Rod was leading and suffering no less than 3 separate problems with his right knee, which made his choice of track rather less ambitious than usual! We met at the Cafe do Castelo which is now opposite a super new Mini Preco Supermarket that has sprung up since our last walk from here, and has plentiful parking. We started at Ponte Romana Restaurante....
without an official start photo, just a casual grouping of the ones that weren't holding the camera. A glorious spring day again with little wind. Rod even provided a succinct walk summary so I only have to insert the photos.
A modest representation this week, namely Paul, Myriam, Chris, Hilke and Rod, met on a fine spring day at the Cafe Castelo in Silves.
Lest we should overshoot the WAGS distance limits we drove round to the Ponte Romana from where we duly set off along the south bank of the Arade.
First point of interest was of course the Quinta de Mata Mouros. This other world created by one Vasco Pereira Coutinho may be occasionally glimpsed over the substantial wall surrounding it. Infrequently inhabited since other residences in Cascais, Lisbon as well as Ferragudo Castle all require his attention. It must be assumed that the land sold by his father to construct Amendoeira Golf helped the family cash flow. His vineyards up the slopes to the south produce wines boasting curious names like Ypsilon, Imprevisto and more predictably Xelbe, may be found around the shelves.
Further long is Arochela, an area subdivided into villa plots and approached from below by an ancient stairway connected to an old nora which disappears over the high horizon into the mato
......Myriam made a noble attempt at an ascent and actually made the first 10 steps.
Beyond this lies a property competing in scale and grandeur with Mata Mouros. Named Pura Vida, it was built by the Dutchman behind the Giga Garden Centre near Guia. This too is rarely owner occupied and seemingly may be rented...or even apparently purchased....for a not inconsiderable sum.
This classic land Rover Defender appears to be an Art Installation, held up on a chain cable and menacing the drive.
Another few hundred metres further downstream is to be found a not unattractive residential establishment. Apparently a favourite with twitchers it would certainly be a peaceful (probably providing the mosquito repellent was working) spot. The name is not immediately evident but apparently it is called Tapada de Gramacho.
After that the track climbs up to the road where yet another vineyard and adega is being created.
The turning point
Approaching this the hillside is covered with orchids of the Naked Man variety. Most of them, wizened by the heat, were past the flush of youth and in their state of undress looked more likely to be potential WAGS members!
At which point we returned, as there is no particularly attractive alternative, along the same route covering, almost exactly, the requisite 10 k.
The statutory post walk refreshments were taken in Susan's and my regular Saturday market coffee spot in Silves centre. Some of the owner's extended family were there and on the arm of a son in law Myriam spied a Chinese character tattoo. He was invited over to roll up his sleeve so, with great anticipation, she could read the complete version...... it turned out to be only a somewhat rough translation of his name. And so ended another WAGS event.
Some naked men (and a fully clothed woman).
Castle backdrop on the way back in to Silves
And the GPS says.......
On returning to the Ponte Romana we found an impressive BMW motorbike which had my initials on the fuel tank.........
"I am a slow walker, but I never walk backwards."
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