AWW 09.06.2007 - Summer Feast, Benagil

Working up an appetite - or a thirst!

I must admit, it was with some trepidation that we returned from our Eastern Odyssey to discover that the Big Benagil Bacchanalian Bash had been organised by our Back to Basics - Beer and Butties rep, Ian S., but these fears later proved unfounded. Indeed the pre-lunch walk along the coast from Benagil was an extremely pleasant appetiser, although only 11 of the 30 odd diners deemed it necessary to pre-burn the calories they would inevitably collect later!

The Walk: Leader: Ian S.
Followers: Marguerite; Diane & Ian W.; John & Hazel, Mick and Sylvia; Myriam and Paul; Janet.
Guest appearance (non-volunteer) Maio; Shorty.
Distance: 5 km: Time 1 hr 15 mins. Tilley Hats: 4/11

Hazel takes it to the edge

On the way out along this beautiful and popular section of the coast we saw these two 'schooners' which were carrying tourists and enhancing the scenery. Also a film crew were filming a couple of models on one of the beaches, but alas our route did not include a descent from the cliffs to ogle! On the negative side, on our return ramble, a rather ugly large catamaran appeared to be hosting a 'rave' of young people and was polluting the atmosphere by playing inordinately loud bass and drums music from a set of speakers and amps that would have been adequate for Wembley Stadium. We dissed their street cred by resolutely refusing to take a picture as they made their noisy progress!





Myriam stalks Jonathan Livingstone

The seagull in this picture obviously didn't realise he was being approached by an omnivore that had been devouring the flora, fauna and exotic fowls of South east Asia recently.

We returned to Cafe Lamy before 1230, enabling Ian to promptly run a taste test on the draught Sagres which appeared to be to his satisfaction. The crowd began gathering in earnest, and we eventually took our seats and had some hot well cooked but basic Chicken piri-piri or sea bass (robalo). The wine supplied (not from the Wine Mine on this occasion) was adequate, but not so good that it encouraged excessive gargling and lewd behaviour.
Our congratulations to Ian on his organisation and for a splendid end of season event.





The eastern side of the table




The western side of the table



The South Western Annexe!



Pre-lunch circulation - note the untouched water bottles!

Lindsey had laboriously compiled a set of walking statistics for the season, which apparently officially ends today, and announced that she would like a successor as Secretary/dogsbody, a post that Janet has eagerly assumed. Thanks to Lindsey for a wonderful job. A discussion arose as to whether some of the remaining funds should be given away to charity, but a subsequent email from Lindsey reveals there may be some more mileage in discussing this at sub-committee level.

Here are the season's attendance stats:

For the record - We had a total of 36 walks organized but 3 were cancelled.

John Hope walked 29 walks, Lindsey 23; David L. & Ian Scott 21; Janet & Paul 19;

Antje, Rod, Mike & Ian Wilson 16; Chris & Andrew 14; Elaine & Myriam 13; Hazel 10.

Leaders -

David L. led 8 walks

Rod led 6 walks

Ian Scott & Mike 5 walks

Paul 4 walks

Ian Wilson & Chris 2 walks

Hedley & Stan 1 walk

My personal thanks to John H for ably stepping into the breach to keep the blog even more accurate and incisive than before, and for his role as Chief Paparazzi.

John H. with his 'big one'!

I will finish this season's blog with a few, I hope relevant and inspirational quotes:

Above all, do not lose your desire to walk. Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it. ~Soren Kierkegaard

Walking takes longer... than any other known form of locomotion except crawling. Thus it stretches time and prolongs life. Life is already too short to waste on speed. ~Edward Abbey, "Walking"

The true charm of pedestrianism does not lie in the walking, or in the scenery, but in the talking. The walking is good to time the movement of the tongue by, and to keep the blood and the brain stirred up and active; the scenery and the woodsy smells are good to bear in upon a man an unconscious and unobtrusive charm and solace to eye and soul and sense; but the supreme pleasure comes from the talk. ~Mark Twain

A vigorous five-mile walk will do more good for an unhappy but otherwise healthy adult than all the medicine and psychology in the world. ~Paul Dudley White

When you have worn out your shoes, the strength of the shoe leather has passed into the fiber of your body. I measure your health by the number of shoes and hats and clothes you have worn out. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson


See you all at SparrowsFart!!
Paulo à Pé

AWW 06.06.2007 Cansado Carousel

The starters at Café Cansado. The start was much delayed, Mike being in such a munificent mood that he authorised a coffee detail. This photo was taken before a rather assertive gentleman turned up in an off-white van and pointed out that our first come - first served and devil-take-the-hindmost Parking Policy had resulted in his passage being blocked. As The Hindmost, I was only too happy to have certain cars which were taking up too much space rearranged.( NB The Red One!). However in the excitement of taking this pic, and running around to avoid the cars being reparked, Myriam managed to drop her camera battery, recently purchased by me in Hong Kong for $99, and so took no further part in the photography with her camera, until we returned and did a fingertip search, resulting in the battery being located beneath Lindsey's reparked car. (This version may appear below from a slightly different viewpoint - which just goes to show that history is written by the winners and Chief Bloggers!
John H appeared unduly eager to abdicate from his responsibilities as Blogger in Locum, and as I am having to relearn the whole process, not having blogged for over two months, this blog may fall a little short of the professional standards achieved hitherto. However you will have a nice expandable map of the route taken if I can get it to upload!





Track of the route starting at Café Cansado in the bottom RH corner in Arao.

Without more ado let us hear from the leader in his own inimitable style!

Walk Report – ‘Bravura Ridgetops’ - 6th June, 2008

With temperatures rising a shorter walk was selected. This also took into consideration the fitness levels of those who had recently returned from an over indulgence in the fleshpots of the PRC.

Walk statistics: Moving time: 3 hours 9 mins; Total time: 3 hours 28 mins; Moving ave: 4.4 kph; Overall ave: 4.0 kph; Total ascent: 354 m; Max elev: 155 m. (noted for the benefit of AWW statistical junkies).

Walkers: Lindsey, Myriam, Paul, Rod, John and Hazel, John O’Neill, Brian and Mike

Dogs: Oscar and Pooky

Shillelaghs: 1

Start/End point: Café/bar Cansado, Arão

Ostensible leader: Mike; de facto leader: Lindsey who directed the walk, using a bamboo diagram chart, with great charm and ruthless efficiency.

Possibly an all time record was set of 15 minutes between official and actual start time. This was due to a number of factors. Firstly, a nameless couple phoned in distress some 6 km northwards, asking for start point directions. In future directions should appear in both Cantonese and Mandarin. Morale rose considerably when a most shapely young lady parked her car with the rest and hopes rose amongst the male walkers that she was a guest walker. Sadly she deposited her trash in the nearby trash bins and drove off. Morale plummeted. At this point Myriam lost a vital battery for her camera, not to be retrieved until our return.

No it was a pirate battery - not a vampire battery!!

The publican's dog then decided this was an opportune moment to demonstrate his disdain for the whole proceedings by cocking his leg on the OL's back pack. Finally, we were advised most politely by a resident to park our cars better to improve access for local goods carriers. All this confusion proved too much for a breakaway group who now disappeared into the nearby tavern, eventually reappearing with satisfied expressions. The walk finally got under way at 08.45 hours.

Luckily Paul was back to assist the d.f. Leader to interpret some of Mike's more imaginative Bamboo Diagrams!

After a short climb the walk encompasses splendid views northwards to the Serra de Monchique and eastwards towards and beyond Alcalar. The pleasant ridge top walking is sadly defaced with the placement of a line of pylons for the power lines that will shortly pass this way. Later, the walk passes to the east of the hamlet of Bravura and the pump house that controls water outflows from the Barragem. After passing a well-stocked series of pigeon lofts magnificent views are gained back to the Barragem and westwards to Cotifo and the hills beyond. Eventually, Monte Ruivo trig point (133 m) is gained where we had the obligatory group photograph. The return journey leads down faint tracks, an abandoned cottage (site of Antje’s contretemps with a bee) and finally the road to Fata Vacas.

Lindsey, AWW secateurs in hand 'scrumping' some dead thistles. There is apparently a difference between this and the scrumping of previous weeks!!

The AWW secateurs were used for the first time – but not to clear the path but to cut some attractive dried plants for Lindsey’s house decoration. Overall a pleasant, not too arduous walk made enjoyable by the cooling breeze that blew throughout.

T.O.T.P.P - cunningly composed by Myriam (with Paul's camera AND battery) to exclude the large modern hill-top house to the immediate left.





Back at Café Cansado, we were discussing the possibilty of a walk next week, when we discovered that in true Algarve fashion, the wall calendar was for 2006!! Actually that is quite up to date for Arão!

The next event is the 'End of season' lunch, at Benagil on 9th June - organised by a sub-committee of One, although he claims to have official sanction from Lindsey, as she pushed out the email! Watch this space for a fairly balanced report and photos i.d.c. Remember: Life is too short to drink House Wine (to quote more than one of the group's Cognoscenti!) I.S. you have been advised!!!

AWW 30.05.2007 One Dam Walk After Another, or Two For The Price Of One

Leader: Rod

Pack: Lindsey, Mike, Yves Ferrer, John and Hazel

Dogs: Oscar and Pookie

Statistics: such as they are, of little relevance

Walk, part 1 : 9.00 am - 11.45 am

Walk, part 2: 12.00 noon - 12.45 pm

Distance, part 1: 8.30 km

Distance, part 2: 1.20 km

This walk revealed a totally unexpected, softer side to Rod, that long-striding, long-distance walker, as he guided "we few,we happy few, we band of brothers" gently on a stroll which, to him, would be scarcely more than a nip down to the corner shop for the morning papers and breakfast rolls and back again, hardly 10 clicks in all, only a little scrambling and virtually no hills to speak of. (Quotations from Henry V at the special request of Mike Pease.) Over now to the Leader's report.

".......like greyhounds in the slips,

Straining upon the start. The game's afoot."

"Odelouca Dam Check.

This small but select band met at the Ourique Cafe and drove up the Alferce road and the newly refurbished highway to the dam site. Work seems to be well under way again in that there was much traffic and noise, as well as a charming young lady who politely suggested where we should not park in the way of expected construction vehicles.

We set off skirting high up round to the north of the dam with a good view of the site. The temporary earth dam is allowing water to gradually build up and the foundation cuttings for the main dam are clearly visible. There has been a lot of earth moving since our last visit and the area immediately above the dam is barely recognizable. Further up the valley, life returns to normal but we had better make the most of it because tree and scrub clearance and then advancing waters will soon destroy this lovely area for ever.

On arrival at the river crossing a certain diffidence about wet feet became apparent (of course this was because the Leader had not decided where he was going 'til he got there and nobody had been warned to bring their various choices of impermeable footwear) so despite the clemency of the weather a suggestion we should take a different route was accepted with alacrity, even although it deprived Mike a chance of once more demonstrating the efficacy of his Serbian waterproof slippers.

So we doubled back into the hills to the north of the dam. This proved an interesting diversion. There were some formidable brambles to pass (and the sub-committee is seriously considering appropriate sanctions against the absentee secateur bearer -what use are secateurs on Carapateira beach, one wonders, to the pioneers out in the bush?), whilst snakes were espied in the grass and arbutus bushes were studied. And then we came across an EDP team busy installing cables on yet another hideous chain of pylons systematically despoiling the countryside. Literally kilometers of rope were being laid across the hills and valleys before being hoisted up as the initial means of eventually hauling up the definitive cables.

Great snakes alive!

Yves' encyclopaedic knowledge of the subject and a long chat with one of the EDP engineers made us much wiser about this tricky operation, even if one is not too impressed with the change in the landscape.

A lesson in splicing

Even despite this sidetracking, this particular circuit lasted less than three hours so, in order not to feel short-changed, we drove back down and wandered up the Fonte Santa valley for a while. This gentle stroll proved the most challenging of the day for, firstly, a herd of rather intimidating cows and their very large bull had to be contended with.

"As I wis walkin' doon the road,
I met a coo.
A bull b'God!"
( W.T.McGonagall.)

Mutual suspicion.

Then obstinacy at a ford once again prevailed and we were obliged to try to negotiate the precipice ledge route up the valley (some old hands might recall the occasion when one of our erstwhile staunch WW members froze solid with vertigo at this very point and we had to carry him down!). Well this might have been on the point of happening again when John wisely announced he was going to retrace his steps ....we all thought this was a pretty good idea (wasn't there a rock slide in our way?) and, back on more solid ground, settled for a quiet picnic beside the babbling brook instead, followed by an early return to the Cafe Ourique for the usual!"

No more quotes from Shakespeare nor from William Topaz McGonagall, the best bad poet in the world. One reads that Confucius is making a comeback in China, so we can expect a welcome blast of commonsense in next week's blog from Paulo a Pe who has been imbibing (wisdom from the Analects, we mean) in China and will now be making a comeback of his own.

JAWW 28.05.2007 From our Japanese Correspondent

Whittle-san sends this signing-off report from his Tokyo bath house.

"Little to report from the Japanese outpost, it's getting warmer, and more humid and the Nips are apppearing like bees from a honey pot or more accurately ants from an anthill. The solution, start walking at 8 am, complete the route by lunchtime and head back to Tokyo before the crowds board the trains once again. Warm, sweaty bodies crammed into commuter trains are not a recipe for a tranquil life, in fact the other day I even abandoned one train at the first stop, the stink being too great for my sensitive nostrils. Not something that you really expect in ultra clean and hygene mad Japan. How I miss the fresh air of the Algarve! But madness prevails, I will return here for another month from mid-June, ostensibly to work but in reality to tackle the big one -Fuji-san awaits the climbing season. A major hazard will be sun parasols, not to mention sulphurous gases more likely to be generated from human bodies rather than the volcano itself. Follow the ants is the name of the game, but a wise man climbs Fuji-san only once in a lifetime, and I'm very wise!

See you all next week, many thanks for the blogs.

Chris-san from Japan."

AWW 23.05.2007 Variations on a theme by Maurice

Leader: Ian Scott

Present: Lindsey, Gack, Janet, Antje, Dina and Vitor and guest Yves, Ian Wilson and guest David, Thyl (complete with miner's stick), David Littlewood, Mick and Sylvia Walters, John and Hazel.

Dogs: Archie, Tiggie and Shorty.

Time: about 3 1\2 hours.
Distance: about 15 kms.

No Leader's report yet (29/05), so here goes.

Before the walk started, Ian announced that the route today would attempt to track one of Maurice"s early walks, in fact the first one ever held by the Algarve Saturday Walkers in September 1994, and a walk described in Maurice and Esme's Algarve Silves Walking Guide edition of 2000 (walk No.8). Since then, there have been many changes to roads and tracks , and identification of landmarks was at times problematical. Hence the Variation on a Theme blog title. We were also promised railway lines and levadas.

Starters at Poco Barreto, Cafe Sustelo.

The walk got of to a cracking start promptly at 09.30 am, as we headed east and over the railway level crossing. At 9.45 am precisely, we about-turned and smartly retraced our steps and headed west back to Poco Barreto but not quite as far as the cafe - even Mick agreeing that it was a trifle early for a beer - but to pick up a track northwards near the railway line.
(Live score: Railways - 2, already. Levadas -0)
Return to Poco Barreto

Moving north, an abandoned house and compound was passed on our left, with every single square foot of exterior wall covered in a written diatribe in Portuguese railing against persons unknown and the ills of the world in general. A liitle more marching and counter-marching ensued, but Ian then led us up to the top of a ridge and there, as he no doubt expected, was the landmark described in the publication as "a cottage sandwiched between two windmills."

The Cottage Sandwich

Our group had, unusually, a particular Gallic flavour, the two guests being Yves from Bezier (proud owner of one of the world's largest collections of beer mugs) and Quebecois David, a downhill skier from Montreal. A car just happened to appear coming towards us and the occupants stopped to ask us, in French, for directions to the shops. Not that we had much idea where we were at this point, but we did have the interpreters to hand, so duly directed and with several "mercis a la groupe de marche" off they drove.

Ian regained orientation and guided us from Poco da Velha through the hinterland of Montes Grandes and other nameless tracts to within sight of Torre e Cercas on our right before swinging southwest towards Tufos.

The advance on Tufos

Large stretches of the gound were covered with a reddish pink flower and the Horticulturist-in-Residence was besieged with queries as to what it was. Her learned submission by subsequent email is that "the pink flowering plant that several people asked the name of is "Centaurium erythraea - Common Centaury! The Gentian Family. So we're all the wiser!"
The Common Centaury

Not to be outdone on the horticultural theme, Ian remarked on a "blue spot" plant.

Is this a blue spot?

There was also fruit in abundance along the way, but Lindsey declined to be tempted.

Say NO to scrumping.

From Tufos, we made our way past Figueirinha where progress became temporarily somewhat slow as the interest of Gardening Group members was captured by several attractive gardens. Momentum regained, we swung left, spotting the Cork Factory to our right and plunged across country, enticed by the distant promise of the Levada. Apart from an old waterwheel, which David attempted to operate for the dogs' benefit but without success, landmarks failed to mark, tracks had become either overgrown or, worse still, obliterated by tarmac and other signs of development so that eventually we had to straggle down to the outskirts of Poco Barreto by road.

A lecture on the orrery?

A sharp, last gasp, diversion off the road by Ian did in the end bring us to the levada, Tiggie being first in, and then along between railway line and levada (Live score: Railways - 3. Levadas - 1) back to Cafe Sustelo at about 1 pm, where the owner produced three of the largest canecas your correspondent has yet seen.

Tiggie enjoys the Levada.

A grande finale

STOP PRESS - BREAKING NEWS.
A few blogs ago, we hinted that we might possibly receive a China-branch report from our ambassadors in the Far East. So far nothing, but rumour has it that something is on its way. Coincidentally, a recent Weekly Telegraph article titled "British pair conquer the Great Wall" reports that a British couple (not Paul and Myriam) have become the first people to walk the entire length of the Great Wall of China, (3000 miles in 167 days). They lost several stone in weight between them , not surprisingly, but also - and this must ring an alarm bell for those of us who are on the short side - more than an inch in height. Too much walking can do that to you! The Greeks had a word for it -"mayden agan".

AWW 16.05.2007 An Alte Amble or Waiting for the Cavalry

Another walk directed by that indefatigable Google Earth Guru (aka David Littlewood), together with "assistance" by part-time consultant, Ian S., (and we all have our opinions about consultants!); also, the welcome return of Hazel.

Present
Cartographer Emeritus and Leader:David L.
Consultant (occasionally): Ian S.
The Field: Gack, Dina and Vitor, Janet, Mick(HHH)Walters, Terry M., John and Hazel.
Dogs: Archie and Shorty
Late Arrivals (very): Lindsey and Antje (see below*)

Statistics:
Distance: approx 12.5 km
Time: 2 hours 55 mins
Tilley Hat Count: 1
Kalenji T-Shirt Count:2

Starters at the Fontes

Before the start, Vitor mentioned, very sotto voce, that on 18.04.07 he had arrived on time at Silves Cemetery, the assembly point for that week's walk, only to find that the leader and group had already left. He then did his own walk. (See Rod's report which is embedded in the blog entitled "What's happened to the Blog?")

The leader's report now follows, in black, with occasional interjections by the aforementioned consultant, in red italics, and, possibly, sub-editorials in cyanide. Photos by David L. and John H. (Clicking on photos will (should) enlarge them: return to blog by clicking on left arrow at top left of your screen.)


"The Missing Horses Caper"

There were doubts surrounding this walk from the very start. Ian Scott and I were deep in misunderstandings about the route, the walkers were attempting to assemble in at least three different places, Janet having run herself up a blind alley by Fonte Pequena, and no-one seemed to be absolutely certain whether and where we would meet the Posse from Alcoutim. However, the weather was perfect and spirits high as we departed Fonte Grande at 9.45 am and made our way back to the path which took us out of the valley by Fonte Pequena and up to the road above.

It was only at this point that I deemed it safe to point out that the walk was to be tracked using only a Google Earth photo, and that, in order to make life interesting, I had left my specs in the bathroom after applying my sun-block. Even though my exploits on the Algarve Way had got around, there was remarkably little reaction to these announcements. Must have been the sun. (There was however some comment to the effect that we were treading on an exceptionally lengthy bit of tarmac for a Littlewood expedition, but that was shortly remedied.)

(Incidentally, that bloke giving the lecture on Foia was NOT me - he was far too old and bossy, and I never lose my stick.) (No, of course he wasn't YOU, David: it was Rory Bremner, especially engaged for the movie shot.)

The path - non tarmac - was easily found round the hill from Soidos de Baixo; and led through wonderfully flowered countryside with yellow gorse in abundance -there being only one minor mishap when Janet had an encounter with an obstreporous piece of barbed wire. But on hitting the valley floor opposite the old restaurant by the lake it ran out, and a desperate flurry of activity on my part failed to locate it. Good Old Google!

Where did that path go?

Nought for it then but to track across to the lake, walk round it and head for the known path on the opposite bank of the stream. The restaurant has now apparently been turned into a private house, but at least it looks better than the abandoned, vandalised wreck we saw last time.

Then it was jungle time as we made our way along scarcely visible tractor tracks through head-high grass, reminiscent of the African habitat of the fabled W.T.*.A.W. tribe celebrated by cognscenti of rugby songs...........

In the elephant grass

......and on towards the track leading back to Alte. It was at this point that Ian lifted the clouds of ignorance surrounding my idea of the plans for the day....well, I was there purely on a part-time consultative basis......when he told me that Rod's Riders were not following the AW walking route from Penina, but were coming across into the valley we had just joined. Isn't it nice when you know what's going on? Yes. (For the rest of us, on such a fine day, ignorance was indeed bliss.)

Communications with the Posse by mobile were established soon afterwards, but it transpired that they had been delayed, so we continued uneventfully (barring a view of a spectacular field of poppies and keeping our feet dry, thanks to a ford provided with sturdy stepping stones) back to our starting-point by 12.40 pm to find the Posse Support Party already in place, but with no two or four legs to support.

Over the ford
Shorty and Archie

Beer was had, lunches eaten, and photos taken. At about 1 pm Lindsey and Antje arrived fresh from the (gurgling?) ( gargling?) ah! Gardening Club, complete with boots as if to pretend they had been walking all the time, but we were not fooled, oh no! *The sub-sub-committee is still out on the question of their eligibility to be included in the day's count.

A late lunch


Calendar Girls

News from the Posse continued to be gloomy, a rescue party having had to be ordered out to recover a fallen mount. Time passed and it was finally decided to abandon the planned welcoming party, and the group dispersed for home. The best laid plans and a' that.

Notwithstanding the tone of poetic melancholia in the Leader's closing phrase, unsubstantiated rumour has it that two members undertook the onerous task of remaining behind in the bar at Fonte Grande until connection could at last made with the Posse's vanguard....... such selfless dedication, those guys.

JAWW 10.05.2007 Hi-jinks in Hokkaido; Whittle-San reports.

Yet another departure from traditional AWW regime,but Chris's report from the Japan branch of AWW is too good to be treated simply as a blog comment but deserves to stand as a blog post in its own right, as follows.

"Great to receive glowing reports of the recent walks, aided and abetted by the Irish contingent. Here in Tokyo contact with the Irish element is continued by the occasional short walk to the Dubliners pub, where a genuine Guinness can easily wash down the ideal all day breakfast. That is, until the arrival of Antje, fresh from her daring deeds and fearless climbs with the AWW's. A new regime of a healthy diet, sushi, oysters, sashimi and other nameless horrors envigorated us for an intrepid series of walks that would challenge any Algarve Way enthusiast. To vertical cliff hanging paths add active volcanos, steaming mud pools and hissing sulphuric gases, and you have the typical hiking trail on the Northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. That we were frequently above the snow line with temperatures down to minus 3 at night only added to the fun. Not to be outdone by the height of the Olympic ski jump at Sapporo, Antje insisted on climbing beside, and above, and beyond the mountain on which it was located. Fortunately it was an extinct volcano, the near vertical slopes proving a serious challenge however to stickless, fearless and possibly foolish foreigners. However we were inspired by the sight of a single Myriam-sized Japanese lady tackling the slope ahead of us. By virtue of hanging on to trees, bushes, rocks and each other we made it to the summit, where the Japanese lady appeared to have disappeared over a precipice leaving us to find our way back down a longer, circuitous and less daunting path.
Other less arduous walks followed, where the problem of decyphering Japanese direction signs led us to walk through a five-star hotel's private garden where the only exit was through the main entrance hall, muddy boots and sweating bodies being looked at somewhat askance by the management, who immediately directed us to the nearby public baths. Having relaxed in a peaceful atmosphere of sulphur laden near-boiling water a minor problem with moving discarded shoes nearly ended up as an international incident. In future, I shall stick to pounding the Tokyo streets once again, it is much less stressful, even though I have nearly worn out one pair of shoes doing it. Looking forward to the lazy days of the peaceful Algarve walks once again, even though Mount Fuji in its snow-covered state still beckons once in a while when visible through the usual haze of Tokyo mist and pollution that frequently keeps it out of sight. Unfortunately I won't be here long enough to tackle that challenge.
Best regards to all the AWW's. Chris."

Truly, Life as a consultant in the East is Hell! However, Chris can console himself that he can soon replace his worn-out shoes at a certain outlet in Portimao Retail Park, in which it is suspected certain senior AWWs have shares, such is the fervour of their repeated recommendations for its goods.

And can we now expect a China-branch report from the Great Wall?

AWW 09.05.2007 Carrapateira to Cape St Vincent. And Then There Were Nine.

A few AWWs again joined the AWIW survivors as they completed the Algarve.Way
The following concise and pithy report, verbatim, by Janet; photos by Terry Mace.

Summerfield Walk Rating: It was equally glorious and a real stinker.

Present:
The Updulationous Leader: David Littlewood
AWWs: Janet, Terry
AWIWs: Leslie and David, Sylvia and Mick, Brian, John.

No nonsense about Tilley hats or other articles of sartorial walking gear.



Met at Carrapateira to leave by 8.00am. Beautiful morning promising a hot day but sufficient sea breeze to counteract the heat. The views were spectacular and the wild flowers glorious.


David Littlewood does have a talent for choosing the most difficult of routes and over the various hills between Carrapateira and Praia Cordama rendered one or two of the group rigid with fear. The path down from one hill, (Pedras Atlas?), had completely disappeared into the scrub and so we made a very slow and scratchy descent. Looking back from the top of the next hill it was impossible to see a better way.

Down on to Praia Cordama for the usual delightful walk along the beach but unlike true WW style (or regime) we all quickly peeled off to sit thankfully in the cafe and down a cold beer.

Then dearest David took us kicking and screaming up the most difficult route I have ever experienced to the old customs house on top of the next cliff. We all know it well....me especially as that ascent is my personal hate. I must have walked it three or four times but have never ascended on toes and fingertips by the gully that is closest to the sea. It was a real stinker and after struggling to the top I think that John and Mick were truly brave to complete the climb, not that there was any chance of going back! David, who looked so cool and fresh for the whole of the walk, just said that we had come that way because it was the most direct route!!



Then it was just a matter of keeping going until we reached Cape St Vincent to a welcoming group of Hashers and St Patrick's, champagne and cold beers and lots of photos by the last cistus symbol of those who had completed the whole Algarve Way. They did well.

AWW 02.05.2007 Monchique to Marmelete joint walk

This was a unique occasion in that the AWW were honoured with an invitation to join the AWIW (the Algarve Way Irish Walkers) on the Wednesday stretch of their Long March. Among other things, this meant that there were two leaders, Ian S. from AWW, and, from AWIW, the Supreme Leader and Planner of the Long March, David Littlewood. David, in befitting Mandarin terminology, is hereinafter referred to as Shao-Shu, and it was to Shao-Shu that Ian S. graciously deferred as the walk began.
(Your humble scribe, unfortunately, doesn't have all the names of that supremely fit AWIW group, several of whom are also veteran Hash House Harriers , but all in all there were 14 of us plus Oscar.)

Supreme Leader: Shao-Shu*
Modest Leader: Ian S.
AWIWs: Brian Holman, (big)John, (little)John, Ian Wilson*, David: records can be updated as required
AWWs: Mike Pease, Janet S., Terry M., John H.
Dogs: Oscar
*also an AWW

Statistics:
Tilley Hat Count: 2
Ozzie Jackaroo Hat Count: 1 (courtesy of big John)
Cheltenham Races Shooting Stick count: 1 (ditto)
Shillelagh count: 1 (courtesy little John)
Total distance: approx 16.25.km

Modest Leader's report follows.

At the vet's.

At the compromise starting time of 09.00, the customary starting photo was taken outside the Monchique Consultorio Veterinario whither the AWIW had repaired for pedicures, i.e.fetlocks trimmed, hooves re-shod, etc, after their exceptionally tough route march up and over Picota the previous day. 14 walkers then set off up through the back boreens of Monchique. Locals, when asked if this was the way to Marmelete, answered in the time-honoured fashion "Ach, well, if I was to go to Marmelete, I wouldn't exactly start from here."
The boreens of Monchique

Undeterred even so, we went on ,up and up, past the Drain Route at the side of the Convent, with nary a pause for breath or adjustment of rain-wear, up and up into the celtic mists of Foia, for truly it was a soft day on the hills. The top of Foia was gained at impressive speed but in truly murky conditions by about 10.20. There, without any hesitation, big John made for the restaurant bar and many followed, while purist AWWs, paralysed by a paroxism of indecision at this cultural shock, hovered in the rain outside. Meanwhile, scenes of revelry were being enacted in the bar's misty interior as coffees, hot chocolates, beers and macieiras and sundry snacks were consumed, and Shao-Shu himself tucked into a chocolate cream bola the size of a Great Wall of China ashlar.

AWWs are undecided..... but the AWIWs get stuck in.

Eventually, after 30 minutes of such indulgence, Shao-Shu called the Marchers to order and told them (in completely undemocratic terms) that he knew of a way down from the peak and that they had better follow him, like it or lump it. (This episode is on film but the Blog will not accept the format; with luck, I will have had it attached to my covering e-mail and, if so, you will be able to see AND hear Shao-Shu himself.) Out then into the celtic mist, and on down a veritable Giant's Causeway of a precipitous and boulder-strewn obstacle course. "Lumping it" scarcely does justice to the ground under foot.The gloom was by then so thick that Shao-Shu understandably missed his intended route.



The all-encompassing gloom

As a result, an unplanned lengthy section of tarmac had neccessarily to be negotiated before we reached the windmills on the western slopes of Foia. Nobody volunteered to tilt at them because, before us to the west, beckoned blue skies, warm breezes, and green woods, al of which made the last few kilometers an exceptionally pleasant canter on the home stretch.

On the sunny side of the street

AWIW's David stormed ahead of all contenders as soon as he could sniff the ale and was easily the first to the Bar, just as Marmelete's garish electronic bells signalled 13.00 and the end of the walk. What a speed over such terrain, despite such early weather, and despite the Foia Refreshment Pause! Did Mike's GPS put it at 4.7? Who knows.

David was already on his second beer

Post-walk refreshments were presided over by Ian W. and big John (also on film and sound if I'm able to fix it) and included, for some reason, celebration of Liverpool F C's achievements.

What have Liverpool done now?


Did you drink all those, Ian?

P.S.

Mike Pease's contribution to recent week's discussions about early starts and slug-a-beds disappeared into the ether. Since he will be rising very early these next few days as he tackles the Algarve Way solo, I shall attempt to retrieve some of his text:

"This day is called the feast of Crispian.

He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,

Will stand a tip-toe when this day is named......

Then will he strip his sleeve and shew his scars.....

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...

And gentlemen in England, now a-bed,

Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here."

Happy walking, Mike

P.P.S.

Paulo a Pe, AWW's ambassador to China, sent a comment at 04.05 this morning which I will publish as a comment, so clearly he is not a slug-a-bed. We shall now look forward to a contribution from our other roving emissary, Whittle San from the Land of the Rising Sun.

AWW 25.04,2007. An Unfortunate set of Circumstances!

As you all have no doubt realised, I am a 'glass half full' sort of a chap, and having only one week back here between our UK and China trips, I was really looking forward to an outing with the AWW to catch up on the scuttlebutt, and to ascertain the truth of some of the outlandish events that John had described during his locum.
Imagine my dismay when having mentally prepared for the usual 0930 start at Café Machado, I received an email indicating that Elaine, the proposed leader, had been bullied into bringing the start forward by a complete hour by a senior workaholic insomniac member of the group. " No names - no pack drill" whatever that means!
Still, I was determined to work off a few of the pies and pasties that are a health hazard littering the UK streetscape, and set off at 0700 to meet my pilot to the start, who is annoyingly always at his best and loudest in the wee small hours. Yes it had been raining since 0200 hrs, and OK I had to use the wipers on my way, but I was rather surprised to get the recall from Myriam, who was still wallowing in bed, claiming that her slumbers had been disturbed by a cancellation call.
Now for the Witch Hunt and the formal ascribing of Blame. Let's face it, Stan and Elaine have not had it easy this season! First there was the Morgado de Reguengos Walk which so reduced the soft tissue beneath Myriam's meniscus that she hasn't completed a WW since. Same walk caused such GBH to Jim B. that he wasn't seen for several months, except when he & Myriam met at Hospitâl Particular while having their ailments treated! Then there was a spate of contraventions of the rule passed by sub-committee in a bygone era that 'Thou shalt not arrange the arrival or departure of visitors (Family or otherwise) at Faro on a Wednesday, unless they are self-sufficient'. Then the unheard of last minute cancellation of a walk on 11th April, with no alternate leaders available, because of a case of the 'snuffles' (probably contracted from those self-same Wednesday arrivants!) And now the early morning rain! The gentle rain!! Lord have Mercy!!

The quality of mercy is not strain'd,

It droppeth as the gentle rain of heaven

Upon the place beneath…

And as I sit here at my computer with the weather bar at the bottom of the screen showing 17ºC and sun for later, I too will be merciful!! I missed my walk, but this was out of Elaine's control. Given that extra hour in bed of which we were cruelly deprived, and leisure to study forecasts and look out in daylight rather than early morning gloom, the walk may have gone ahead. I have never been an advocate of leaping out of bed before the system has fully awoken itself, to rush off for an activity which is entirely recreational. You brought this upon yourself you 'morning person'!!!

And on the topic of rain, a motivational quote for those sensitive souls who may have been offended by my cautionary notes above:

"When subjected to the 'rain' of criticism, let's not curse the rain. Let's accept it as a part of life. Let's remember that the more criticism we can successfully handle, the more zest we will experience in our lives." (Shall Sinha)

Better close while my coffee cup is still half full!!

AWW 18.04.2007- What happened to the Blog??

Thought I had better reserve a space in case John was still thinking about this one! This is where we were while you were enjoying the sunny Algarve. The top of Latterbarrow Hill overlooking Lake Windermere from the south, having just found a geocache a bit further down. The cairn isn't really alarmingly tilted like that, but I couldn't find a flat piece of rock to rest the camera on!

John has now returned from his domestic duties and here is the blog for 18th April in it's rightful place!!

AWW 18.04.2007 Parra/Odelouca or Frew's Famous Five

Leader: Rod Frew
Present: Mike P, Antje W, Janet S, and John H
Dogs: Oscar, Tiggy, and Pookie
Tilley Count: Nil (despite Mike's claim that his straw titfer was an embryo Tilley)

The circumstances extenuating the unwonted delay in publishing this episode include the deputy editor having spent a 4 day weekend in UK and the leader having inadvertently submitted his copy by email to Dubai instead of to Silves, a mistake anyone of course could make and nothing whatsoever to do with the madronho (see later)

Here follows the happily retrieved Leader's report:

The starters; walking with 4 sticks was not a success.

Locationand terrain: Parra/Odelouca. Hilly, but only about 15K.

An extremely select band set off from Silves cemetery.... so select that they all arrived early, and we departed 10 minutes before the appointed hour! The walk was in part a reconnaissance for the Algarve Way Horse Ride that Rod wanted to check out. Drove up the S. Marcos road and started walking at 9.45am from the Parra turning, on a lovely warm, sunny morning. Although by no means a new walk, we had not actually done it for over a year and parts of it not for several years. We descended to the Casa Florestal and then up along a ridge with lovely views over the Odelouca valley and all amidst wonderful spring flowers.

(It was here that Antje for reasons unexplained....carried away by the rarefied mountain air or the heavy perfumes of the flowers, perhaps.....decided to audition for the part of Maria. As we go to press, Lord Lloyd Webber's reaction is not known.)
The hills are alive............

The steep descent to the river had become somewhat overgrown and rough but nobody came to grief. (The river was reached at 10.45am when the leader announced that that was the last steep bit...down! The steep bits UP were still to come.)

The river was actually pretty full and quite definitely "boots off"..no complaints were accepted as adequate warning had been given!. Mike's rather fetching blue nylon slippers were obviously the best solution as he nimbly skipped through the waters; bin liners do look a bit cumbersome in comparison but, as long as they don't puncture, do keep the feet dry. Antje and Janet delicately found their way across with bare feet...rather putting the men's tender feet to shame.


Blue nylons

No, Mike, that does not qualify as a Tilley.

The track away from the river, which we hadn't actually covered since Maurice was last with us, was fairly unrecognizable because of forestry work but ended with the same very steep (and how!) and very crumbly ascent towards the ridge dividing the Odelouca and Monchique river valleys. Puffing our way over the top of the ridge, we found the wonderful view over the Monchique river valley towards Picota has sadly become marred by a line of grotesque high tension pylons; such is progress!

We turned back at that point and, beating off some aggressive horse flies, (the leader's well-intentioned applications of his walking stick to Mike's posterior regions reminding the latter of his prep school days) descended to a ruin just below the ridge where we stopped for lunch. Repast complete, or so we thought, we then carried on down to Foz de Carvlho to be greeted with open arms by the farmer down there who remembered us from previous occasions. Poor chap is still patiently waiting for his compensation for the dam waters which will eventually cover his land. This, of course, resulted in an invitation into his farmhouse, well rather onto the terrace shared by assorted cats, dogs, a headless chicken and one or two live ones, where he opened a garrafão of tinto and obliged us to consume (or maybe surreptitiously tip over the wall!) mugfuls thereof.

One does not have to go on a cruise to sample our wines.


Summer time and the walking is easy.

After admiring photos of him and his late wife we staggered off again. We were quickly sobered up by another river crossing....quite welcome by that time....before the long ascent back up to the road.

Half way up.....back at the Casa Florestal......

Rest and Be Thankful.

Here another interlude was demanded by a social call on one of the forest rangers who happened to be around. He was keen on showing us his honey (although he had none ready for sale) which he produced to augment his rather limited ranger's stipend. (The leader also claims to have been invited to"smell" the ranger's madronho, although the speed with which he then tore up the final climb to the road led the more cynical observers floundering in his wake to conclude that he had done more than simply smell it.) And then back to the cars at 3.40 pm and, remembering to collect all the dogs, down the road to the nearest cafe for refreshment.

AWW 11.04.2007 We finally ran out of Leaders!

Some of the more observant may have noticed the blatant gap in the series of blogs, necessitating this annexed entry to preserve the timeline.

It was to have been Elaine and Stan's romantically named 'A Walk back in Thyme', but unfortunately both principals came down with nasty colds, and at short notice it proved impossible to find someone willing to lead the walk on this occasion. To my memory the first time this has ever happened, and it would have proved a good opportunity for a non-regular leader to download one of my Bamboo diagram walks and give it a field test. Alas I was not here to supervise, and the chance was missed.

I will let the stark reality of the emails sent to the AWW relate the story of the walk that was ahead of its thyme!:-

Dear WWers

I'm very sorry but Stan and I have to cancel our walk tomorrow. I have been suffering from a bad cold for a few days and thought I would be over it by now, but sadly not. Stan this morning sounds like he might be going down with it too.

I contacted Rod this morning to see if he could lead the walk instead but he is not able to walk tomorrow. I can't contact Lindsey at the moment so decided to email you all directly to let you know.

Hope we can offer the walk at a later date

with kind regards

Elaine

Dear All,

Sadly all other Leaders are busy tomorrow, so for the first time I think (apart from rain) we will have to cancel tomorrows walk.

I will send out next week's walk, to be led by Rod, at the weekend. Andrew and I are away on holiday from 18th April until 3rd May and Elaine will kindly send out the weekly e-mails.

Best wishes,

Lindsey Henley-Welch

AWW 04.04.2007 Montinho Marathon or Thyl Redivivus

Leader: Ian W

Present: Rod, Hedley George and Ann, David L, Lindsey, Janet, Andrew and Tina, Thyl, Ian S, Hilke, John H.
No dogs.

Stats:
Tilley Hat count: 1
FDS: nil
Walk Rating: Excellent (on the Summerfield Scale)

The Leader's commentary follows, and after that we are lucky to have two comments, one each from our two Roving Ambassadors, Paul and Chris:

Whipping-In




14 stalwarts gathered at the Foz de Banho for what we all expected to be a really tough walk. We were honoured to have Thyl present again after a long absence. Despite the Leader's anxious attempts to whip the pack in on the dot of 9.30, before the walk got underway Thyl was touchingly presented with the antique walking stick which he had mislaid on an Odelouca walk well over a year ago and which, despite his going back on repeated searches, was never to be found UNTIL, on 24.01.07 during another of his Odelouca walks, Ian Scott's eagle eye spotted it beside the path and it was retrieved. At last, on 04.04.07, the stick could be ceremonially reunited with its grateful owner.

Re-united at last

In return thanks, Thyl invested Ian with a drapery variously described as a Yasser Arafat shawl/pink scarf/ Cambodian bathing garment intended to replace the 100 year-old blue scarf he is accustomed to wear. Nobody however is holding their breath that the blue object will not reappear.

(Hedley, displaying an unexpected knowledge of things Khmer, pointed out that the article in question is properly called a krama.)

The Leader finally got the walk under way at about 9.45 and lost no time in racing up towards Picota in the sunshine. The first surprise was a new building right in the middle of the path. The site was successfully negotiated while the purpose of the building was discussed: an EDP substation was the most popular choice ahead of a woodland sauna bath. Then, on and up, with magnificent views to the coast and with cuckoos calling in the background.

The next surprise about halfway up the mountain was a logging track running along a contour and cutting right across our path. We refound the path but soon found cut trees blocking it and, despite several helpful offers of a leg over or two, we had to return to the logging road. This we followed upwards until we regained the original track to the top.
The view from the summit of Picota (out over the long winding trail still ahead of us) was outstanding.

Only 4 hours to go.

However, the wind was icy, and we lingered only to have the obligatory trig point photo, except for Thyl who lay down in sheltered comfort to have his lunch.




Thyl disdains the oblig trig shot


On the way back down, the variety of spring flowers was much admired with the AWW's Horticuluralist-In-Residence being frequently consulted. (Comment from Lindsey:"A bit more education for the over 60s! Several people asked me for the name of the tall flowering bulb with white and reddish brown flowers. It's Asphodelus Microcarpus or Aspodel. I knew it was Aspho-something but couldn't remember it all.")

Here the Leader lost his way slightly, but Rod came to the rescue with the memory of an old track which brought us down to the Fornalha road at about noon. At this point, we parted company with Hedley, his guests George and Ann, and Hilke, who, all with other demands on their time, took the shortcut back to the Foz, and the rest of us had lunch.
Again, Thyl's stick was the centre of attention. How, he asked, is the head fixed to the shaft as if by magic. No screws or nails. Various ingenious theories were propounded, but a carpenter to provide the definitive answer was there none.


The stick itself


Lunch over, our way continued relatively uneventfully down the Monchique valley. We were passed by a minibus of schoolkids returning, we guessed, from a picnic; a guess that proved correct when we soon came across their campfire, a log still well alight although in the middle of the path. Lindsey then voiced the pertinent Archimedian thought "At 5cc's per sec, how many men does it take to put out a bonfire of 5000 BTUs?" but, alas, out of 7 male bladders present, 6 were stated to be empty and so the group moved on. However Thyl (truly this was turning out to be his day!) stayed discreetly astern of the caravan for a while. And then, in the non-attributable words of the sole but nameless eye-witness, the logfire was extinguished by a balding Belgian executive by an entirely natural and efficacious methodology whilst leaping like a Comanche brave round the waning flames amidst a cloud of white steam. (Sensitively, and in deference to the innate modesty of the AWW and the wish for anonymity on the part of the protagonists, Il Paparazzo forbore to take any pics of this episode.)
The route then wound over a number of "small" hills which, each in turn, elicited the enquiry "Is this the promised steep one?" Ultimately, there was no doubt at all which the truly steep one was as we hauled ourseves up to the ridge after crossing the Monchique road and the Boina River by bridge, Ian S. declining to dive in and put his new Cambodian swimming gear to the test.
As we walked along the ridge, we got a good view of Picota, seeing clearly how far we had walked. Descending to the Caldas de Monchique valley, we caught the fragrant scent of the heavily polluted ribeira de banho as we walked alongside it and pondered its origins - the pollution's that is, not the river's!
The remaining 10 finally reached the Foz at 3.30 and decided after the first beer that the walk was neither as tough nor quite the 25km as advertised but that, nonetheless, a good time had been had by all.


Back at the Foz

AWW 28.03.2007 The Incognito Walk or Hedley's Routemarch

Leader : Hedley

Present: Antje, Lindsey, Tina & Andrew, Ian W, Ian S, Janet, Gack, Vitor & Dina, John H, Rod, George & Ann, Stan & Elaine, David L.
Dogs: Archie and Tiggy

Stats
Total distance: 16Km (mais ou menos in absence of GPS)
Walking time: 4 hrs
Total time: 4.5. hrs
Av speed 4.0.Kph
Tilley hats: 2
Gaiters: 1

An impressively large turnout for a walk marshalled with military panache by veteran Hedley. Among the starters, “two-stick” Frew, David L. complete with a pair of waders, Stan wearing Tilley Two, and first-timer Andrew Fielder doing practical field research for his forthcoming thesis “Some Dialectical Differentiations between a Round of Golf and a Good Walk.”
Hedley’s report follows interspersed with the occasional editorial.

"Two-stick " Frew
These waders may come in handy

A splendid crowd of 18 gathered at the bar with no name (henceforward to be known as “Bar Incognito”). The pleasure at seeing Rod back from his Darwinesque South American travels was tempered by the fact that Bar Incognito was shut and we were thus deprived, not only of our coffee kick-start but also of the joy of seeing Rod at work, as he is the only person on the planet known to be able to charm a smile out of the owner.

We started promptly at 9.30 and following the obligatory school photo set off northwards up a steady series of ups and downs ( Note to the Committee – we really must define the precise incline of an “undulation”). The weather was tempered by a cold wind and the presence of a large cloud which hovered over the group for almost the entire walk, although there were large patches of blue in all other directions.Passing through the hamlet of Arrojela de Baixo which (like many such settlements on this walk ) appears to consist of only one house, we reached the crossing of the Ribeira da Senhora do Verde where Vitor slipped on one of the stepping stones and fell flat, happily only getting his feet wet. – the first of several more examples on this walk of what has been previously been documented as “Falling Down Syndrome” (FDS).
Before the fall

On northwards past the now deserted dwelling of the “Dung man”, with whom we have had several run-ins in the past, to a long uphill track which is getting close to impassable due to the encroachment of the dreaded cistus (clear evidence of the Leader’s failure to do a proper recce). Difficult to believe that this area was completely cleared by the fires a couple of years back.
Shortly after we reached the northernmost point of the walk and turned back through 180° along a couple of K’s of good striding country, to another one house village (Varginha).

(At this stage, scarcely yet noon, a trio of ladies began agitating for an early lunch, citing Napoleonic dogma about an army and its stomach, but this fazed Hedley not one jot; he quelled this incipient rebellion with delaying tactics worthy of Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator by following the example of that other military luminary, the Grand Old Duke of York, in marching’em up to the top of the hill and marching ‘em down again while – a master’s touch this – delegating (just as GODOY did) the actual task of leading the way to the real top to another, in this case Ian S. )


After a couple of abortive attempts to find the path (more cistus) (Hedley's words are overly modest - it was all pure tactics on his part) we found the climb and wound up the hill to the edge of the eucalyptus plantation where we settled out of the wind for lunch, at about 12.30 pm. Here Rod revealed that one of his new double arm action poles had suffered irreparable damage (memo: must stop frequenting the Chinese shops that are springing up everywhere).
After a quick lunch as nobody wanted to linger in the cold we marched on along the edge of the plantation (of which little is now left as the loggers are steadily salvaging the burnt out timber). Two more cases of FDS before we reached the Cavaca TP for the second obligatory photo.


(Hedley then displayed his generalissimo’s skills once more by appointing George as temporary leader and later, when George became uncertain as to landmarks, the Leader identified one, a long- abandoned car battery by the track-side, with a triumphant cry of “Oh Ye of little faith” and confidence and onward progress were duly restored.)

On over mainly downhill country which now offers very fine views seawards since the trees have been felled and so within sight of, or at least smell of, home. (At this stage, yet another example of the Leader’s Field-Marshallship at its best. The 2 Ians, scenting malted hops, had raced some 300 metres ahead of the pack and were drawing still further away in a left-flankingdirection. Hedley brought the group smartly to a halt, whipped-in the two tearaways, reasserted his leadership, turned sharp right and so quickly and…)
finally to Bar Incognito at 2.05 pm which was (no doubt thanks to the Leader’s prayers) open. For it to have been closed at both beginning and
end would have earned the Leader a lifetime supply of black marks!

During post-walk relaxation, the first of Andrew’s differentiations emerged: “you finish a Round of Golf earlier and get to the bar sooner”, Ian W. enthusiastically extolled the exciting prospects of next week’s Montinho Marathon – should be fun!- and Antje stood Ian S. two beers for his having rescued her Leki after last week’s Benagil stroll. If that is the market rate for recovered technical paraphernalia, what price that mysterious, unclaimed artefact still in Ian’s custody?

And finally

Ah've got those Incognito Blues

AWW 21.03.2007 Benagil Breeze or Lucky for Some

Leader: Ian S
Present: Hedley and guests George and Ann, Antje, Andrew and Lindsey, Jim Brownlow, Tina Fielder, Ian W., Janet, Gack, and John H.
Two dogs: Archie and Tiggy.

Obligatory statistical section:
Tilley Hat count: 1
Gaiter count: 0
Blood count: 2
Total distance: 6.722 miles
Time: 4.00 hrs exactly
Ascent/Descent: nobody noticed.
Leader assessment: positive (3 bonus points, 2 black marks)

14 gathered at Benagil by 9.15 including David Littlewood who, for reasons unclear, came only to cheer but did take the photo of the 13 walkers who left Benagil at 9.30 sharp.












































Lack of starting coffee an initial black mark for the Leader, whose verbatim report follows:

Easy stroll to Praia da Marinha, with frequent stops to admire views on a spectacularly sunny morning. A bright, breezy day with the sea a vivid mix of azul and green, disturbed only by a couple of snorkellers.
The Mike Pease secateurs were then ceremonially inaugurated on a spiky little bush which elicited a derisive snort from Jim (who has experience in these matters) “Call that a Bramble!”























The Pease secateurs cut in.



On to Pr. da Albandeira for a refreshment stop, meeting an increasing number of other “walkers”, and with yet more information pauses to read about “blow holes” in the limestone cliffs, and to try to identify the colony of birds (shags?) on Battleship Rock.
There then followed a slightly tricky descent to the last bay before climbing, past a snake hissing noisily in the grass, up and onwards to the headland of Nossa Senhora da Rocha where another, 20 minute refreshment stop was made, and a pleasing alternative to the customary “Oblig. Trig. Pic.” was taken in front of the chapel.




(Frequency of stops allowed by an unusually simpatico Leader earns him first bonus point.)

The return journey began relatively uneventfully until the Leader , totally engrossed in conversazione with Lindsey, lost his way and began leading his flock towards Porches until corrected by alert veterans.
(Second black mark.)

After this 10 minute diversion, order and compass bearings re-established, smooth progress was made permitting a running debate on the economic benefits of boots from Bulgaria, with Hedley claiming benefit of Old Age Pensioner’s discount over the leader.

























Which is the genuine Bulgarian?


Then, without warning, a disturbing incidence of FSD ( Falling Down Syndrome) struck; John H set the tone with a perfect pratfall on completely level ground. He claims that this was due to his being immersed in a meaningful conversation with Hedley the subject of which neither of them has any recollection about (Editorial comment – it may have been about Short Term Memory Loss .) What was most impressive was that as he hit the ground rigidly at attention like a Guardsman fainting on parade, not a single expletive was heard.

No harm done, luncheon was then taken on the beach at Albandeira –
(second bonus point to the leader here, the location being awarded 5 stars by the assembled gourmets) – until Hedley blew his RSM’s whistle and the troops continued back towards Benagil FSD struck again as Antje outdid John with a spectacular “Fosbury Flop” or “Western Roll” fall that nearly flattened the Leader too.

Equilibrium restored once more, the walkers returned to Benagil precisely on the 4-hour mark with the Leader for once being beaten to the bar, being smartly outpaced over the finishing stretch by a rejuvenated Antje.





The majority having left, the Leader retrieved an abandoned Leki Makalu – which earns him a third bonus point. Owner can reclaim it from him, ransome negotiable

AWW 14.03.2007 The Graveyard Shift or Lost in Loule

GPS says " Time to start!"

David promised "In spite of being relatively short, this is quite tough because of the amount of climb and descent." and when at the prescribed time he was sitting at Café D. Rosa in Querença main square with just Ian W. and John, he must have thought that it was a mistake to do so! However by 0945 hrs. and after a couple of desperate phone calls from the lost souls in Loulé, reinforcements had arrived, and the six 'Proud Walkers' prepared to leave after the customary coffee infusion!
It is worthy to note two facts about this walk:- 1. There were no dogs participating for the first time since an awful long time, and 2. The number of Tilley Hat wearers on this occasion reached an All-Time high of 50% - Ian W., John and of course Paul being the discerning half of the squad!





Querenca Walk Track (click to enlarge)

Leader: David
Present: Paul; John; Ian W. Hedley; Lindsey
No dogs!!



Stats:
Total Distance: 18.0 km
Moving Time: 4 hrs 14 min.
Total Time: 5 hrs 15 min
Moving average: 4.3 km/hr
Overall Average: 3.4 km/hr
Total Ascent: 820 m
Max Elevation: 445 m

Here is David's report:

Following a spate of cancellations and apologies, it was a small and very select band that gathered at Querenca for the start of the walk. John had arrived before breakfast to make sure not to miss us, having only made up his mind to walk at 6.a.m., a decision he seemed to regret at a later stage. Paul rang from Loulé having underestimated the time required for the journey from Lagos. Lindsey was lost in Loulé and phoned for directions. All of which was pretty lucky for Hedley, who arrived unannounced at about 9.45, also complaining about signage in Loulé, just as the rest of the party was coming together.
Not a very auspicious start, but nevertheless a start was made at just after 9.50. Things got just slightly worse, although the bulk of the group were not aware. The Leader turned off the road too soon down the hill from Querenca, which meant that the initial walk on tarmac was considerably extended. Hedley got nearest the truth, but the Leader was not going to admit to a mistake at that point.
A pleasant walk along the track to the Fonte de Benémola improved the underfoot, and the Fonte itself was admired, bringing water from heaven knows where underground to keep the river flowing. Above the Fonte it was already almost dry. The rocky ascent of the steep side of the gorge was accomplished without incident, but no-one felt like exploring the caves near the top.




Five above the Fonte

Arriving at Corcitos, the leader made another small error, but corrected himself within 100 metres, much to everyone’s delight. The rest of the lowland section of the walk was accomplished in good time. A young lady originating from Pendle in Lancashire was encountered briefly with her minute dog complete with mini bandana by the working fonte wheel near Tejeira. Then began the ascent of the range of hills which run to the north-east of the Querenca valley. It includes two trig-points and a lot of steep climbs, but the walking rate was very well-maintained. Lunch was taken at the first trig, Esguicho de Agua, after which Hedley declared himself satisfied with the day’s exertions, and left to find his own way back to Querenca on a lowland route.





After lunch at Esguicho de Agua

The Famous Five ploughed on to the second trig point, the location of which had been visible for what seemed like hours because of the mobile phone mast alongside it. The views from this point were truly remarkable, making the arduous climb (more or less) worthwhile.


The second TOTPP: Ian is feeling the cold and has a fleece inside his waterproof, while our northern 'ard man displays his one pack! (note the temperature was at least 20ºC and we had just had a hard climb. The words "namby pamby" were discussed at length!)

The descent from this high point was at times hazardous due to the steepness of the slope and the loose nature of the stones, but all reached the valley safely, though some knees were beginning to complain. The group then went off-piste for a short way to cut out a detour on the way to the final hill. Herewith lay the second cock-up of the day, when the Leader was unable to locate the perfectly good transverse path towards the Cemetery, and the group instead took on the hill at its steepest, through lightish scrub. This led to an arrival on the hilltop in someone’s garden rather than at the cemetery gates, but fortunately there were no dogs or electric fences.



Back at Cafe D. Rosa - with a good thirst!

All that remained was the short processional way from the cemetery back to Querenca and the bar. Hedley was sitting with what he claimed was his third beer, but few believed him. No stout for the Leader, but Bohemia was a good substitute. A good half-hour rattle about the previous week’s rugby internationals concluded proceedings. Once again the Leader had made an uncannily accurate estimate of distance, given that this time he really had plucked the figure out of thin air, but his timing was a little astray. Can’t win ‘em all.
This is undoubtedly a challenging walk, but a satisfying one, and one of many to be had in this relatively unspoiled part of the region.

Comment by CB: This proved to be a wonderful classic Eastern Algarve walk. The views from the extremely 'undulating' ridge that eventually led to the Trig Point with the mast some 3 km from Querença on the return journey, were superb, and (almost all agreed) worth the exertion. In some ways it was good that the group was small and compact, as it made for a faster overall pace, and less potential for accidents, as some of the downhill slopes were extremely steep and scree-ridden. This was an occasion when the newly-purchased AWW rope would have been of value - but of course it was packed in Ian S.'s rucksack beneath the debris of last week's packed lunch, and Ian had preferred to spend the day allegedly dealing with personal affairs, rather than participating in a new and 'highly' enjoyable ramble.
Now if only David could sort out the end, and avoid the 'v.diff' ascent to the graveyard!!!

AWW 07.03.2007 Forest Finagle

Ian & John arrive late - to much consultation of watches!!

Forest Finagle:

Leader(s): Myriam (Ladies' Invitation 10km)
Paul (The Race to the Bar)
Present:
Mike, Chris, Antje, John H, Lindsey, Andrew, Ian W., Ian S., David, John O', Brian.
Oscar, Tiggy

Stats: Length: 22.3 km, Moving Time; 4 hrs 34 minutes; Total Time: 5 hrs 13 minutes
Moving average; 4.9 km/hr; Overall Average: 4.3 km/hr
Total Ascent 538 m. Max Elevation: 186 metres

'Twas a 'soft' day, as our regular Paddy's John O' and Brian would have it. Seriously, it is getting beyond a joke how every time a Walk in the Forest is scheduled, it is grey with varying degrees of precipitation, which spoil the views. Between us we must have consulted about 300 online weather stations, all predicting minimal rain and clearing up in the later morning. However we had a fairly consistent windy drizzle, which fortunately abated before we settled for lunch at Pedra Branca.
John was being driven to the start by Ian S. and coming via a convoluted route to inspect possible future sites for Casa Scott, arrived almost 15 minutes late! Thanks to a timely phone call from the retards (!!), the ever considerate leader held back the pack who were ready for the off! Ian W. was making a welcome comeback after a World Tour of New Zealand, and this was to be a test of how much fitness he had retained.


Andrew had thoughtfully procured a climbing rope to avoid further incidents such as Lindsey's Cliff Adventure on the RTC Walk, and it was Myriam's honour as leader of the first part to carry The Rope!

The plan was for Myriam to test her dodgy knee on a flattish 10 km before lunch. However if the shadow leader had not stepped in, she would have arrived at the lunch spot 15 minutes after the start of the walk. Antje admitted that she was distracting her from her navigational duties by conversing to excess!! Once back on course to the forest path leading to Sculpture Hill, the cultural highlight of the walk, we maintained a good pace reaching Pedra Branca in just over 2 hours

Track of the Forest Finagle (click to enlarge)

Mike took the opportunity of this carefully designed walk to capture Paul's Geocache " 22.5 House", benefiting in no small amount by having the cache owner to observe his efforts. The starting cache was about 10 minutes before the lunch spot, and the rest of the walkers chewed on bananas and Energy Bars with great forebearance while Mike scrabbled around in the thicket!

Senior Geocacher at work!

Lunch was at Pedra Branca after just over 2 hours and 9.5 km, and there were plenty of flat stones and even a bench for our comfort.

Lunch with a view

At the Pedra Branca TP after lunch

After lunch, Myriam dropped out as planned, and was joined by Tiggy (involuntarily) who had an infected foot -(Antje sacrificed her further participation to drive her home!), and by Ian W. who had failed the fitness test, and was suffering from some strain to his upper legs or thereabouts!
The remaining ten set off at a cracking pace in the improved meteorological conditions, and soon reached the point where Mike was to continue the pursuit of the cache. This consisted of following one of Paul's Bamboo Diagrams, retrieved from the first cache, and for this he led the group through a minor forest path for about 3 km to finally reach the 22.5 House where he located the cache.

The group patiently waits for Mike to 'log' the cache while Oscar wonders what is going on!!

The remainder of the walk, on a wide and flat path down the Vale de Bordeira and back to Barão São João was done at a cracking pace which lifted our moving average to an unprecedented 4.9 km/hr, and would probably have been over 5 km/hr, had I not moved the GPS around while waiting for Mike to complete his geocaching operation.
The "Innominate" Bar (Palm Tree) which we frequent in BSJ had a new and rather more efficient barmaid than hitherto, and the only slight hiccup was that Myriam ordered in Portuguese and was supplied with two Chokolade quente's only later to establish that the lady was from London, and had thought Myriam was speaking chinese!!

John O' is a potential new convert to Tilley Hats, and models a slightly oversize version belonging to Chris




In a rare photo, John has captured Ian S. actually handing over to Lindsey, his week's pocket money for the beers he consumed . He had been working on his thirst the whole walk by refusing water and leaving his anorak on buttoned to the neck to promote a healthy sweat! I, on the other hand, paid up for my modest two beers on Lindsey's demand, despite the fact that as leader this week I had exemption. Being entirely honest, Lindsey was so troubled by blagging this extra cash from me that she sent me an IOU by email before dinner!!

AWW 28.02.2007 Pereira Perambulation

The Starters

A good turnout of 16 + 2 dogs on a great day for rambling, everyone smiling with the thought of Mike's promises from his email produced verbatim below:-

Difficulty rating: Extremely easy (bring Sudoku's as something to do whilst you walk)

Hills: No RF-hills or DL-undulations

It promised to be a 'walk in the park'!!

From WW Blog Pix

Pereira Walk Track - (click to enlarge)

In an extremely caring manner, Mike had considered the CB's arduous duty, and managed to keep the whole track on one sheet of the Military Map, sheet 594 to be precise. So accurate was his navigation that although we teetered on the western edge of the map - we did not fall off, and the task of posting this Track was made infinitely more simple!

Here is Mike's account of the walk, and I am only responsible for the statistics:

The walk for Wednesday 28th February was a re-run of 'Compote de Pereira'. An earlier attempt, in mid-November, was washed out in heavy rain. On this occasion we were blessed with a truly glorious day, sunny, warm and with a pleasant breeze. The walk is mostly along ridge-tops and the 360º vistas were at their best.

The early part of the walk near Quinta de Perdiz had been subject to a massive clearing operation

Present were: David, Andrew, Lindsey, Chris, Stan, Elaine, Caroline, Hedley, John, Paul, Janet and Mike, and not forgetting Oscar.

Guests were: Tina, and, from The Hash House Harriers: John O'Neil, Brian Holman and Mick Walters plus Shorty (a terrier, somewhat reminiscent of Muffin).

Statistics: Length 22.5 km, Total time 5 hrs. 45 minutes; Moving time 5 hrs 5 minutes;

Moving Average 4.4 km/hr; Overall Average 3.9 km/hr

TOTAL ASCENT: 707 m. Max Elevation 172 m. (cf. Walk description above!)

Rod was last heard of on the Galapagos Islands where he was presumably researching the origins of AWWs and our relationship to penguins. We will learn on his return whether we are to become the Algarve Wednesday Waddlers?

The start was bang on time and we reached Vale de Corvos trig point (159 m) on schedule after 90 minutes good pace walking. From this point there is a good ridge top path to Arão that permits the pace to be increased a little. We managed to pass through the village without loss of numbers despite the doors of the bar being open.

Vale de Corvos TP.

On the ridge that lies to the south of Arão we passed the spot where, in c. the year 3 PB (Pre-Blogs) Maurice endeavoured to entice a stray donkey with an apple that he had left over from his lunch. The moke would have none of this seductive offering and set off over hill and down dale hotly pursued by Maurice. A somewhat crestfallen Maurice duly rejoined the group later, minus the apple and never having established contact with the donkey.

Lunch was taken at the trig point Moita Ladrões (141 m) offering pleasant all-round views.

Lunch at Moita Ladrões

Following the descent we spied a donkey (another one) with a very young foal close to the road. This elicited tender 'ooohs and aaahs' from all the ladies, especially from Janet who expected to become a grandmother during the course of the walk -- but no cell phone message was received so we didn't get the anticipated bubbly. Tina kindly produced an apple and Mike was persuaded to emulate Maurice's endeavours, recalled above, but this time with success as the moke bit happily into the proffered apple. Is there a moral in this somewhere?

Live reenaction of Maurice and the donkey - successful this time!

We then passed through the hamlet of Mulher Morta which Lindsey was able to establish later from the barman at café/bar Goncalves in Pereira had some history as to its name. Years ago some villager (perhaps staggering home from the local on a Saturday night) had seen a vision of a lady who had died some time previously but who was now seen by the nearby stream, washing her clothes. Whether the lady had been murdered is purely a matter for idle conjecture.

On the ridge that lies immediately below the trig point of Boi (145 m) there is a turn-off point named 'The Virgins' Dilemma'. We took the 'wise virgin' path downwards that avoids that of the 'foolish virgins' which ascends to the trig point and then descends steeply by way of jagged burnt cistus. There was only one vote to be a 'foolish virgin' and she shall be nameless.

Mike doing the "Foolish Virgin speech"

Total distance covered was 22.5 km. For the first time ever there was complete harmony between Mike and Paul's GPS in this matter. Time elapsed, i.e. including stops, was 5 hours 45 minutes.

Dinah and Myriam met us at Pereira.

A much deserved drink!

At the end of the walk Andrew presented a rope for future use by AWW leaders who get so inextricably lost that the only way out requires such artificial means. It was noted that one end had been knotted to form a 'hangman's noose'. The implications of this are worrisome and there may be a shortage of leaders offering their services in the future.

Mike's Hero!!

Finally, I offer you a sobering thought as we amble around the countryside, carrying a back-pack weighing perhaps 5 kg at most and walking at a leisurely pace of say 4 km/hour. A Roman legionary would be expected to march at a pace of about 6 km/hour carrying food, clothing and fighting equipment that might weigh from 30-40 kg. [I have taken into consideration that the Roman mile was 1,000 steps, i.e. just over 1,600 yards]. Also, don't forget that he walked in hobnailed sandals (none of our fancy Gortex hiking boots for him). And, at the end of the day's march, he would be expected to spend about 2 hours erecting a 'Marching Fort' involving the construction of ditch, bank and palisade. In the Falklands Campaign of recent times, soldiers of the Parachute Regiment yomped 80 miles in 3 days carrying 50 kg of equipment and then had energy to fight the Argentineans. So ponder on these facts as Rod urges you up some mountain or Paul drives you yet faster as we go clean 'round the bend' or we face yet more undulations driven by 'you-know-who'.

AWW 21.02.2007 Arade Amble

Apology for a Trig point Pic - the Leader took pity on them!

The Arade Amble.

Personnel.

Two-Legs:- Terry, Caroline, Stan, Elaine, Mike, Chris, Hedley, Vitor, Dina, Paul, Janet, David.

Guests from the St. Patrick’s Society, in training for the Algarve Way:- Brian, Mike, Sylvia, John O’, John H, David, Lesley.

Four-Legs:- Tiggy, Oscar.

‘At Home’:- Myriam, Jill, Dinah.


Track of the walk - click to enlarge.

Stats: Distance: 18.6 km, Moving Time: 4 hrs 10 min: Total Time: 5 hrs 6 minutes
Moving Average: 4.4 km/hr, Overall Average: 3.6 km/hr
Total Ascent 567 m: Max Elevation: 202 m.

Weather:- Cloudless start, increasingly cloudy and colder towards mid-afternoon.

Here is David's tale of the walk!

Fresh from their initial training walk the previous day, the St. Patrick’s contingent arrived in fine form to join a strong turnout of WW regulars at Amorosa where, luckily for the leader, the bar was open and the caffeine addicts could get their fix. Assisted by Myriam and Dinah, the whole party then decamped to the start of the walk near the chapel of Sao Pedro, just outside Messines. The first section of the walk took place along the low ridge connecting the outskirts of Messines with the upper waters of the Barragem do Funcho, which was seen to be still at virtually maximum capacity. This contrasts with the situation two years ago, when much of the walk could have been undertaken along the river valley floor, so severe was the drought.

The main part of the walk took the group alongside the Barragem, taking in the height just below the Panasco trig-point. No-one seemed to be interested in the idea of a detour to the trig itself, but a group photo was taken at the high-point. Paul managed to get into one version by pretending that he couldn’t work Terry’s camera. Lunch was taken halfway along the Barragem walk when it looked as though the fine morning might turn into a damp afternoon. Fortunately the weather stayed fine, though it became distinctly cooler as the afternoon progressed.

Struggling up the first climb

After lunch the winding way round the Barragem resumed, followed by a climb out of the valley to the ridge overlooking Vale Fuzeiros. A tramp along the tarmac was avoided by an adventurous scramble over rocks and through light scrub on the northern side. Yes, there is a path, it just takes a bit of finding! What remained was to cross the valley once Amorosa was well in view, and to climb the short distance to the village. Tiggy and Oscar were shepherded expertly at this point past the only farm livestock encountered, in the shape of a family of ducklings.

A debate had developed during the later stages of the walk between Leader and Guardian of the GPS about the length of the walk. Announced as a c17k, it appeared that we were going to break the 20k with ease, until it emerged that the Guardian had been calculating based on a return to Sao Pedro, whereas the walk was designed to finish at the bar. There was an overshoot, but within the limitations of the low-tech methods employed by the leader, not an awful one.

A pleasant, extremely pretty walk, and the prospect of some new members for the group, as the St. Patrick’s folk declared themselves well-satisfied with their two days of exercise. For those who might be interested in an invite to tag along, they are to begin their attempt on the Algarve Way on the 16^th of April, walking for two days a week until they finish. These plans may change slightly when we post-mortem the trial walks of last week, but the general time-frame will stay. Anyone who tells the SPS that their members were drinking 25cl beers at the bar will NOT be allowed to walk.

Caroline assesses a dead snake. - Unfortunately, Myriam, our Snake Soup consultant was not available to judge whether it could yet be turned into a tasty broth - or whether consumption of the raw gall bladder would give one of our senior members a new lease of life!!
Later on we came across a Caracois production facility - if only we had known this could have been a real Gourmet walk.



The gate post of the Snail Farm


The St. Patrick's contingent enjoying the 'best' part of the walk!! Who said size matters!!!

AWW 14.02.2007 John's Bonus (but late) Pix

The Valentino's and Valentina's arranged in a more orderly fashion.

John's pix arrived a little late for the stringent deadline, but 'para encorajar os outros' I have printed a Late Extra Pictorial Supplement. Note the four (yes four!) sets of gaiters resplendent in the sunlight.

Chris - on parade - a candid natural pose.

Making a real effort to compete with the CB in terms of attire and accoutrements, and while the new gaiters, highly polished Clarks WalkLite boots and Tilley Hat are impressive, he fails on lack of Mobile Statistic Gathering Equipment on his Utility belt.

'Another fine mess....!

The 'Leader' pioneering a route across the first gully and up the opposite bank!.



Lindsey has heard enough....!

The time comes to settle the drinks bill!!! Some recollections are faulty, but Lindsey has can handle this, and is about to deliver the 'One Finger Rib Wrecker'! Andrew has experience of that finger and looks on in trepidation.

AWW 14.02.2007, St Valentine's Day Misadventure

A fine field of thoroughbreds milling around before the Starter's Flag goes up!

Things didn't look promising at first as St Valentine's day dawned, grey in Lagos, and drizzly for our more easterly participants. Then I received a worried phone call from Mike, explaining that he couldn't couldn't come as he had run over one of his dogs, and was imminently on his way to the vet. Thankfully, Nestor is a tough old girl, and things weren't as bad as feared at first. By the time we had reached the start near Corgo da Fonte, heading for Três Figos, the sun was out and it turned out to be splendid walking weather.

Leader: Paul
Present: Chris; Antje; Andrew; Lindsey; Ian S.; John; David: Hedley; Janet: Tina
Tiggy

Stats: Length 19.5 km. Total Time; 5hrs 40 min. Moving Time; 4 hrs 37 minutes
Overall average speed 3.4 km/hr; Moving Average 4.2 km/hr
Total Ascent 546 metres, Max Elevation 358 metres, Start elevation 100 metres

Corgo da Fonte Walk track. (Click to enlarge.)

First a little explanation: Lindsey inveigled me into leading a walk on the 28th, and I had been intending a new walk in this area for some time. New technology prompted a new approach to routefinding, so I downloaded the 1973 Military map of the area into my computer, and with the aid of an excellent piece of software called OziExplorer, I laid out a theoretical track of around 20km, following what could have been good paths in 1973. Fortunately, some parts of the Algarve have not changed much in this time, and the only problem was that the northern E-W part of my chosen path is now the Aljezur-Marmelete Expressway!!
I did a preliminary recce by G-Wagen last Wednesday after I had wimped out of the Carrapateira walk, and then remembered that owing to Rod's dicky ankle, I was promoted to leading the walk on the 14th. Only two problem areas - the aforementioned Aljezur road, and the N-S uphill leg from where the undergrowth became impenetrable to vehicles, up to the northern end of the Romeiras-Marmelete road, which again in 1973 was only a track.
This last was rediscovered last Sunday with the selfless assistance of Chris and Antje, on a rather dismal and drizzly day, and without the benefit of gaiters, which would have been most useful. That left in the lap of the Gods, an unreccied attempt to traverse from E-W to reach the homeward path, using as little tarmac as possible. As there had been plenty of logging and clearing in the area, I crossed my fingers and bravely announced that "There must be a way through!"



Crossing a small gully

Now to the walk. We met for an early coffee at D. Aldina's fine establishment, Casa Pacheco in Romeiras, and having two non-walkers, Myriam and Dinah, we were driven to the start near Corgo da Fonte. We had been graced with the unexpected presence of Hedley, fresh from his Christmas return to the UK, and of Tina, introduced by Janet "just to see if she likes it!" The long uphill start to the most NE point of the walk was fairly uneventful, and the drying effect of the sun was that the 4 sets of gaiters on show, (Lindsey, Andrew, Chris and Antje) were rendered largely superfluous. Chris was also christening his new Christmas Tilley, which is still a pristine white as can be seen from the photo above.
At top of climb, I was astonished to find we had only covered 5 km, as I had promised at least 17 km. I surreptitiously threw in an extra loop 'for the views' - but as it turned out I didn't really need to!




Picking our way down the terraces of a major replanting area.

Into the valley we plunged, and although rough going for the latter section where the clearing and replanting had been undertaken, it was slightly worrying that there had been no activity on the other side of the valley where I hoped to ascend. We reached a very narrow valley floor and carried on down hoping for a place to cross. The decision was taken out of our hands as the cleared path we were on took an upward turn away from the river.

Antje clambering out of the gully while Chris wonders whether he should risk his Tilley Hat down there!

Eventually, with much huffing and puffing we all emerged on the rather overgrown path on the opposite side. The GPS was telling me where we wanted to go, but there didn't seem much in that direction, so I headed off on a mini-recce. While I was away there was a unilateral decision to lunch (NFF Poor discipline not to wait for the leader - must convene the sub-committee on battlefield punishments!) Anticipating this need for the occasional recce, I had brought along the W/T, and after slashing my way through some brambles and up a near vertical slope, to my amazement I found myself in a large marrow patch, that had been abandoned some time previously, but was producing marrows of an astonishing size and health. This gave me a clue that there must be some civilisation nearby, and in fact there was after thrashing through some more undergrowth I arrived at an abandoned pig farm. I managed to extract a promise from David (between mouthfuls) to follow on, and eventually we all made it up through the marrow patch with varying degrees of gnashing and wailing.

The climb to the Marrow Patch
A fine pair.... (well you expected that didn't you!!)



"The Marrow Patch Dolls!" (Note how I have refrained from anything crude and obvious!!)

After the pig farm, the route up to the Aljezur-Marmelete road was reasonably easy though warm going, and after a few hundred metres on tarmac we reached the intended path down towards Três Figos and thence Romeiras. Before this, the sensitive and romantic Leader handed out 'Love Hearts' sweets to all survivors (both male and female - no homophobia here!) Regrettably no records were kept of the words of wisdom inscribed thereon, but the fizzy sweets themselves evoked fond memories of a far more innocent era.

The remainder of the walk was a pleasant long downhill stretch, followed by a rather overgrown transition across to meet the Romeiras road down through the HGV and Agricultural machinery Repair depot. Then a sprint to Casa Pacheco, narrowly won (as ever) by Ian S, and a well earned beer, Janet produced her pumpkins, and we all admired them!




PS: If this walk is to be done again it needs some refining, although many expressed that they enjoyed the uncertainty and the moderate scrambling, and it may be that an extension to the north of the Aljezur -Marmelete Road needs to be explored.

AWW 07.02.2007 Carrapateira Climatic Capers!

Apologies from the CB, as on a day that turned out to be less damp than a squib, I took the torrential downpour on our terrace to be representative of the day ahead, and secured a cancellation notice from Chris (whom I thought was to be the leader). Little did I know, that Antje had been gagging to model her rain gaiters, and would not be swayed from pressing on with the walk. Nevertheless, I maintained my stance, and took advantage of the later (dryish) forenoon to commence a recce of next week's potential walk, which had been brought forward from the 28th owing to Rod's temporary incapacity.

T.O.T.P.P

No 'Mats, flaps or bidet' this week (for the uninitiated - car sales jargon for desirable optional accessories ) as I was unable to record a track or upload a Bamboo Diagram for this particular version of Antje and Chris's walk. Photos by John - main report by Chris and inappropriate comments (where appropriate) by me!

CARRAPATEIRA CLIMATIC CAPERS

Leader; Chris; Executive Producer; Antje

Attendees : Terry M, Ian S, John H, Janet,Caroline, Stan, Elaine and their guests Jill and Chris.

Only one dog, Tiggy.

Despite the forecast of inclement weather, as evidenced by heavy rain in the Lagos area, eleven intrepid WW's elected to brave the elements and meet for the walk at the Cafe Bravo in Carrapateira as planned. That the leader of the day had indicated that no wimping out would be be allowed after the start, whatever the weather, hadn't served to deter any of the participants. In fact, we were greeted with dry, partly sunny conditions when we set off, with little sign of the impending rain clouds on the horizon.

With the intention of maintaining what had been billed as a "shorter walk" scant attention was paid to those seeking more hills and greater distances. The start was varied however to include a rapid ascent to the trig point above Carrapateira in order to enjoy the splendid coastal views and allow for the by now obligatory photo to be taken.An equally rapid descent to join the more usual valley path was greeted with a few complaints mostly silenced when the stiff climb up to Monte Velho was commenced.

The traditional approach to Praia do Amado was varied however to include an additional loop to the South, which when nearing the cliff path to the beach resulted in some route deviations being proposed by RTC veterans seeking the off piste excitment of vertical slopes and cistus plants in abundance. Fortunately sanity prevailed in the end and the regular route was followed to the beach and on to a windswept headland chosen as the scenic lunch spot.

A "domestic'" between the leaders..left or right? Janet wanted it both ways.
(Antje models her new gaiters while making a point with Janet. Chris is about to produce a yellow card!)

With winds increasing and rain clouds building, in no time at all lunch was consumed and the gallant group set off to complete the full distance, following the cliff path to Pontal and Praia da Bordiera. Carrapateira was soon in sight once again and with the scent of the beer at Cafe Bravo now in the wind, good progress was made across the sand dunes as the first drops of rain began to fall.

No sooner were we seated under the awning at Cafe Bravo than the heavens opened and the forecast heavy rain began to fall in earnest. Divine intervention perhaps, but precision timing and an unswerving insistance on following the planned route enabled us all to enjoy a pleasant days walk in the dry, in spite of the prevailing climatic conditions. Overall the distance was about 16km and the walking time almost exactly 4 hours, as confidently predicted.

It must be something in the beer - post ramble depression sinks in... !!


P.S If this walk is to be repeated when weather conditions are more settled it can easily be extended by another 4-5 kms by following either Ian and Pam's route as the bamboo diagram, or by adding a longer Southern loop from Monte Velho. Trying to include some of the RTC cliff paths might be possible after a more detailed recce of the terrain, which becomes quite confusing as you near the shoreline. Has anyone details of the route for a one way walk from Aljezur to Bordeira, or indeed have we previously done walks in the Aljezur area?

AWW 31.012007: Elderly Gentlemans Excursion!

The Blind leading the Blind!

This was not posed!!! A completely candid shot meant to represent the Virtual Leader handing over the Bamboo Diagrams for this walk to the Actual leader resulted in this shot of their eyes wide closed! The guide dog was also a fortunate happenstance!

Mike - a truly conscientious and caring Leader had spent many years researching this walk, leading Chris and other supporting recce troops into a variety of dangers and adventures - and had come up with a definitive set of Bamboo Diagrams (although not strictly in the Authorised version), and had determined that Antje would interpret them and lead the group round this challenging route. Not only was the walk finished on time, with only a couple of minor steering errors, but it came in within an allowable difference from the published length! And with enormous distinction, the script for this Blog was in my inbox by 6 pm on that very day, closely followed by some interesting pix from John. Here is Mike's eloquent summary!

Elderly Gentleman's Excursion (Marmelete Mission)


Compiling the track of the walk was not helped by the fact that Mike had managed to design this excursion to cross the corners of 4 sheets of the military maps.

Leader: Mike
Present: Chris, Antje, Paul, Andrew, Lindsey, Ian S, Rod, John, Stan, Elaine, Ian W
Tiggy, Pookie and Oscar
Distance 20.6 km, Walking time 4hrs 40 min, Total time 5 hrs 18 minutes: Avg walking speed 4.4km/hr Overall average speed 3.8 km/hr
Total Ascent (New Feature) 770 metres.
Mike's words follow:

Preamble. The report on this week's walk comes in somewhat distorted fashion for those AWWs, e.g. the Blog Editor, accustomed to reading blogs upside down, from right to left and whilst standing on one's head and reading with the aid of a mirror. In this case the walk report starts at the beginning and ends at the finish - peculiar maybe, but just put it down to lapsing into a bygone age.

The pre-walk warning that 'the pace would be that of an elderly gentleman strolling the promenade' did not deter twelve doughty walkers and three dogs from meeting on time at the café/bar Sola da Serra in Marmalete. Coffee and loos were available, thus permitting the walk leader two unqibbled deviations from route without penalty.

Before setting out on schedule at 09.30 hours Mike promptly delegated all responsibility for walk leadership to Antje who gamely accepted the proffered bamboo diagram and, together with Elaine, ensured that the route was followed in exemplary style.

...

Rod forlornly preparing for the slow limp back to the start!

Regrettably after some 30 minutes Rod sprained a fetlock and wisely decided to hobble his way back. The suggestion that ice would be desirable was met with rather a blank look as he prefers his whisky neat. This left 11 walkers and 2 dogs to complete the route.

Weather throughout was perfect which made for pleasant walking. We reached the Cerca river after 1 hour 30 minutes easy walking. Some slippery stepping stones and a greasy bank resulted in two cases of water-in-the-boot.

..

Pride comes before a ........

.

..........Fall !!!
I couldn't resist including John's exciting photos of the Chief Bridge Builder, who energetically hurled large rocks into the raging torrent - each rock displacing the one that had gone before, rather like a Giant's game of Petanque! When at last he attempted the final step to the bank, he actually reached there dry before gently leaning backwards and planting his left leg up to the knee in the crystal brook to forestall a more comprehensive wetting! John was a little over eager in his pressing of the shutter, but the slightly blurred picture gives a fine perception of motion and drama!(CB)

From the Cerca river it is a pleasant climb with, at the top, excellent views of Aljezur and Rogil to the west. Much of this area was severely burnt in the fires of two years ago. Now the land has been cleared and new plantings, including of eucalyptus carried out. The lunch stop, for instance, overlooked extensive views to the south-west which, in a year or two's time will be solid forest -- until the next forest fire rages through.

Antje led us with unfailing accuracy through the abandoned hamlet of Marioilas, now just a sad collection of ruined farm cottages, and on to a ridge top that gave us views back towards the Capela de S. António opposite Marmalete. Paul assured us that, in a direct line, it was just 3 km away. However, we were able to extend this into 8 km.

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The 'Committee on Bamboo Diagrams' discussing how to prolong the walk!

After crossing the Marmalete-Passil-Selão road, recently tarmac surfaced, and thus to be avoided, we took a ridge top track that eventually led down to the Passil river that was successfully crossed with no sock-wettings. The homeward leg was a lengthy solid climb of some 4.5 km but the scent of a pint of foaming ale made this less onerous.


Group in front of surplus eucalyptus logs resulting from the previous years' fires.

As usual there was some questioning regarding the final length of the walk. But 21 km is a reasonable compromise. Walk duration was scheduled as 5 hours 15 minutes and this would have been followed to the minute had there not been finicky photographic requirements. This resulted in the walk exceeding its scheduled time by 2 minutes 30 seconds, thus causing considerable gripe from the Blog Editor who rated this as lost beer time.

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Bathed in the winter sun at the Café

Myriam + Maio met us at the Café/bar Sol da Serra where we were able to enjoy our drinks outside in delightfully sunny weather.

Postscript. Mike has the necessary equipment for cleaning the tubes and bag of a Camelback water container which he will happily lend to anyone asking for it.

WW24.01.2007 Odelouca Odyssey

Starting at the Top - the 2nd Trig Point

I was hoping for some contribution from this week's Leader (or his Ghost Writer) but to date (Saturday afternoon) all I have are some excellent photos from John,(one of which is above), and the prospect of an afternoon's creative calumny. I know these are very busy people, not retired in my understanding of the word, so it is my duty to risk 'Carpal Tunnel Syndrome' while they attend to their 'high maintenance' home life.

Odelouca walk track in green

Odelouca Odyssey: 16.7 km; 4 hr 40 total; 3 hr 50 moving.
Leader: Ian S.
Present: Elaine; Chris; Vitor; Dina; Gack; Rod; Paul; John
Tiggy; Archie; Pookie

A smaller turn out than is usual, but a quality field. Myriam has a painfully swollen knee, Stan was up a ladder directing his Eastern European WorkForce, Mike was doing his indentured labourer act in painting his son's house in UK (should be the other way round IMHO!), Lindsey was also in UK engaged on Grandmothering affairs; Terry A. has recently joined the ranks of the gainfully employed, and David was the latest victim of the 'Algarve Chestikoff' which has been doing the rounds; Ian W. and Antje were hobnobbing with Algarve Royalty in the Garden Society (or so they would have us believe!); Thyl is still a mystery; and the rest were probably discouraged by the prospect of being Blogged.

And so we gathered at 0930 in the forenoon at Café Ourique. Ian as the local Squire, has still not managed to exert his influence on the owner to open at 9am for pre-walk coffee, but as we were a tad late in setting off, Gack managed a quick Bica at about 0935. I had arrived at about 9, and not to be denied, detoured to Café Mira Rio for a meia de leite, which later I had to concede was a mistake. An early climb was a prospect, but Ian wisely spared us route one and we struggled up a slightly more gentle route to the first trig point, via one he had prepared earlier, with his trusty machête.
A little further on we were astonished at the site of the enormous electricity sub-station which had blossomed in a valley to the east of Porto de Lagos. I have marked the approximate location of this site on the Track map above, but you will have to enlarge it to see clearly.

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The 'new' EDP sub-station.

Shortly after this after another small period of exertion, we paused for a rest, and a strange phenomenon occurred (see photo below). There was a short debate on whether it was an effect of the workings of a creative mind, or a continuation of the process whereby he had already burnt off most of his hair, or indeed whether the aliens that had taken over his body recently were making good their escape. Privately I was of the opinion that it was the failure to wear the correct official Tilley Head gear. You will need to enlarge the photo to perceive the full effect.


Smokey John and The Miracle!


Some distance after this, the true extent of Ian's recce became apparent, when he led the group along a nicely defined path near a reservoir. Certain members became slightly uneasy when water appeared on both sides - and ahead!! Undaunted our leader went on ahead, only to return a little shamefaced with the news that we probably wouldn't want to try fording the 50 metres of bottomless reservoir ahead! If you scroll back to the Track map above you can see our excursion down the 'Peninsula of No return? to the east of the large reservoir! However the situation was easily recovered by an about turn and a very pleasant stroll round the whole reservoir, marred at first only by two luminously leather clad outcasts from the recent Lisbon-Dakar rally on extremely noisy dirt bikes who tediously lapped the reservoir hoping to impress the unimpressable. I say at first because after another 30 minutes or so we were confronted by a stroppy employee of the consortium whose land we had unwittingly strayed into(!!), who had driven down to chase off the bikers, and who was delighted to have a group of estrangeiro walkers to confront. When Rod protested that we had not in fact passed any 'No Entry' or 'Private Property' signs the logical reply was that it was because his signs were constantly stolen! Rod queried how we were supposed to know it was private, and in another triumph of logic over reason, our Sheriff replied " Because I am telling you!" This was too much, and the Boundary Ranger hadn't reckoned on our party containing a leading human rights and rights of way duo of Vitor and Dina! They replied so convincingly to the hapless rangers challenge that we continued on our way without further ado,while Vitor and Dina continued to put our case. Eventually the poor man was convinced that he, himself was probably trespassing on our Right of Way!


Vitor and Dina confront the 'jobsworth'

Further round the reservoir path, Ian, who was a few paces ahead of the field in his role as leader, made an Important Archaeological Discovery. There on the path, possibly released by some seismic activity, lay an ancient Shepherd's Wand, probably of eastern European origin. It is thought that one or two examples of this intricate metalwork mounted on an ashen shaft were brought to Iberia by Emigré Belgian Adventurers, but this has yet to be confirmed, by our Chief Archaeologist, Mike who was absent through redecoration duties. I believe that this priceles item qualifies as Treasure Trove if not claimed within a Year and a Day, and as Finder, Ian will be entitled to auction it to the highest bidder. On his behalf I give notice that anyone who believes they may have Right or Proprietary Interest in this amazingly well-preserved artefact should contact Ian to open deliberations of the Board of Restitution.


Finders Keepers!



A close up view of the intricate metal work of this early example of Eastern European Outdoor Leisure equipment.
Note the Masonic Emblemage and Duck's Bill motif. Comments as to the significance of this ornamentation will be gratefully received.

After this triumph we climbed towards the scarp above the estuary into which the Odelouca flows, and discovered the precautions that the Boundary Ranger had taken to keep out undesirables in the shape of a rusty chain and some collapsed barbed wire. Ever the friend of the environment, Ian dispatched the barbed wire with a few snips of his trusty Colditz Brand wire cutters, and then enjoyed a swing on the chain assisted by the easily amused Gack!!

'Two Sticks sits on the fence'

Ian's prediction had been 16-18 kms for the walk, and his luck held as our sight seeing trip down the Peninsula had padded it out sufficiently to reach 16.7 km. During the post-walk discussion at Café Ourique. it was deemed to be a congenial and successful outing, although some doubts were expressed as to whether we should run the gauntlet of The Sheriff of Morgado de Arge again!

And so back at Café Ourique, a well earned beer in the sun - this was to have been the best day of the week weatherwise. Ian should have bought a EuroMillions ticket!

AWW 17.01.2007: Back at Casa Littlewood

Dinah and David generously hosted the Après Walk refreshments on the roof terrace of their new residence. Some great views, and the attention to detail exhibited by David in ensuring a liberal supply of Sagres Bohemia for a certain deserving CB crowned the occasion!

Dinah's flapjacks were delicious, although the photo might tend to make you think otherwise!

Ice Cold in Covões!

Guess who got there first - mainly because Myriam still had the keys to the car, and I had not the energy to track her down to change my boots!

AWW 17.01.2007 T.O.T.P.S. Cabeça de Areia

The final 7 kilometers were actually quite tough as already weary legs had to cope with an extremely rough and untidy section of barrocal leading to the ruined windmill and trigpoint on the top of Cabeça de Areia (377 metres) where this obligatory photo was taken. As David has recounted, owing to circumstances almost beyond his control we had not been close enough to the previous two TP's to warrant a photo.

From Blog pix for ...

AWW 17.01.2007:- The Goats!

There had been some debate on the advisability of publishing the availability of 'bail out' points before a walk actually commenced. David was of the opinion that he would attract more punters if they thought they would not have to endure the Full Monty of 25km and the advertised three trig points. Some were of the opinion that 'Quality' in the field was preferable to 'Quantity', and I ventured that "Why provide straws if the men are not yet drowning!" Nevertheless, under a variety of pretexts, the three above were smiling with relief at the 18 km point at Alto Fica, and waiting for the Cavalry in the shape of Dinah to arrive, while the rest of the group strode on with heads held high, whistling 'Keep Right On to the End of the Road'. I say the rest of the group, but Rod sensing that 'Naming and Shaming' might be imminent kept well out of the camera's field of view, announcing a last minute early retirement, on the grounds of the effects of his recent Chestikoff!
And so the Six Superb Sheep were separated from the Goats, who also thoroughly disappointed their canine companions by cutting their day short a little after 2 pm.

AWW 17.01.2007 Lunch on the River Terrace!

In a stroke of genius, David had managed to ignore the cries of the increasingly enfeebled for 'Lunch' and held off until all had reached the opposite bank of the river, thereby combining the lunch stop with the feet drying and chiropody stop, thereby saving an enormous amount of time.

From Blog pix for ...

Toes twinkling in the bright sunshine provided an aromatic accompaniment to lunch at the River Terrace Café. Mike led a lively discussion on the merits of puncturing bruised toenails to release the pressure of congealing blood, and I have a very strong feeling that in the near future he will present me with a Holmesian Monograph on the subject of 'Feet and How to Preserve Them' for this very Blog.

AWW 17.01 2007- Crossing the Raging Algibre!

One Man and His Dog..... went to cross a river!

I managed to dance across on tip toes without getting TOO wet in time to catch the barefoot waders!