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.