WAGS 08.03.2017: Figueira Ladies’ Excuse-me.

 

PROLOGUE from A Midsummer Night’s Dream

(delivered by QUINCE)

If we offend, it is with our good will.

That you should think we come not to offend,

But with good will. To show our simple skill,

That is the true beginning of our end.

Consider then we come but in despite.

We do not come as minding to contest you,

Our true intent is. All for your delight

We are not here. That you should here repent you,

The actors are at hand, and by their show

You shall know all that you are like to know.

The brave call had gone out, proposing that a WAGette would be an entirely appropriate person to lead a walk on March 8th,  International Women’s Day.

I forebear from detailing the deluge of excuses and apologies that flooded in, but suffice to say that we would be Leaderessless on that historic day. 

Having stepped into the breach, I was gratified to have the support of Rod, Chris, and Peter.  Hedley, with a keen nose for a crisis flew in the night before and signed up with alacrity.  There was a short period of hope when Gita protested that she would walk with Thyl, and she wasn’t a man, after I had surmised that it would be a 5 man walk, but regrettably, she and he cried off on the day of the match, for reasons unadvanced, but I hope it wasn’t something I said!!

     And so the Famous Five gathered at 10 am at Tassbem in Figueira, although I recall the Original Famous Five had two girls and a dog among their number.

 After a leisurely coffee we drove over to the start outside  the Figueira Recreational Club in Rods limo. It was the best day for weeks, about 22C and clear blue and windless.

After crossing the N125 – considerably more hazardous than crossing the rail bridge, seen from the road, below, unless you took the 2km detour over the Footbridge That Is Never Used, we saw the target.

        Health and Safety deemed it necessary for the Leader to be familiar with the train times as we had to cross the rail bridge  early on, and sure enough the 1027 went past, bang on time, just before we reached the track.

Hedley is a belt and braces man, so he applied the time honoured acoustic test to make sure it was safe.

 

 

It was strangely quiet and peaceful as we traversed the Long Dyke, about which no jokes were made as it was IWD.

Entering the Long Dyke

Later the conversation picked up, ranging on all the manly topics, wine, cars, rugby and……I am not sure if I can mention the rest!

The first ice plant flowers were beginning, giving a rare splash of colour.

Before long we had reached the causeway and sluice gates across the river, giving me a chance to get in a photo. Clearly by this stage of the walk we were missing the company of the fairer sex so much that we looked quite miserable………..

….except Chris.. while the camera was working anyway!

 

After leaving the causeway, there was a short slippery descent which counted Rod as a victim, and then a shortish climb up a damp dirt path.

They’ll be coming round the mountain…… Splendid views across the Alvor estuary.

 

 

If you look carefully in the photo below you can just make out some tall wading birds, probably cranes. The flamingos we saw last time have moved on.

The skydivers had been very busy from Portimao airfield during the whole of the walk, and we passed right under the flight path on our way back.

We took a slight crosscountry detour to the Roman site at Abicada derived from the Komoot map, and it saved us repeating part of the walk. We managed to circumvent the bogs and stay dry, preserving Rod’s stylish new Colombia walking shoes, without testing their waterproof qualities.

Abicada was fast being reclaimed by nature and none of the mosaic tiles could be seen from outside the fence, which had been trespass proofed by large quantities of blue twine.

 

The remainder of the walk back was uneventful – we crossed the railway again, safe in the knowledge that the next train to Lagos would be at least 5 minutes away.

It was a nicely judged walk, even if I do say so myself. Almost exactly 3 hours and 10 km.

Back to Tassbem, where all stayed for a very reasonable bifana or tosta mista in what might be termed luxurious surroundings by usual standards.

 

LYSANDER

“He hath rid his prologue like a rough colt. He knows not the stop. A good moral, my lord: it is not enough to speak, but to speak true.”