This looked to be an easy second walk of the season, Rod being almost apologetic about it being of the order of 15 km with only a couple of mild ascents. And it was for some………! Others had a slightly more arduous journey.
The CB (Des) has so far been unable to attend Blogging Classes, and the ARCB having preferred a cultural expedition to Evora, it again falls to me to compile this. However, not only has the Walk Leader, Rod, delivered a comprehensive report BEFORE the WRC kicked off this weekend, but also Yves has sent an alternative report in his eagerness to make a telling contribution, so I can remain effectively neutral on the subject of the misadventures described hereafter!
The starters outside Casinhas
Spiritual Leader: Rod
Souls: Janet, Antje, Dina, Ingrid, Tina, Paul, Maria, Yves
Lost Souls: Chris, Myriam.
Hounds: Misty, Ember, Tiggy & Sasha
The track: NB. Some parts were covered more than once by the Leader and Paul
Stats: (By Paul’s GPS – group stats somewhat less, but guesswork!)
Paul Myriam Souls (est.)
Total Distance: 15.94km 13.9km 12.5 km
Total Time: 4 hrs 50 min
Moving Time: 3 hrs 43 min
Overall Avg.: 3.3 km/hr
Moving Avg.: 4.3 km/hr
Total Ascent: 309 m.
Max Elevation: 118 m.
Here is Rod’s account of the walk, interspersed with random photos:
With the 10th. anniversary of the RTC coming up you would have thought we might have learnt some of the basic precepts of walking....but have we hell! Billed as a fairly gentle early season 15k walk it was expected to be more or less uneventful !
Well it started off that way on a warm and sultry morning from Casinhas ... shut, of course, despite our leader's claimed efforts to get the delectable Victoria out of bed early, and sadly for those who must have their pre-walk shot...... but perhaps that accounted for what happened later ! Everything went normally for the first 20 minutes when, unnoticed by all apparently, Chris was forced into an early pit-stop ( note for leaders: must ensure we start at a bar with a loo open! ) This must have lasted some time for on attempting to rejoin the group it wasn't where he thought it was! (note for those who require a sudden pit-stop: make sure somebody knows! ) He was eventually located by our leader and on we went through a maze of tracks and paths in semi-rural agricultural hinterland...our leader's local dog-walking and riding territory.... which was probably the cause of our next downfall.
After a while the group became curiously quiet but even so it was some time before Myriam's absence was noticed....in view of her diminutive stature we must remember it is always chatter that indicates her presence !.....but gone she was. Whistles and calls were to no avail and even Paul became mildly concerned. Most of the group settled down for an early lunch whilst our leader and Paul set off in search. After a while she phoned in; it transpired a lengthy incoming mobile phonecall had distracted her! Describing her position when everything around her looked much the same as everywhere else, however, didn't help much and even her attempts to give GPS coordinates over the phone put her some 1.5 kms away from where she really was! 45 minutes later GPS and a bit of logic pin-pointed her location; ((note for leaders and walkers: mobile phones to be banned except for emergencies!) Once again we set off...the group now a bit more tightly knit ! (note for leaders: rope should be carried on all walks so that the group can be roped together). By now the search and rescue team was suffering from exhaustion and acute hunger pangs so everyone else was obliged to settle down for another lunch stop.
Rod administers an intravenous drip to Ember!
That completed, time was by then slipping away and it was getting hot so we took a direct route back towards the bar, stopping on the way for an obligatory trig-point foto (also to provide evidence that we hadn't lost anyone else).
T.O.T.P.P (minus Yves who took it!)
As a result of search and rescue diversions only Paul and our leader achieved the billed 15 k but in view of the warmth probably enough...and certainly the bar did good business when we got there. Absent for the first two walks the Deputy CB (Rtd?)...he must lend the incumbent court photographer his gorilla !... swung by for a drink after a doubtless sedentary tour of the Alentejo ......was this an indication he wants his job back?
This is Yves’ take on things:-
Here is a fairy tale:
Bright morning, not too hot at 09.30 when eleven brave souls and assorted dogs set off from the resolutely closed café, obviously Rod's charm was wasted on the lady owner...Paul's new look was observed, examined, explained and commented upon, then we were off!
The fourth day of the ‘Grow a beard for England RWC Campaign’! (I hope it is worth it!)
The mood was gay and the pace was 'andante ma non troppo', perfect!
A couple of gentle hills later and Antje noticed that something was awry: a quick but thorough check revealed that both dogs were present but Chris was missing! The leader made the executive decision that he would trek back and locate Chris, and this was done. Chris had stopped for some technical reason but then had taken the wrong turn out of the pit-lane and back onto the circuit.
With a full complement of dogs and man, Antje and the group resumed their amble in the gathering warmth with the odd mobile phone ring to interrupt conversations. As they presented themselves, opportunities for a short rest in the shade, or for the dogs to splash in tiny water-holes were exploited by the very thoughtful leader.
But lo, after a while, another call received by Myriam caused a little confusion: as she remained behind the group to answer the call, line of sight was lost! Calamity! By the time it was realised that we had lost one of our numbers (the ever-deepening silence was the clue) we had passed several intersections that made navigation quite tricky for the lost soul and her rescuers, namely Paul and the leader who bravely attempted to locate Myriam. They walked and talked and exchanged GPS coordinates and kept the rest of the group informed of the lack of progress for some time...
The group, minus leader, Paul and Myriam, enjoyed an enforced rest in the shade of small trees and a ruined building. We started a couple of very small rabbits that the dogs fortunately failed to see; some indulged in a spot of gardening; some caught up with the gossip missed earlier in the walk; all waited for news and instructions...
Tiggy led Sasha astray in an orange grove, much to the displeasure of Antje, especially as the poor dog could be seen in the distance upright but motionless despite Antje's commanding whistles and calls: her lead had stuck fast between some stones on the wall! As Tiggy was led back to the shelter of the trees, Chris asserted some authority by declaring: 'Your dog, your muddy and filthy lead, your problem...' or words to that effect as he explained what a Husky's tail should look like...
The group were then summoned back to meet the leader and a few minutes later, the lost soul was reunited with the relieved party, none the worse for her adventure and indeed reinvigorated with a new topic of conversation. If only she had remembered to keep a video-diary of her lonely walk...
(RCB’s note. She kept a video of her confession and apology..)
By then, the temperature had climbed significantly and following a short lunch-break for the benefit of the leader, mostly: the rest of the party had taken advantage of their prolonged rest to despatch sandwiches and bananas, we made our way back to the café by the shortest possible route, through thorny bushes and stony paths (?) but uncomplainingly -apart from one young lady who slipped upon some dry grass and fell upon her pride.
Hold it while I get my camera!
The obligatory pause at a trig point was followed by the unlocking of a gate: 'In you go, then!' was the encouraging instruction but the optimists among us were disappointed when they realised that order was only given to Misty and Amber to go home... It was not the prelude to a cool beer in the leader's garden... never mind...
Almost in the shade.....
The café was soon reached and as thirsts were quenched, John H made an impromptu appearance, having timed his errand with immaculate precision! Tilley hats off to that man!
Drive-by shooting!
Did everyone make it back?
Definitely, a walk with a difference, thank you Rod and congratulations on walking so much further than the stats reveal for the rest of the happy gang!
And have we learnt the lessons? Doubtful, but leader’s kit may include leads, collars and manacles, and a device for jamming mobile phones in the future.
I am finishing this with a sense of relief - not least because the lucky ‘beard’ that I am almost sporting seems to have worked it’s magic and gave a desperately bad performance from England a last gasp boost in snatching a win from ‘The Auld Enemy’. (Though the pedantic Scots amongst us may protest that in fact this sobriquet should apply to England.)
Yves has gone into a Bleu Funque after a dismal performance of his team against Tonga, but happily both England and France survived and meet in the QF next week. Everyone except Myriam (and Yves) hopes that the stubble will continue to flourish beyond next weekend too.
I am also delighted to report that as a goodwill gesture for the inconvenience she caused, and as a sop to the baying mob, Myriam stumped up for the post walk drinks in their entirety - with her own money!! This caused Tina’s collection to make it into the kitty without deduction. I hope this sets a precedent!
My deepest apologies for causing such havoc!! Rod should have known better of my navigational skill! We are the oldest walking partners among the AWWs. He should never have left me unattended!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I have always had lots of confidence in the group. They would never abandon a helpless, diminutive, old lady! Besides I knew that given the correct do-ordinates, I would certainly be located. See, I was RIGHT!
Thank you, ALL, esp. Rod & Paul for rescuing me.