AWW 01.02.2012: Da Cova da Muda Caper, or the Fab Four ride again.

     

An early morning chill settles over down-town Alportel; inside one car, the day´s first banana is unpeeled, 9.05am; inside another, Geraldine snatches forty winks pre route march; outside, Maria dispenses the necessary coffee boost. 

The advertised 9.20 am kick-off stretches itself to 9.40 am before our Mafia head off to Cova da Muda (a name apparently meaning The Grave of the Mute Lady – does anyone know how that came about?) A group of thirteen, missing some of the stalwarts who survived the previous week´s St Vincent´s rock-hopping competition: Rod, Paul and Myriam – hors de combat: Yves M. le Blogeur – hors de quoi?: and Ian W. – probably busy recceing next week´s assault course up (and down again with luck) Picota. At C.da M., the statutory Starters Photo has everybody doing the traditional John O´ Wave.

Waving, not walking. (click to enlarge)

Da Usual Suspects 

Da Godfather:- David.

Da Gang of Four (about whom, more later):- Janet, Tina, Alex, Ingrid.

Da Foot-soldiers:- Maria, Geoff, Sue,Terry A, John O´, Jim, Geraldine, John H.

Da Mutts:- Rusty and the now mature Rosie (she didn´t run away once).

Da Statistics (grazie, Ingrid)

Distance 18.70 km:

Moving time - 4 h 37 m:  Total time -  5 h 28 m:
Moving avg. - 4.1 km/h: Overall avg. -  3.5 km/h: 
Total ascent -  645 m:  Max elev. -  526 m.

For once, no disagreement among the statisticians. Other stats for Paul´s consideration:-

Tilleys:- 3

Salomons:- 6 (or 3 pairs)

F:- 7

M:- 6 (outnumbered again).

Da Track

(click to enlarge)

Da Godfather´s Report

“Da Cova da Muda Caper

“For a walk that was clearly billed as no stroll in the park, the turn-out was most gratifying, with all making the meeting-point at the Bar Vitoria in Alportel (eventually), albeit with much complaining about roundabouts ( I can’t help it if roundabouts are the latest craze in the Algarve!!) The bar being closed, a small convoy then made its way to the start-point of the walk in the small hamlet of Cova da Muda, a couple of km. to the north. Much donning of boots and girding of loins passed before a start was finally made, about twenty minutes later than scheduled.

“The whole walk passed without notable incident, in very cool to cold conditions, but with bright sunshine throughout. That, however, suggests a dullness that was certainly not the keynote.

Corgas Bravas

“After an easy opening two or three kilometres, the tiny settlement of Corgas Bravas was sighted, and the ‘very steep’ ascent previewed in the preamble lay ahead.(It was at this stage that this Blogger innocently asked when last the Gang of Four - a.k.a. The Fab.Four or, to their familiars, The Four Floozies - had all been together on a walk. It seems that, apart from “one particular event”, the last time all four of them had walked together was in early September 2011).

 

“All made the climb in remarkably good time and without apparent ill-effects, and stood to admire the impressive 360 degree views, at a final height of 516 metres. (Some of us, rather than admiring were in fact catching our breaths and trying to calm our racing pulses when the FF told me what that “one particular event” had been. It had been a Ladies´ Lunch for Four, but with a difference. Out of regard for the modesty of my readers and exercising the Blogger´s customary  discretion, I shall draw a veil of prudence over the descriptions of sartorial and sybaritic fantasies that followed: not good for the blood pressure at that altitude, I can tell you.)

“ A stimulating stride along the ridge followed, including the only leadership faux-pas of the day, when Terry’s ‘little man’, striding across the screen of his GPS, led the way on the same mistake that had been made a week earlier on the recce. Fortunately, the error was spotted quickly and normal service resumed.

The Barragem

“Eventually, contact was made with the N124 on its winding way up to Barranco do Velho, only to leave it again after a couple of hundred metres. After a further stretch of upland track, a descent was made to a very attractive small barragem which provided an excellent cooling-off spot for the dogs, and would make a good lunch stop, were it not for the lure of the café at B do V, only a short distance away.

“On this occasion, having taken note of the position of the sun, the Tia Bia was forsaken in favour of the café across the road (name, anyone?), where a very pleasant lunch break was taken. (The friendly lady behind the bar, remembering our group´s previous visit there last November, conveyed her disappointment at not seeing this time those two charming bearded gentlemen who had brought their own knives, forks, pommes frites and hot custard…

from the Archives

….. at least I think that was what she was telling me.)

Mass hysteria, or Waving again

“Thus fortified, steps were retraced to the lower part of the village, to pick up the old track leading down to the Javali road. After a short valley stroll, a further steepish climb took us back to our earlier height and another ridge walk with more excellent views, including an unusual view of B do V., revealing more about its setting.

B do V from the east

“The next stage involved a steady descent and a walk along the valley of the Ribeiro do Vale Formoso, with the very clear stream still flowing nicely in spite of the dry season.

(Here The Four Floozies condescended to pose for the paparazzo….

…all the while protesting that really their hearts were set on appearing on the cover of Vogue. Until then, dearies, Blogue will have to do. But how nice it was once more to hear their melodious chatter as they strode along singing the pop hits of past eras. The Fifties,or is it the Sixties? Help me out here, Janet,Tina.)

“The last climb of the day took us to within a short distance of the new fire-tower on the peak Menta (trig-point avoided) and its old mills, (Moinhos de Menta) now ruined and hidden in the trees.

Getting the low-down

“A steep descent followed to ‘close the neck of the balloon’ about 300 metres from the start-point.

The paparazza´s revenge

“The convoy of cars then made the return journey to the Bar Vitoria, now thankfully operational, and a convivial half-hour to conclude a very satisfactory day. (very good value at the café, said Janet the Purse.)”

And so ended a very pleasant Updulator Mark 2-type walk, that is, one which stuck to the tracks and had tables and chairs at lunchtime. What more can one ask for? And isn´t it extraordinary the range of conversation in these walks? For example, I was chatting to John O´ (who remains a remarkably modest man despite his connections with Swedish Royalty) about music, as is our wont. He was trying to persuade me of the merits of Leonard Cohen, Paul McCartney and Diana Krall, a jazz singer from Vancouver Island. Not entirely convinced but conceding that Miss Krall had class, I mentioned that a current favourite blues singer of mine is the not particularly well-known Madeleine Peyroux. To my surprise, John O´said that not only had he  seen her in concert but that he had once shared a sauna with her. Couldn´t top that!

Check her out.

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