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".