ww 22.11.2006; Thyl's season debut

Ian S. had tipped Thyl off that the way to get into the Blog was to remove your trousers! (Blog text continues below)


The straggling walkers were regrouping around a large slug when Thyl suddenly rematerialised. A surreal, Samuel Beckett-like conversation then ensued.
Thyl “I came back only because I was worried”
Leader “Worried? About what?”
T “Worried that you were worried”
L “What, me worried?”
T “Yes, I don’t want you to worry.”
L “I’m not worried.”
T “Good, that’s exactly why I came back. You weren’t to be worried.”
L “I wasn’t worried.”
T “Precisely. I was right then to come back”
.
Thyl’s benediction nevertheless had its effect; suddenly the clouds lifted, the wind dropped, the sun shone palely through, and all was indeed downhill from there on in, until the Café Descansa Pernas (much needed by some) was regained at 1600 precisely.

WW 22.11.2006; Fungi on Foia

So far, the blood count had been low, merely one three inch scratch on the Leader’s right shin. Desperate of Odiaxere persisting in his attempts suddenly pleaded blood via a puncture on his left ankle. The medics gathered round but because of the rain, the blue dyes running from the patient’s blue trousers and blue socks into his blue boots and the fact that D.of O.’s blood is itself bluest of the blue, could see no sign of blood. No blood, no chance of whisky, not even externally applied.
By now, however, the weather had really closed in and the gathering mists were disorientating. At about this point, Thyl disappeared but, he being a most experienced solo walker, no real concern arose. With visibility reduced to about twenty metres, Paul was navigating on infra-red. Crops of mushrooms were discovered but, before Antje could be summoned to harvest them, Jim (or his boot) firmly squashed any such plan.

WW 22.11.2006 The Diviners . Mike & Lindsey

A further lengthy stop was necessary during the return over the top of Foia for a recce patrol to suss out a bye-way. During this, Aquarius of Odiaxiere ingeniously attempted to interest Lindsey and Jim in a beginner’s course in water divining. Sure enough, the wires started twitching in the maestro’s hands, and also in the hands of his acolytes, but only in the direction of the Consultant’s knapsack, wherein lay the fabled but-never-seen flask of usquebaugh. Sadly no dram was forthcoming.

WW 22.11.2006 T.O.T.P.S Madrinha

At 1330, Madrinha Peak was duly reached, Paul and Mike’s GPSs differing as to altitude by a mere three metres. Paul then levitated a further 5 metres to take the obligatory Trig Point photo.

WW 22.11.2006 "Porco Preto!"

STOP PRESS: GREAT CHINESE TAKE-AWAY FOILED
A gentle post-prandial stroll then directed us towards the top of Madrinha but, en-route, Myriam spied some piglets which she began to stalk, ostensibly for photographic purposes but, truth to tell, with visions of dinner that night being “Clispy Loast Suckring Pig for Two”. However, a remarkably surly farm lady was not at all deceived by her camera, shooed her away, and so saved her pets’ bacon for another day.

WW22.11.2006 - "He marched them up to the top of the hill"

Mike receives 'The order of the (returned) Boot'.

Walk: Monchique Helipad - Madrinha - Foia - Monchique Helipad; 21 km 5hrs 15 walking/ 6 hrs 25 total time

Leader(notional); Ian S.
Present: Paul; Myriam; Andrew; Lindsey; Rod; Chris; Antje; John; Mike; Hilke; Thyl; Jim; Paddy & Mary (1st time visitors)
Tiggy; Oscar.

Despite the forecast weather a good turnout for a walk designed to be a good workout, and to give some much-needed uphill and distance. Not sure whether Ian had briefed Mary and Paddy on his intentions, but their recent high-level trek in Bhutan should have stood them in good stead. They hadn't reckoned on the rigours of the ascent of the east face of Foia!!
Another first for this Blog is that I have determined that the leader engaged the services of a 'Ghost Writer' to enhance his literary credibility. Despite the three day wait for this masterpiece, I have only exercised my editorial muscle on spelling (typos?), grammar, punctuation and fact!! It comes in several installments with photos which I hope match the script!
The track of the route (including some interesting diversions is below, and can be enlarged by clicking.

From WW Blog Pix

Outside the Cafe Descansa Pernas,(no need - yet!!) before the walk, Mike was presented with the Order of the Returned Boot, thereby being reunited with a treasured talisman.

This over, the walk got under way promptly at 0930 hrs beginning with an easy half-hour stroll upwards through Monchique and Peso. First appearances were deceptive and at 1015 , after a few moments of indecision between Leader and Consultant, a left-hand swing round the hill brought the first test: an Outward Bound obstacle course circa 1960's-style of fiendishly felled eucalyptus trunks which tested the group’s limbo and high-jump skills.

After this mini-Becher’s Brook, steady climbing brought us up to the architectural delights found at the summit of Foia.

Such was the foul changeability of the weather at this stage that the more fashion-conscious began to require frequent stops, the excuse being to adjust/change their outer gear, to which the leader too readily consented. About 1130, during one such pause, an instance of blatant banana skin-throwing provoked a sectarian altercation between adherents of, respectively, the Partido Verde (Marxist-Leninist) and the Partido Verde (Trotskyist); the former asserting that this polluted the environment, the latter that recycling vegetable matter reduced methane emissions. (Rod studied that subject briefly if informally during his University days and his comments will be welcome.)

This revolutionary dialectic dispute plus with the length of the halt provoked mutterings on the part of Rebellious of Odiaxere who began, sotto voce, to suggest the deposition of the Leader. However, the calm diplomacy of the Consultant quelled such talk before it gathered too much volume and guided R.of O. tactfully back to topics nautical such as Brass Monkeys, Powder Monkeys, etc.

Luncheon was taken at 1230 at a site of peculiar verticality, albeit sheltered from the wind, where we grasped our fodder with one hand whilst clinging to the vegetation with the other, like gorillas feeding on the precipitous, rain-forest slopes of the Virunga Mountains. New walker, Paddy, lately returned from the luxurious, carpeted caravanserais of Bhutan, was not overly impressed with the Leader’s choice of locale, comparing it afterwards to “the north face of the Eiger ...only with brambles.”

Farewell to Xana

Sadly, our dog Xana, a long-time Wednesday Walker died on Monday night, of a wasting anaemic illness, probably brought on by a recent severe dose of tick fever. She was almost eleven and well known to all of us. She was fiercely loyal to Myriam, and had a streak of independence, which had in the past, caused much stress to chickens we encountered on our walks. She will be sadly missed. 

AWW 15.11.2006 "..........do we not bleed?"

Not long after the start of the walk, it was noticed that Ian S. had been shaken off. Mike P. called a Group Halt, and was about to launch into his speech "For Fallen Comrades", when Ian was spotted cresting the rise 'Bloodied but Unbowed" The more cynical amongst us suspected a ruse to promote more Blog exposure - but he blithely explained it away that he had lost concentration (and footing) on an excursion to gather pine cones to augment his winter heating. My personal theory is that he tried to rise too fast with (yet again) his trousers round his ankles, but he certainly had an impressive set of flowing wounds, which outperforated even the often bloody leader!
The whole incident inspired John's poetic muse, and he contributed the scenes below with scant apology to either Shakespeare or the wounded walker!
Elaine's expression provides 'a thousand words' - or would it have launched 'a thousand ships' - I don't know - one can go too far with these literary analogies!!

Dramatis personae:

King Duncan (Mike P)

Soldier (Ian S)

Macbeth (Ian )

Lady Macbeth (Myriam)

Act 1 scene 2

(Enter King Duncan etc, meeting a bleeding Soldier)

Duncan/Mike: "What bloody man is that?"

Soldier/Ian S. "Doubtful it stood...." etc. etc chuntering on for about 35 lines until finally "But I am faint, my gashes cry for help."

Duncan/Mike: "So well thy words become thee as thy wounds.

They smack of honour both:Go, get him surgeons."

(exit Soldier, attended) (Believable stuff, you will agree?)

or

Act 111 scene 4

MacBeth/Ian S. "I am in blood

Stepped so far, that, should I wade no more,

Returning were as tedious as go o'er."

Lady MacB/Myriam: "You lack the season of all natures, sleep, but I'd like another ice-cream, por favor."

AWW 15.11.2006 T.O.T.P.S

Beginning to cloud over more as we reached the Baranco de Milho TP at 165 metres. I regret that there are no Tilley Underpant wearers in shot (as far as I know) as he was taking the photo!! A very good turnout - Thyl for the first time this season, also Hedley's brother Peter and Gack's friend Hilke 

AWW 15.11.2006 Compôte de Pereira

David gets a dressing down for questioning whether the leader knows where he is going!!


This was to be pre-RTC FitnessTraining, but was cut short by persistent rain at the halfway point. The leader's blog (verbatim below, and almost as drear as the weather) contrived to beat the Chief Blogger home, when Mike employed the dastardly tactic of ambushing Myriam on her way back to pick up the sodden Chief Blogger and sending her back to Pereira on a wild goose chase looking for the three rebel walkers who had unilaterally decided to walk back towards Cafe Gonçalves, and had been collected by Jim about 20 minutes before!!!
We had actually covered 12.2 km in 2 hrs. 42 minutes moving time, but if you allow for the unscheduled detour caused by the Leader's attempts to converse while navigating, he is correct in that we should only have covered 11 km!! Perhaps the temporary loss of his lucky 'walking boot' charm had something to do with it!
A map of the route can be viewed by clicking on the thumbnail below:-

From WW Blog Pix

Compote de Pereira, November 15th, 2006

Dramatis personae, in order of appearance: John and Ian S, who were seated enjoying their coffees shortly after 9.00 a.m. when Mike appeared, Hilke (Gack's friend), Hedley and Peter (his brother), Chris and Antje, David, Gack, Paul & Myriam, Elaine, Ian W, Thyl, Jim, Andrew and Lindsey.

Canine representation: Oscar, Archie and Tiggy - all no doubt wishing Xana a speedy recovery.

Actual departure time was 09.35 hours. Views were good and walking conditions pleasant up to Baranco do Milho Trig Point (509 ft) which we reached in the scheduled time of 2 hours, despite a brief unplanned deviation. Paul took the obligatory photo but declined a shot of 'all those wearing Tilley underpants'. Shortly thereafter the rain started and spoilt what might otherwise have been a pleasant day's mainly ridgetop walking with great views. We abandoned at Arão, 3 hours after setting out. At that point we had covered some 11 km. Sorry this is such a damp piece - but that is what it was!

WW 08.11.2006 - The Four Tilleymen

Note that despite the mud-encrusted boots and trouser legs, and sweat stained shirts, by the time they reached the top of Picota, the Tilleys were still in prime condition and endowing their owners with a certain insouciance!!
Modelling from L-R: John in an LT5 Olive; Paul in an LT5 Khaki; Ian in a TH5 Hemp ; and Stan in a T5 Stone.
Amazing that out of 11 male walkers today, 4 were sporting Tilley Hats. What a testimonial!!

WW 08.11.2006 Near the Picota TP

With arms and sticks akimbo, and Tilley in the (steep) slope position, John is the last to achieve the summit of (yet another) Picota!! 

WW 08.11.2006 The Off-Road Icecream Van!

The appearance of this van with it's merry jingle resulted in it being captured on it's third pass, and a feeding frenzy ensued!!Ian S. scowls after being told that there were no cold beers on board. 

WW 08.11.2006 Nice and green after the rain.

Heading off along to the Pica Alta Ridge 

WW 08.11.2006 - Sta. Margarida Stumble

Obligatory Trig Point Photo 1 - by Myriam


I am indebted to this week's leader, David, whose draft blog arrived in my inbox almost before I had time to get home and remove my boots! Further, in a 'belts and braces' manoeuvre he sent a copy to each of my inboxes and a message on my answerphone, demanding to know whether it had arrived!!
Far be it from me to intimate that this tactic might have been to forestall any comment on the progress and conduct of the walk by the Chief Blogger. Thanks be that this time I am unlikely to have the writs overflowing from my Mailbox towards the weekend! Herewith David's unedited contribution, colour coded on a suggestion from Maurice, so that he knows who is slandering whom with what and why!! Comment in red.

A map and track of this walk can be viewed by clicking on the thumbnail below, and using the controls to zoom or drag.

From WW Blog Pix

The Bamboo diagram for this walk can be printed after clicking on the thumbnail below:-

From Scanned Bambo...

The Santa Margarida Shuffle.
(I preferred 'Stumble')

Stats: length 17.4 km: 4 hours 4 minutes moving time; total time 5 hrs 8 minutes. Avg moving speed : 4.3 km/hr

A Walk in Two Acts.

Dramatis Personae:- Paul (The Artiste); Jim; Lindsey (Red Pepper Police); Andrew; John; David (He That Led); Myriam (Two Ice-Creams); Terry; Mike (The Shorts and Damn It); Ian (Salir Again); Stan; Elaine; Hedley ; Ian (I Was Only the Driver).

There Were No Animals in this Production – is this a first? (No!! cf. 07.06.2006 and 13.09.2006)

Synopsis.

Act One

Almost all gathered at the time appointed, but the two Ians arrived ten minutes late, claiming to have talked their way past Alte and Benafim and arrived at Salir. One begins to wonder what it is about Salir that is attracting Ian S. so much, and why he talked so hard at Ian W. that he missed the turn. There might be a case for engaging a Private Detective to uncover the truth. Sadly we had to start without Vera and her son, who were terminally lost around Paderne, and only arrived long after we had left.
(They did however contrive to arrive back at Por do Sol as we did, and so we were able to have a chat.)

The walk along the ridge from Santa Margarida to Pico Alto was as stony as ever, and the vegetation seemed somewhat taller. Amazingly, Mike Pease emerged from it without a scratch – could it be that there is now so much scar tissue on those legs that they can no longer bleed? Arriving at Pico Alto trig at 11.30 the leader decreed a ten minute break, though it was much too early for lunch. The views on this section, with the clear air following all the rain of recent weeks, were truly wonderful.

An uneventful trudge along the road, and along the track towards Conqueiros, was followed by a lunch stop near the latter. One high-spot was a field of red peppers, which Myriam went to photograph, landing on her derriere in the process. Adding insult to injury, she was immediately suspected of scrumping by Lindsey, until the matter was explained. Although the leader had not been able to arrange for comfortable seating at lunch (all players looked as though they were huddling together against weather or wild beasts), he had laid on the ice-cream van, which appeared at precisely the right moment, and allowed Greedy Myriam to have the first of her two ices of the day.
(Very brave David - you might live to regret that adjective!!)

Act Two.

From here the party walked along the valley floor to the Santa Margarida – Cazinhas road, and then undertook the climb to the Picota trig, passing Val Vigoria, sadly unoccupied this year and thus without the beer, sarnies and flies of last autumn. Arriving at the ridge, reminiscing occurred around the ultra-steep climb which preceded said beer etc, and a shudder passed through all who remembered.

Views at the trig were admired, and photos taken. Here the leader made a stand against the elitism of those wearing Tilley Hats, who insisted on having a separate photo, but it did him no good at all. (memo to self – steal wife’s Tilley Hat, and get in the picture next time).

(The photo of the 'Magnificent Four Tilleyonistas' is above and will be sent to Mr. Tilley for his own personal Gallery)

Finally, the cast descended to the road and made the long climb back to the bar, where Greedy Myriam had her second ice-cream.

(Oh dear - didn't you learn the first time!!)

Curtain.

Points of interest:

Weather ideal throughout. Two snakes. The countryside is looking particularly green – wonder why. Bar Por do Sol is very welcoming, and the setting is ideal, especially on a day like this one.

(A very nice walk and in addition to his Ice cream divining abilities, the Leader managed to use a bar which stocked Super Bock Abadia - which is almost as good as Sagres Bohemia!!)

Cliff-hanger for next week – Can Ian Scott work Salir into his journey to the start?

WW 01.11.2006 Post walk refreshment

"Pay - per - view" gets a new meaning when the bill arrives! 

WW 01.11.2006 - Meeting needs!

From the WW Leaders' Manual:- " A leader should at all times attempt to cater for the needs of his followers, and ensure that adequate rest and refreshment opportunities are available."

I call it 'going the extra mile'! and Ian S. will be cursing that he missed this photo opportunity!!

WW01.11.2006 The Lunch spot

This hitherto unspoilt piece of coast to the west of Luz is increasingly being built upon by overblown mansions in garish colours. It is not "what you know!!" 

WW 01.11.2006-After the 'hanging gardens'.

Expressions of relief on some faces for this shot, carefully composed by Myriam to show the cliff in the background. 

WW 01.11.2006 Ponte de Piedade -W and return

No Hand Rails - the group negotiate the cliff face!

The track of this walk can be found here.

Walk: Ponte Piedade to W. of Luz and return: 21.5 km -5+ hours.
Leader: Paul
Present: Myriam; Lindsey; Rod; Mike; David; Elaine; Stan; Caroline; Gack; Jim.
Archie; Oscar.


We welcomed back Stan and Elaine, after their summer exile in UK and also their neighbour Caroline, for the first time this season. They get a mention, even though they profess not to read the blog, and ergo I would be unlikely to attract a complaint of failing to do so - unlike some other hyper-sensitive walkers! Jim also turned out for the first time for eons, as part of his preparation for the RTC '06, although he certainly appears to be as fit as ever.
A pessimistic forecast from the satellite weather stations for rain all day, but undaunted we set out in grey and humid conditions for a 'once round the lighthouse' and then off to the section above the beach where there once was a garden which fell to the sea. The owner of the affected property has done some slope stabilisation, and created some steps which wind precariously behind a sandstone pillar, but we negotiated them safely without loss (pic above) and were rewarded with magnificent coastal views in both directions.
We took the inland route through the building site which once was Porte de Mòs, and next to the Boa Vista Golf Course before reaching the heights above Luz. It is a sad fact that this walk has become increasingly urbanised, and with plans to cover the Ponte de Piedade headland with concrete, and it may be one of the last times that we bother to do this walk.
We descended the back end of the Luz escarpment, with only a few minor slips, and traipsed through the promenade where a few die hard tourists were determined to get good use out of their swim wear. The cliff path out to the west of Luz is more built-up than ever, but is an easy stroll. By about the 12km point we had reached the ex- president, Jorge Sampaio's pied-a terre, which was as usual unoccupied, so we took lunch on the hillside above.
The return route to Luz itself was inland, with small oasi(?) of rough ground and footpaths between the buildings, and ignoring the welcoming hostelries we plugged on amid a few spots of rain to take the climb to the Luz Obelisk via Route 1. After Porte de Mòs I opted for the non-vertigo route through the old-established villas up to the point where we had begun our cliff path walk, and we returned to Ponte de Piedade via the remainder of the cliff path.
We arrived at a few minutes after 3pm, a total of 5 hours walking time and just over 5 and a half hours elapsed time, having covered 21.5 fairly easy kilometres. The Proprietor of the Rising Sun Cafe, sensing that he was about to do some business just managed to get his chairs and tables cleared away and lock the door as we reached his patio.
This forced our hand, and the leader, who shall be blameless in this (as he wasn't paying for his drink anyway) accepted Caroline's suggestion to repair to a bar with a view, which turned out to be splendid, overlooking the bay and Meia Praia. After some language difficulties, until the barman admitted he was Filipino and not Portuguese, we posed as tourists, and found that our usual generous drink subscription barely covered the asking price!!