AWW 30 05 2012: A Tropical Heatwave, or Miss Piggy Explains All

 

In the absence of a walk this week, The Muppets – not for the first time – come to the rescue. Click on the following to hear their explanation:

http://youtu.be/y2he3gF5uSM

Meanwhile, our Rangoon Correspondent has bravely broken radio silence once again:

“A quick update from the Dig: there has been a small hitch in the proceedings and the Blogueur-digueur has suffered a wee upset in his efforts to shore up the defences of the Realm in time for One's Jubilee.

“A picture is worth a thousand worms, so herewith what happened.

“For info, the big wooden box contained some drying equipment removed a short while ago...”

 

Presumably “drying equipment”  is code for “Spitfire” . Ah well, nobody said that digging up crates full of old aeroplanes was going to be pain-free. We wish him well; keep digging, mon ami.

AWW 23.05.2012: Around And About Bravura

Have no fear, Gentle Reader, you haven´t inadvertently logged in to Hello! magazine. This opening photo is here solely for scientific reasons because it provides plausible evidence that, contrary to popular opinion, it is possible for Terry Mace to perambulate at less than 6.5 k.p.h  - when and if the occasion demands.

And, now that that´s safely placed on the record, we can resume normal service.

And so it was that on Wednesday 23rd May, lured by an early start, a forecast of moderate temperatures and the prospect of views of blue waters stretching serenely under blue skies, 12 of us met Rod the Leader at the Bravura dam. He quickly disillusioned us of thoughts of a gentle waterfront stroll by setting off determinedly away from the water on a 2.2 km route march along the tarmac direction Odiaxière. Chris and Tiggie very quickly sussed out how grim it was to be and retreated. But let me not anticipate Rod´s embellishing narrative.

The Starters

Leader: Rod

Suckers: Lindsey, Tina, Sue and Geoff, Peter S, Hilke, Ian W, Ingrid, Alex, John and Hazel, Antje, and Chris (fleetingly!)

Dogs: Misty, Ember, Sascha, Divana, and Tiggie (also fleetingly!)

 

The Track

The Statistics  (courtesy Ingrid)

Moving time: 3 h 32 m. Total time: 4 h 37 m.
Moving avg: 4.2 km/h. Overall avg: 3.2 km/h.
Total ascent: 254 metres. Max elev.: 251 metres.
Distance: 15.3 km.

 The Leader´s Report 

“We met in the spacious car-park of the Hansel and Gretel establishment beside the Barragem de Bravura.....although, as they don't open until 11am, coffee had to be left to the imagination! The turnout was heavily...8 - 5 indeed....biased towards the fairer sex(what is going on? !) but we set off, promptly at 9.00, on a warm morning and headed back along the road for a while before we turned off down a track towards the river and the Cotifo pumping station.

“The old path near the bottom had become overgrown to the point of being impassable so we carried on right to the bottom, which turned out to be almost equally impassable but we managed to safely cross a a rather damp sort of spillway bridge onto the main track.

A Question of Balance

“A couple of hikers with their dog who seemed to think we were encroaching on their territory was the only distraction as we wound our way eastwards up the valley. For a moment we thought of taking a turning to see if the sign pointing towards  Miseria  really led us there but thought it better of it in case it actually was. (It was bad enough as it was!)

“Oh, woe is me!”

Divana receives some TLC

“As we approached the ridge we passed through the abandoned former metropolis of Corte Velada and entered the territory of Corte Barriga , a vast agricultural ( well hopefully it isn't another golf course !) development which has entailed clearing and replanting hectares and hectares with cork and creating several irrigation dams in the valleys.....whose money went into all that ??!.....visible, however, only to the very few who ascended the final hill which overlooked it all. (By this, the Leader is referring to Ian W and yours truly who were the only suckers he persuaded to march up to the top of the hill and march down again.)

One might say that they are both admiring the view……

…and, if so, this is what they saw from the top of The Grand Old Duke´s Hill.

“We carried on across the rolling plateau, pausing briefly at a ruined farmhouse with a bit of shade for a brief snack.

Some take elevenses…..

…..and Sue makes hay

Time for this week´s floricultural study by Ingrid

“The track carried on down towards the lake before heading back up over a final ridge. On the way up a few trees gave us enough shade to encourage us to stop for lunch. Thus nourished we headed on up before descending once and for all back down to water level and the lakeside track and a group photo opportunity.

Blue skies above blue waters at last

“Following the the winding inlets of the lake this track is always longer than one thinks but at least the dogs enjoyed the proximity of the water.

Sascha, Misty and Ember race neck and neck

But Divana is more restrained

“And so back to the shady terrace of the Hansel and Gretel Restaurant where Hansel himself, indeed, was immediately on hand to take our orders for very welcome drinks, not to mention some superb Marks & Spencer biscuits generously distributed by Tina.”

 

Alex and Ingrid celebrate

(What they were celebrating was the lucky survival of Alex´s famous stetson. When Alex had been crossing the dam a few minutes earlier, the strong wind had whipped the hat off her head and spun it round in the air for a couple of seconds before letting it fall, luckily back onto the dam and not over the edge.)

The Leader ponders on just how to tell the story of the walk 

 

This week´s Gourmet Corner

Tina´s M & S biscuits – apparently surplus to her particular dietary requirements, but damned good all the same

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Geoff and Ingrid for photographic contributions

And a Reminder

That John O´s progress along the Caminho de Santiago de Compostela can be followed at

http://www.facebook.com/rioarade .

Keep it up, John.

And to conclude, back for one last time to

The Burmese Spitfire

Not quite such a mystery as The Maltese Falcon, but still intriguing enough. I had rather thought that the trail had gone cold and the story had no more legs. And some folk had been frankly sceptical about the whole thing. But then I realised that there had been neither sight nor sound of our esteemed M.Le Blogeur for some weeks. “What was happening? Where has he got to?” I wondered to myself.

And then, out of the bleu, a cryptic message filters through from our Rangoon correspondent who, of course, will only say this wance:

“Hullo Silves, hullo Silves, are you receiving me?

“Signal very weak from bottom of pit, must be relayed along bucket ropes (remember the string and tin-can ‘telephones’?): the local version of broadband…

“The team here are digging for victory with gusto in spades: we have Bobby Lapointe on pick-axe alto, Jacques le Digueur from Trou-sous-Bois, a group of charming Irish fellows, the Pick and Micks, a ‘Elf ´n’Sefty inspector from London Underground, a Polish stow-away trying to find a niche, a lawyer examining the ex-caveats, a few Greeks digging themselves in their own hole, another Archimedes screwing endlessly with the odd cry of ‘Eureka’, a Mole from MI6, but no Algarvean Walkers, yet… although there would be no language problem: ‘diga?’

“More to report over a cool beer when radio contact is re-established; please eat this e-message before it falls in enemy hands: some suspicious-looking blonde types are lurking and toking wiz Tectonic aksents; ach!

Over and almost out!”

Identities of those involved clearly heavily disguised for security reasons, but well done, M.Le Blogeur, for getting that past the Burmese censors. Keep us posted.

AWW 16.05.2012: Carrapateira Coastal Ramble

 

(click to enlarge)

Why on earth (you will be asking yourself) does this crazy blogger start this edition with a picture of an EVA bus?

Well, partly because Ingrid took the picture at about 7.30 in the morning of 16th May and she insisted that it be included – and as the leading candidate for Blogging Nominee 2013 her wishes are not to be lightly disregarded – but also because inside that bus was the AWW´s very own John O´Neill en route to Porto to start his pilgrimage along the Caminho de Santiago de Compostela. Here is a reminder of his recent message:
“It is my intention to walk the Caminho Way, solo, from Porto to Santiago in Spain commencing Wed. next May 16
If you, or the other Wed. walkers are interested in following my progress I intend posting daily up-dates on my business facebook http://www.facebook.com/rioarade
I wish you all an enjoyable walk next Wed.
John O' “

and here is a photo of the man himself before setting off:

(maybe we will get a picture of him “after” in due course)

 

And now we resume normal service with the details of Chris and Antje´s latest excursion:-

Carrapateira Coastal Ramble

Leaders: Chris and Antje.

Ramblers: Rod, Ian W, John and Hazel, Janet, Ingrid, Tina, Alex, Frank, Jim, Peter, Marian and Roz.

Dogs: Sasha, Tiggy, Misty, Ember, Shelley and Cybele.

The Starters

The Track

and The Statistics  (courtesy Ingrid)

Moving time 3 h 01 m  - Total time 3 h 47 m
Moving avg 4.4 km/h  - Overall avg 3.5 km/h
Tot.ascent 277 m  - Max elev. 244 m
Distance 13.6 km.

The Leaders´ Report

“In anticipation of a nice easy stroll in the sunshine, some fifteen AWW's gathered at the appointed hour at Cafe Bravo in Carrapateira. Our numbers included two new walkers, Marion Hall and Roz Smith, further increasing the pre-dominance of ladies amongst our regular numbers. (Stop your groaning, RCB.) Setting off under slightly overcast skies, the group descended rather than climbed out of Carrapeiteira, following the river valley towards Vilarinha, although some dogs elected to take the higher steeper route by themselves. A minor domestic scene was quickly resolved as the responsibilities of leadership were discussed and agreed upon after the suitably chastised miscreants were brought under control.

At the start of the climb

Marion and Roz lead the pack

“Ascending the only significant hill of the day brought no complaints or cardiac arrests, although some recently qualified first-aiders could be heard repeating their rescue drill in the event of an incident which fortunately did not materialise. By now the sun was shining as promised and a warm breeze from the East caused the ambient temperature to rise rapidly.

Distant windmills

“ Undeterred the leaders elected to take a more civilised route beside a minor road in order to avoid a field of recently planted oats, which would have resulted in some bush whacking. Negotiating the main road towards the coastal path demonstrated the AWW's penchant for ignoring leaders´ instructions when some insisted on crossing at a blind corner rather than walk along what was considered to be the wrong side of a main road. Fortunately no traffic appeared and the straggling bunch made it unscathed to the turning, a reminder that avoiding tarmac roads whenever possible is desirable.

 

We passed some tastefully decorated buildings

“Now back on the familiar route, having by now avoided at least two trig points, good progress was made under the mid-day sun towards the usual shaded lunch spot. This had unfortunately just been visited by a large herd of cows whose nearby presence was not considered to be conducive to a convivial lunch spot. Despite some protestations from certain members of the group and further discord between the leaders, the decision was made to continue to Amado beach where a more scenic site was anticipated.

Amado view

Flower arrangement (by Ingrid)

“Ignoring the detour to the elevated viewing spot, lunch was taken on the rocks above the beach, thus avoiding the sand whipped up by the now stronger offshore breeze.

Rod trying to salvage his lunch from two hungry hounds

Ian displaying his banana. (Anonymous female voice from stage right “The only thing you can do with that banana is eat it!”)

“The dogs enjoyed a well earned cooling dip in the ocean, where embryonic surfers were attempting to ride the pretty non-existent waves. After trudging along the beach through the heat towards the turning to Carrapateira, no enthusiasm was noted for an optional detour around the cliff path to Pontal, so we headed back to the Cafe Bravo secure in the knowledge that the advertised time and distance were not going to be exceeded, it having become apparent that serious walking during the summer heat was not appreciated. (Such considerate leaders are appreciated!). As it was, everyone seemed to have enjoyed a shorter walk for a change, the dogs in particular appreciating a well deserved rest in the shade after what was considered to be a very pleasant and undemanding coastal ramble.”

Under Cafe Bravo´s plentiful awnings and umbrellas

And, at 2 pm, two very late arrivals

So that´s it done for another week. Writing a blog is largely unrewarding, like coarse fishing in a way. You know, that so-called sport – no, not a sport, more a way of passing the time – where the fisherman floats a baited hook out over a still pond and scatters lots of bits of bread around it in the expectation that, while he lazily sits on a little stool and sups his ale, some equally lazy carp or pike will show some interest and swallow the bait and the hook; they seldom do.

So the poor Blogger sips his red wine and tries to embellish routine reports of our perambulations with a few provocative or fanciful stories in the vain hope that some reader will bestir himself, rise to the bait, and keep the fictional ball rolling. Fat chance! The last attempt was that piece about the Burmese Spitfires. Surely, one thought, our two avionics experts, Terry M and Yves F, would come up with some feed-back, mocking the whole farrago or perhaps even adding more fuel to the fantasy fire. But not a sausage, bubble or squeak!

On the other hand, perhaps the rumours are true – that the pair of them really have gone out to Burma on the Wild Spitfire Chase, and are maintaining strict radio silence like all good operatives. Who knows? And when will we know?

Tailpiece

Good maps for planning walks can be found at a bookshop in Faro. Livraria Simões (tel.289.826.618 www.livrariasimoes.com) is at R.do Alportel, 86-A, near its junction with R.General Teófilo da Trinidade. Good parking nearby at Largo do Campo da Feira. The maps are the Carta Militar de Portugal, scale 1:25 000, each one covering an area I think of 10 by 16 km.

AWW 9.05.2012: Two For The Price Of One

 

PART ONE

 

 

Cometh the hour, cometh the man – so they say.And that man was JohnO, stepping into the breach to lead a walk while many AWWs were otherwise occupied. And cometh the hour, cometh the woman, too – because into the breach also steps Ingrid, consummate photographer, statistician and track recorder. Clearly,a potential blogger-in-waiting. It is her sharp observation that draws our attention to the Leader´s snazzy new boots and to the young Alex´s snappy stetson.

 

The Starters at Lagoa Fatacil (all pics courtesy: Ingrid)

 

Walkers:- Tina, Alex, Ingrid, Rev. Bob, Dina, Peter, David L, and not forgetting the Intrepid Leader, John O'

Attendants:- Alfie and Rosie

The Track (courtesy: Ingrid)

The Statistics (courtesy: Ingrid)

moving time 3 h 37 m total time 4 h 33 m
moving avg 4.6 km/h overall avg 3.6 km/h
tot.ascent 143 m max elev.218 m
Distance 16.6 km

The walk had been advertised as a lateral walk, but Alex says that was a mistake. Never mind, it didn´t deter folks, not even Peter who, judging by the photos, was in sparkling form despite having worked late into the wee sma´ hours the night before, installing a new telephone system for “Management”.

The Leader´s Report

“The merry month of May introduced our elite eight walkers (plus 2 dogs) to warm weather,balmy air,flowers and rising energy. Contrary to normal Wed. walks, the enthusiasm was indicated by an early start (10 minutes before designated time). (Is this a record?)

“We skipped along merrily until the Algarve cycle path was located. From here we meandered--full of chat and banter, along uninhabited country lanes. A deeply rural, peaceful region with a vast range of wild flowers.

“Then some slow-moving cloud,a little breeze in the trees that encouraged the conversation and singing of the many and varied birds.

“Eventually we reached the spectacular area of Senhora da Rocha where an early"brunch" was enjoyed.

“From here we experienced the sun, the blue of the sky, the distant moving fishing boats in the sun-dappled water.
Our return journey along the cliffs was eventually spoilt when some newly born puppies were discovered in distress.
They were rescued by members of the group who merit a special thanks.

 

”Our 16.6K May meander was finally concluded at Fatacil where, with some effort, we enjoyed well-deserved cold drinks.”

The Leader, the Blogger-in-Waiting….. and the Leader´s new boots

PART TWO

Meanwhile, in sunny Alvor, things had taken a more serious turn……

…..9 AWWs plus 2 Mountain Bikers were spending a full day on a Basic Life Support & First Aid course, with only one hour off for good behaviour and an economical three-course lunch.

(From the left):- Hazel, Rod, John, Jorge Marques (INEM), Antje, João Mendonça (INEM), Hilke, José Marvão (INEM), mountain-biker Frank, co-ordinator Ana Cristina (AFPOP), mountain-biker Mark, Lindsey, Ian, Frank and Jim.

Your Blogger invited Rod to pen a few magisterial words after the event.And here is Rod´s commentary:-

“So if you thought those of us who attended the First Aid Course were just having a cushy time whilst the rest of you were vigorously exercising yourselves (sorry about the dentist's chair, Janet!) well you had better think again! ....I can tell you giving 120 chest compressions a minute and puffing air into the lungs of the long suffering Annie (Resusci-Annie, the plastic maiden designed for the job in case anyone was getting envious!) was far more exhausting than anything you were up to.

“The Course was guided and presented, in very accomplished English , by 3 members of INEM and Hospital Emergency Units and it was clear that they knew from first hand experience what they were talking about and presented it with professionalism and humour. We have all read First Aid books or pamphlets but there is no better way of learning about Basic Life Support procedures than actually practicing them physically and repetitively. This we did..to the point of exhaustion !

Rod about to go to work on Ian

 

Ian tries to get his own back on Rod

“I think we can all feel a little more comfortable that that in the event of a medical crisis on a walk, and indeed at home, the luckless victim will now have that much of a better chance of receiving the right attention and we also know much better from where and how help may come and how best to call for it.

Hazel puts her back into CPR

“Of course we will all divulge our newly learned knowledge to anyone who wants to listen but I really would like to emphasize that this will be absolutely no substitute for actually attending a course. I personally suggest that everyone, and not only AWW's, should attend a course.......and not just a course but this one which is given by the very people who will come to your aid and help you in an emergency. €100 isn't much for a life.

“These courses are available to groups of reasonable numbers; I know AFPOP are hoping to run some shortly, but anyone could put together a group. Ana Cristina (T/M 968905103), who is part-time with AFPOP, coordinated this one for us and I am sure will be pleased to do so again or advise if there is one for you to join.”

All of us who took part would fully agree with that.