AWW.14.12.2011: Ladies Day, or The Chaperone´s Tale

Terry Ames, “once more into the breach” in the absence of other prepared leaders, persuaded a few girls to risk the elements at Messines. Past experience led one to expect rain, but as the day went by it wasn´t too bad. And once Myriam had worked out where the white parking lines for the trusty Berlingo were….

the old routines kicked in.

The Starters    (click to enlarge)

The Track     (click to enlarge)
The Statistics
Distance: 18.8 kms
Total Time: 5hrs 17mins
Moving Time: 4hrs 34mins
The Participants
The Chaperone: Terry A 
                                
The Escorted: Lindsey, Myriam, Janet, Dina, Maria, Ingrid
Assistant Chaps: Yves, JohnH
Mutt: Rusty
And now, the Leader´s Report (with a few editorial inserts)

“Algarve Wednesday Ladies Day plus Très Chaperones”
or “An Englishman, a Frenchman and a Scotsman Take Six Ladies of Various Nationalities Walking.”
“The six ladies and three gentlemen all met at the Cafe João de Deus on time, coffee taken, toilet visited and photo done. We set off into the places not often walked, bit wet under foot with the morning dew and light mist, first small hill and then the rearranging of gear is taking place as it's quite mild still.

Myriam´s rearranged gear….weighs almost as much as she does
(Here, someone persuaded Terry to put a red cap on, whereupon Ingrid exclaimed: “Mais c´est un vrai  Zouave!”and delivered a brief lecture about Vincent Van Gogh, after which we all sang La Marseillaise, reformed our battalion and marched on.)

(A Zouave, for those who are curious, was one of a body of French infantry of great dash, originally Algerian, wearing a quasi-Mooorish dress; also, as few people know –except perhaps members of the AAA such as Mike Pease and Chris Whittle – the name was adopted by some volunteer regiments modelled on Algerian Zouaves which fought on the side of the North in the American Civil War.)



“ In a while we have a view of the end of the Funcho Barragem still very low, it will need rain of biblical proportions to get that full for next year.
 

The End of the Barragem

The Ladies were (for reasons that escape me) greatly diverted by a small red flower
“We cross the road at the end of the bridge to climb up to and find the AW route, it's getting quite overgrown in places.
 
 
More of a small bump in the landscape rather than a full-blown climb!

No, make that a climb.

Past a well-preserved cistus mark.
 

Skirting the Funcho

Someone is hiding behind the Chaperone
“Then, a light rain shower has us reaching for wet weather gear but it did not last long as we come down out of the hills to walk along the Fuzeiros valley to the O Gralho cafe for lunch.
(The lunch accommodation was of the standard of comfort that one has come to expect from a true Terry Ames walk.. chairs, tables, coffees, beers  and, for some, waitress service.)



“Since Terry M returned to the UK, the quality of Yves' lunches has gone down hill, with him having to order just a bog standard sandwich, no hot custard and pie for him today.

Bog standard
“After lunch we move up to the other side of the valley and into the the back lanes of Amorosa to move past an old nora onto a Maurice blue blob route probably late eighties but still there for all to find.

A family photograph in Amorosa
(where incidentally the subject of the red flower came up again. This was discussed with some knowledgeable locals but, lacking language skills and being a total innocent abroad, your blogger is still none the wiser.)
“We cross the main 124 Estrada and walk up to the Monte Boi water towers and then down to Messines railway station, cross the line, walk down the very long platform (why did they build one that long?)
 


“Then turn right, down the road, and into the cafe. 18.8 k, not a bad day's walking, and I did not have to use my new found veto once despite intense political chitchat.

“Thanks to all, have a Happy Christmas and we can do it all again next year
Terry”
And thanks to Terry for an enjoyable walk and talk, and a good leg-stretcher.

That expansive smile was very soon wiped off his face when he learned that he was going to have to do the blogs for the next few weeks, since our esteemed M.Le Chef Bloggeur is off to immerse himself in Aussie culture over the festive period. Yves´ contributions, both verbal and pictorial, will be much missed. Perhaps when he is down there, he can do some research into that antique Australian fable “The Frog Who Dreamt He Was A Kangaroo.” Meanwhile, here are some more of his colourful pictures from this walk:


And here is that pesky little red flower again: perhaps Lindsey can be persuaded to explain the botany and the etymology.

“They all laughed when I said that my ambition was to become a professional comedian.
“They are not laughing now.” 
 (Bob Monkhouse)


RCB's bit:


       When I saw the number of walkers and composition, I was instantly reminded of the Mosuo Tribe of Yunnan in China. Quelle horreur I thought! Perhaps my temporary incapacity did have a bright side!
  Anyway, before I get into more trouble here is the video of the walk taken by Myriam, which if you haven't worked it out for yourself can be seen fullscreen by pressing the little button with four arrows on it on the bottom right hand corner :-