distinguished themselves one way or another......something has to give!

CB's Comment: The first real climbing of the season, and on quite a hot day, so I think most were pleased that they made it, and we were all certainly pleased to reach the bar.

In the shade a number of walkers had removed their protective headgear, and the Chief Paparazzi, became fascinated with the similarity of style of several, and proceeded to take close-ups and even posed shots.

 

A take on the 3 Wise Glabrous Monkeys

A good start was made towards the Christmas Lunch Fund, and we said 'Aufwiedersehn' to Barbara and Volker who finish their holiday before next week's walk.

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