We might well have been a group of ‘swingers’ rather than walkers with the amount of disease passing through our ranks this winter!. The chestikoff, snuffles and man-flu have caused numerous seasonal absences, not to mention the swathe cut in our numbers by the usual non-walking relatives and friends visiting, and inevitably requiring transport to and from the airport on a Wednesday.
Having promised a re-creation of my short but steep Symphony of the Serras Walk of 2008 (link) I finally succumbed at the weekend to the continued assault of Myriam’s hacking cough which had sidelined her last week. It was touch and go, that I would send her off to Romeiras armed with only a GPS track and a faint promise from Ian W. to supervise the route. (I did have Rod as an undercover backup agent), but unhappily Ian had by this time contracted a severe case of man-flu and called off the evening before. I had a sleepless night imagining the consequences of a band of walkers led by Myriam wandering aimlessly around the Romeiras hinterland deep into the night, so I dragged myself from my sickbed, and suitably medicated, headed for Casa Pacheco. I didn’t feel quite up to conducting the Symphony, so thought it would be a golden opportunity to have Myriam ‘lead’ an easier walk by GPS while I could be there to monitor things.
As it happened she managed to follow the yellow brick road of the GPS track very well, only having to have her conversation interrupted every so often to point out that there might be a deviation coming up.
Starters outside Casa Pacheco
Leader: Myriam
Health and Safety Monitor: Paul
Walkers: John H., Alex, Jim, Sue, Dina, John O’, Geraldine, Hilke, Hazel, Peter, Frank, Lindsey, Ingrid, Rod, Maria, Geoff.
K9’s: Misty, Shelly, Cybele
Tilleys: 4
Salomon boots: 4 pairs
Again the men were outnumbered 10-8
A well-detailed track by John
There was considerably less kissing and hugging at the start than is the norm because of the aforementioned plague germs being carried by several of the group.
Stats:
Total Distance: 14.21 km.
Total Time: 4 hrs
Moving Time: 3 hrs 20 min.
Overall Avg.: 3.6 km/hr
Moving Avg.: 4.3 km/hr
Total Ascent: 353 m.
Max Elevation: 389m.
The first new gadget of the day was produced by John O’ who had acquired an iShillelagh for Christmas, still shiny and unblooded, though this appears to be a strapless model, and certainly not a ’loaded stick’!
Ready for battle
Caffeine administered by Dona Aldina, we headed off pretty much on time, with the leader immediately taking up position to the rear of the group as is her custom. An early climb to warm up, as it was around 9ºC when we started, was just the trick, and after we joined the version of the Via Algarviana, some aspiring Calendar Girls did a preliminary audition.
A ‘conversation’ of Calendar Girls
The path then started it’s long wind up towards the Marmelete Road, and there were a few more strip-stops to accommodate those who were overdressed for exertion.
Warming up
After a very long climb, our Leader identified the correct turn off, and was prompted to make her “Here there be bees!” speech, in view of the reception some of our members had received on the previous occasion (remember Tina!). Dogs were leashed to prevent them jostling the hives and enraging the occupants before we got there, but the ‘Ghost-Leader’, who knew where we were going proudly produced his latest Anti-Bee gadget, which he modelled before striding into the breach!
Bee warned! John’s traditional alternative
The precautions proved wise, as during the march past, Maria’s hair was invaded by two bees, which she was lucky to dislodge without further pain.
Making a bee-line for safety!
Peter however was not so lucky! Not having the foresight (or forewarning) to be wearing even so much as a Tilley (bee proof at forty paces), he was selected as the sacrificial lamb, and a warrior bee assaulted and left part of it’s lower abdomen attached to a sting on his temple.
The Sting (Click to enlarge) This won’t hurt.......
This was the opportunity our Leader had been waiting for, and once in safety, she produced her patented Bee Sting and Snake Venom Extractor, and went to work.
Unfortunately, it is possible that either Peter’s skull would have caved in with the pressure required, or else his brains might have been sucked out in a rush, so Myriam went to Plan B - Swiss Army tweezers!.......
.....and the operation was a success, with the extracted sting being proudly displayed to those that had powerful enough specs or contact lenses!
After this frisson of excitement it was downhill to an early lunch, on a sunny corner.
On the sunny side of the street Picnic furniture provided.
Far from the madding crowd......
I am not sure whether this was a self-portrait, but it was definitely taken by John’s camera!
Daddy’s Girl
So there we were, just a short stroll along the valley floor back to Romeiras - 4 km or so, and no more drama.... until Shelley and Misty discovered the duck pond, complete with ducks.
Spectator sport The chase is on....
Now these weren’t your average Aylesbury ducks. They had been reared as survivors ...the hard way! Well used to evading foxes, civets and maybe even Iberian Lynx, they had a lot of fun letting the two hounds close enough, before accelerating away with a short burst of wing power!
Of course the dogs went completely deaf and oblivious to the commands of Frank and Rod. The ducks even went ashore at the far end of the pool, and as soon as Misty had struggled out towards them, they went back in. One dare-duck even let one of the dogs approach within a metre, and then performed an alternate escape - by duck diving.
Most of the walkers tired of the spectacle before the dogs did, and made their way back to Casa Pacheco, leaving the owners forlornly standing on the banks, hoping that their stern voices might yet have some effect. Eventually even Shelley realised the ducks were ‘taking the Donald’ out of them, and well tired, both slunk ashore.
Maria liberated some snacks from John’s car - thanks Hazel!
Tea................ and Cosy!
Beer on the terrace
For once it hadn’t rained on my Romeiras walk - maybe because technically Myriam was leading. Can she do it again - only time will tell!
“I'm like a duck: calm above the water, and paddling like hell underneath”.
Shero, Fred
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