AWW 26.10.2011: Headwind, Headgear and Headstrong Walkers…

 

The weather forecast was dreadful with rain, wind and overall unpleasantness on the menu; still, no fewer than 18 brave Walkers gathered in Bordeira, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, mostly… Some kind souls extended commiserations about some distant mishap to a lone Frenchman who had strayed in among the group; the requisite snap was snapped and Chris and Antje led us away over the hills but not that far away.
As happens sometimes, the group dynamics pulled the leaders this way or that, towards the odd uncheduled trig-point or enforced stop to retrieve blown hats (most Thilleys do have a chin-thtrap, and it was suggested that the Treasurer should invest in a box of Walkers’ Patented Drawing Pins to secure said hats). She promised to set-up a committee to investigate such expense.
The dogs were behaving themselves and sniffed out a new friend who stayed with us for a while. Fortunately, despite one or two half-hearted attempts, the rain held off and we reached the safety of the café in Bordeira where we soon filled just about evey available space, with the exception of two older chaps who were clearly nonplussed by the volume of sound coming from a small Walker who made more announcements than a HeadMaster at the beginning of Term; all very relevant information that will be reiterated soon in RTC bulletins and in this Blog. There was a brief interlude when a debt of honour was settled, a minor to-do about that distant mishap…and as the group disbanded, peace returned to the little café.
A good walk, for which we thank Chris and Antje.

The route: courtesy of ever-efficient John and his trusty device.



The stats: thank you Paul
Total distance:       20.47 km
Total Time:            5 hrs
Moving Time:        4hrs 15 min.
Overall Avg.:          4 km/hr.
Moving Avg.:          4.7 km/hr.
Total Ascent:          719 m.
Max Elevation:       174 m.

The leaders: 


 The Starters: Paul and Myriam, Rod, Maria, Andrew and Lindsey, John' O, Jim, John H and Hazel, Tina, Yves, Dina, Ingrid, Terry A and Peter S.
 

 The Bounding Hounds: Tiggy, Sasha, Misty, Ember, Rusty and Cybèle

The Leader’s Report:

An uneventful walk in Bordeira
Despite an adverse weather forecast, eighteen hardy souls gathered at the appointed time at the still closed café in Bordeira. Fortunately the first non-event of the day was short lived, so that caffeine demands could be met and nature's calls answered before departure.
 
The dogs were pulling hard away from Rod; what were they worried about?

 
                                                                                       The silence was soon shattered in the hills…
 
The route had been planned to take in an extra loop so that the distance walked would be at least 20km, as part of a gentle build-up to the RTC next month.
 

 Thank you for being so helpful, ladies.
 
Tackling the first steady incline at a good pace we soon reached the top, whereupon a previously un-noticed trig point was spotted, causing an instant diversion to admire it and the surrounding view, which mostly included rain clouds all around.
 

  The unintended trig-point

No rain thus far, but on the descent a significant headwind started to develop. Back on the original track, Peter S decided to opt for the shorter version of this walk and return to Bordeira rather than continue beyond the point of no return.
 

 Auf wiedersehen, Peter, Cybèle…

 
Passing the now dormant killer bees, another non-event, took us onto another long climb, which with the wind behind us was hardly noticed.
 

BZZZZZZzzzzzz…

…and the animals and the Walkers went up two by two…

 

Turning towards the coast brought us into full contact with the now gale force headwind. Finding shelter from this wind amongst some trees gave us time for a quick lunch, even though the seating possibilities were somewhat lacking.

 We manned The Alamo while John wandered, lonely as a cloud that floats o’er vale and hill...                                                 
                                                          
 
Peace and harmony descended upon a bucolic lunch

                     

                    
…almost for everyone…

 Terry A then pointed out a trig point hidden in the undergrowth, too late for the intrepid band who were already heads down into the wind. Tilley hats were well lashed down, a few lighter versions were in danger of flying away.
 

 ‘The wind was howling…’ – Kate Bush.

Then it was noticed that John H was no longer with us, although Hazel was not aware of his being missing. Soon a wind-swept figure was spotted on the distant skyline and we duly waited until he caught up. The only event of the day can now be recorded, as advised by John, who whilst answering a call of nature behind the only available bush for miles allowed his hat to blow away, having his hands full as it were. Recovery of the hat was therefore a time consuming and delicate matter. Sorry about that, John, but on an uneventful walk what else is there to mention ?
 
Perhaps Maria being chatted up, but remaining unimpressed?

Or the Ladies’ Game of Musical Chairs?

…and guess who won when the music stopped?

                                                                                                  
           
Yup! Collect!

 
Or the Walkers going bananas, again?
 

 El Picador!

 

 Gone, going, to go!

 

 Oh dear… One of those!

 
Or perhaps, the Medronho man?

Yes, these are Maria’s hands after his bucket…

 

 
  
Indeed! Windswept but still smiling!

 
No falls, dog fights, or lost persons (well, almost one) but everyone seemed to enjoy the day, especially as the promised rain didn't arrive until we had all reached the by now very crowded café, soon to be completely taken over by AWW's. 
 

Sagres, the universal panacea for sore feet, knees and things

 

 A debt of honour repaid; next time, Paul, next time… 

 
                                                 
 
 
“The true charm of pedestrianism does not lie in the walking, or in the scenery, but in the talking” Mark Twain (who could he have in mind?)


....and not to forget the bonus video:-

AWW 19.10.2011: Salir Highs and Dogs Lows

(or Cruz Alta and Cross Dogs)



 

The leader:
 



Our esteemed Chief Paparazzo had problems with the angle of his dangle and that led to unfortunate consequences but a little lateral thinking helped as can be seen below…
Please do not adjust your set!
 


The troop: Val, Paul, Rod, John O’, Tina, Hilke, Lindsay, Yves, Frank, John H, Hazel, Antje, Myriam, Dina, Ingrid and Maria
The canines: Sasha, Shelly, Naughty Misty and Bullied Ember
The Track: John’s hard work, thank you!



The stats: Courtesy of RCB
Total Distance:         15.37 km.
Total Time:               4 hrs 35 min.
Moving Time:           3 hrs 45 min.
Overall Avg.:             3.3 km/hr.
Moving Avg.:            4.0 km/hr.
Total Ascent:            422 m.
Max Elevation:         446 m.

The pre-start GPS contradiction:

              
                               Steadying against the dreaded Sagres pitch and roll…
Much against Terry’s recent form: three rainy strikes and the sun was out!                A glorious day, as the determined band of walkers and their dogs met for early coffee in Salir. The starting line-up was quickly arranged but the morning rush-hour traffic delayed the picture-taking quite badly: no fewer than five cars in less than four minutes! And then, two more cars as we set off, and a van, not to mention a tractor!
Some wag mentioned that they had all waited for Ingrid, who had arrived with a bang, to be safely parked and away from her car, but there is no substance to this…

                                      
                                                Salir, peaceful, pretty in the morning sun…

Needless to say, this Blogueur had to defend the honour of Les Bleus against all-comers and their ill-considered views of what actually constitutes a spear-tackle and and a red card; in the end, all almost agreed that the punishment was deserved and that Wales had no-one but themselves to blame for losing to a gallant French side…I think. (In your dreams !! RCB) Roll on the Final!
There was also much speculation about the impending confinement of Madame la Présidente, she of high renown married to he of low stature: the consensus reached was that nine months is the accepted ball-park figure for these things (unless you are an elephant, it was pointed out) and the interest shifted to the sex of the baby with opinions shared equally. (Stop Press: Baby girl Giulia born Oct 19th as we were walking - only 4 months after The President's divorce!)
After a very scenic never-ending climb, lunch in the shade of trees was disturbed by a noisy squabble between Misty and Ember. Little did we know that the squabble would later degenerate into a more serious fight in which poor Ember suffered some cuts to nose and paw; interestingly, she received more sympathy than your average walker cracking a nail or splitting a hair…


                              Tending to a wounded hound, with the end nearly in sight…

The leader soon had his followers back at the café for a cool beer; there he displayed a photograph printed on canvas of himself and Jill near Alvor that received a lot of admiration. The group also reached near agreement on a commemorative T-shirt for the 10th edition of the Round The Corner walk; there will be some light tweaking and a list will be circulated for orders: please make sure that you provide the correct details of size and numbers requested as this will be a one-off run for the price quoted, thank you.
With rain forecast for Sunday and later, this may have been the last of the hot summer walks and a good, enjoyable walk it was, too! ‘Thank you’ to our leader and all who helped with pictures, banter and general good humour!



The Leader’s report:
My first walk of the new season and the sun was out in all its glory, which after leading my walks last season all in the rain must come as a shock to many including me, so long may it continue.
We all met at the right place at the right time for pre-walk caffeine intake, all 17 of us: that is a good turn-out for one my walks as people are a little worried that I might throw a hard one in (who? me?).
We started with a little detour through the back streets up to Salir's impressive Igreja and down the many steps to the the old Salir road to be asked by my friendly post lady: ‘Where are you going?’, "If only I knew"; no doubt I will be intensively questioned later.

 
We made our way out into the countryside, the paths kept changing all the time, as we walked through a cultivated area, one of the cisterns had a little water in it for the dogs to have a drink, and a local lady materialized to do a little washing. 
 

                                                 ‘Lavandière du Portugal…’
 
We were heading for the dry river (Rio Seca) to walk up the river bed and pathways, the only chance you get to walk this lovely valley as once the rains come and the river flows again its just not possible. 
 
                                                  
                                                                Blue sky, dry track, lovely!
            

                                                        Duck! Or grouse…
 
               
                                              lovely old ‘Fonte’, cool pool
 

 Someone must know why this traditional little gem is being bricked up!
 
Very hot in the valley but it got hotter as we had to work hard to climb up the mountain through mature cork woods all newly divested of their bark to reach the ridge line and to have lunch;
 

Fed, watered, dogs calmed down, ready for the ‘off’ again…

Sorry if it was a bit steep for some but after lunch it was all down

                                       
                                                             ‘A bit steep’?
 

                                                    Big hill, small lady…
 
Rod's dog Misty decided to put his new dog Ember in her place over who is going to have the last biscuit, the argument carried on later with Ember needing to have first aid and a nice white bandage on front leg; (First Aid by Myriam) it’s usually walkers we bandage up.
 
  There, there..  
                                                ‘I’ll limp too, feels better now?’
                                                                                ‘Well done!’
 
We went for a bit of a circle round Salir to avoid a hill, yes, I know I am getting soft but it was very hot and the post-walk beer was calling.
 
      
                                                     Back at the water-hole
Well, thanks for coming, it was nice to lead and get out with you all again.
Terry.

 



Early autumn and the colours in the hills are changing ever so subtly…






“All’s well that ends.”



“Walking is as natural to man as talking is to woman; in truth man often walks when woman talks…” Old Indian proverb.
Bonus Videos by Myriam

Somewhere near Salir!

Cry “Havoc” and Unleash the Dogs of War!!