A walk on the wild side…
The morning chill of the Alentejo surprised a few Walkers as they left the comfort of their cars: ‘Eeh, I am fair nithered, lad!’ was overheard and it may even be translated into English some day, hopefully. Thanks to very detailed instructions, most Walkers actually reached the Equus Centre before the Esteemed Leader.
Order was soon established and suitably caffeined and wind-proofed, the Walkers cosied up for warmth and a safety briefing afore setting off.
This was to be a walk when plenty of wild life would be seen: in one paddock horses, sheep, goats and a couple of pigs held an impromptu race to the far side; the dogs started a number of rabbits and chased them with great vigour but no results; except for making the troop wait while they were corralled again, that is…
Sasha bringing Antje back to the group: please keep up!
Further up the hills, we saw cows with normal legs and some with no legs: Celianne -welcome back!- opined that those may be resting or possibly different species; we ambled past… There were storks and babies (their own!), a large eagle near the river, a ferocious-looking sheep-eating snake (dixit John H) at the trig point and many ladybirds pretending to be spots on the cistus.
Ladybirds, nul points!
Culture was not forgotten and the local ladies acceded to Rod’s powers of persuasion: the little church was opened for the Walkers to enter and admire: such a beautiful interior lost among hills!
Angelo, Michele, Painter of churches.
Nearby, our knowledge of megalithic settlements, Moors and Romans was reinforced: ‘After you, Claudius!’ enjoined a gallant Walker as he let others ahead down some steps…
More or less on time and distance, we settled to the anticipated lunch and the juice of the grape to revive limbs and spirits chilled by the breeze and the wearing of shorts.
Thank you Leader for guiding us safely past rivers, ruins, fences and fresh cow-pats; a most enjoyable effort!
The Track:
The Pale Riders:
John H, Maria, Janet, Dina, Myriam, Hilke, Ingrid, Paul, Alex, Antje, Hedley, Celianne, Hazel, John O’, Chris, Rod, Terry A, Jill giving support, Yves, David.
The Dogs: Rusty, Sasha, Tiggy, Misty, Ember and Tom-Tit (the Blogueur forgets his name and offers sincere apologies for this senior moment).
The Stats:
Total Distance: 16.5 km
Total Time: 4 hrs 40 min.
Moving Time: 3 hrs 51 min
Overall Average: 3.5 km/hr
Moving Average: 4.3 km/hr
Total Ascent: 251 m.
Max Elevation: 256 m.
Animal count:
Horses: many
Cows: just as many
Rabbits: not many
Ladybirds: too many
Snakes: one
Eagles: one
Storks: a Maternity-Ward-full
Porkers: two on the hoof, one on the plates.
The Leader:
Taking his orders from Above…
The Leader’s Report:
This was the third annual Ourique walk at the splendid equine establishment of Pru and Julian Clayton Meade. Alas it didn't quite live up to previous ones in that spring flowers this year were clearly discouraged by the weather. It didn't really encourage us very much either for it was a gloomy or rather cool day with threatening rain.
Nevertheless a good crowd got up early and arrived in good time; some, having misjudged the distance, arrived in extremely good time! And coffee was available for them what wanted it.
And so we set off on time at 09.30 at first along the road and then down a track towards the river, which, as a result of minimal rain was pretty low.
Mind yer gap, laddie!
‘Them’s not ruins; them’s Terry and David!’
We paused at some new excavation work at some riverside ruins before climbing up to Castro Cola and the Church of N. Senhora de Cola. For those who might have thought otherwise the name has nothing to do with Coke or Glue but, I am reliably informed, stems from the Arabic «al-calá», or Alcalar, meaning a fort(ress); just in case you were interested!
‘No dogs past this point’ reads the sign.
As we reached the church complex the cleaning ladies emerged from their duties in the Gents and suggested we might like to see inside the church: a rare opportunity indeed as it is always locked and usually nobody is about. It was a worthwhile interlude.
A closed door, but not for long!
After that we wandered up to the Castro Cola ruins and looked around there for a while. By then it seemed time to call a halt to cultural activities and indulge in the more physical! So off we set at a respectable pace into the rolling countryside.
It was a pity indeed that the flowers and the sun were so absent, but the scenery was green and different. Not a lot of excitement or memorable events until eventually a trig point hove into view; the challenge of an ascent to that seemed only natural.
Are we there yet?
Getting there required mastering the opening and closing techniques of a number of fences, all achieved and left faithfully as found.
The top opened up not only long views of wide Alentejo horizons and of distant Ourique town but shorter ones of a substantial Ladder-back snake obviously mightily disturbed by the appearance of such a throng.
After that relative excitement, delayed a while by a search for an errant Rosie (Ember was on a leash!), we eventually headed back towards Equus Ourique. Were it not for the trig point diversion the estimate of 15k would have been about right and we arrived back on time just as Pru was completing preparations for lunch. As always this was a most satisfying spread and we were grateful for the trouble she took to make it so. We were joined by Mike and Jill Pease and Jill Ames for a most convivial end to the day.
Sur l’album du Gourmet: It is taking some effort but the Walkers are adopting the idée of proper sustinence au déjeuner, finalement!
They all joined the Gourmet in the enjoyment of ‘Porc et Haricots roses à l’Alentéjane’, in truth a local imitation of Cassoulet but without le fumet de foie gras; next year, peut-être?
I ‘ate School dinners!
Just for fun: name the dogs from their call-sign?
*’Come here and sit, silly dog!’:
* Two syllables, three changes of pitch:
*Piercing 2-fingered whistle:
*‘Now then, boy!’:
En route:
The wind made Dina suffer a bit…
‘Alas, poor Yorrick, I knew him well…’
Mind the gap!
Are we there yet? Part deux.
Pony-tail-piece:
Nosy Parker…
Nosing Porkers…
“Foot-soldiers will always reach places inaccessible to cavalry” Napoléon I at Iéna.
'He' is called Harry, but it seems Rosie was completely forgotten, in spite of her valiant attempt to get noticed. She says she won't make the effort next time.....
ReplyDeleteSorry Rosie, harry; a VERY senior moment...
DeleteYou will receive double nose-patting next time to make up for this, if I remember...
Blogueur
Very noble of Yves to apologise to Harry and Rosie but, if a retired blogger could be permitted to reminisce and if my memory serves aright, which it doesn´t always do these days as I was saying to Ian Scott the other....where was I?...it did not used to be the blogger´s duty to collect and,if I may so put it, collate the names of participants, human and canine, but the duty of the Leader in his or, as the case may be, her report. I defer of course to the RCB for a final ruling.
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