Bensafrim market square café...shouldn´t need any more directions. 9.30 meet.
Another WAGS Truism was born:- The shorter the walk description - the longer and steeper the walk!!
In truth we all met on time and despite the brevity of the advert, an encouraging turnout, with Peter Schroeder debuting for the season, without dogs, Frank out again, and John and Hazel on temporary transfer, and regulars, Tony, Janette Paul and Myriam, and today's leader, Rod...
Both of Tony's dogs showed what they thought of Paul's starter photo.
John's alternative start photo turned out better
Rod's succinct walk summary, which didn't quite encapsulate my own experience!Paul, Myriam, Frank, Janette, John, Hazel, Tony, Peter & Rod, plus Ember, Shelley, Shadow and Jess, all met up on somewhere about the appointed hour at the much frequented Bensafrim market square cafe.
After the ever increasing period of chatter and coffee we managed to set off by about 10.00. The route took us along some known and a few unknown tracks north of Bensafrim. A few undulations were thrown in to remind people that we were actually on a walk...naturally this caused a few grumbles. The rivers were, unsurprisingly, dry with only the odd puddle which the dogs of course found, so at least nobody had cause to complain about wet feet.
The flat route back down the Bensafrim river valley and along the road was pronounced boring, by the leader anyway, and a short cut over the hills was followed......well it was perhaps shorter in kms but maybe quite a bit longer in effort.
The track
The kms factor was important however because it kept the total distance of around 11.9 kms only marginally in excess of the WAGS upper limit.
The big news was the reopening of O Barbaro bar restaurant almost next door to the market square. Now run by a young and enthusiastic couple who even managed to produce some really quite palatable bifanas and tostas....its a valuable addition to the Bensafrim eateries although nothing quite matches the inimitable Gloria.
Soon after the start, we had done a downhill........
.....and then an uphill.........
....and paused at the top to regroup!
Luckily, a cool day and the early caffeine energisers diffused the grumbling - mostly!
Did I mention there was a hill?
Did I mention there was a hill?
A few more ups and downs on the undulating ridge led the group past a dilapidated windmill. These are usually kept at the top of hills except in Holland.
Two out of three in step.
Several undulations later, a much better preserved windmill - sadly not on the same hill.
Hazel amused herself with a Rapunzel impression....
Here we had some company as a motorcycle gang rode past, happily slowing to a careful pace to avoid both dogs and confused walkers.
Peter blended with the scenery, while Myriam drank her magic tea.
A flat section past the 'Sven Goran Eriksson' vineyards, unhappily in decline as is his career after being sacked by a Chinese second division side last summer. HERE
A secret sign was spotted on one of the vineyard posts:-
Water was found!!
A rare Oasis - who says there is a drought on!!
Apparently the flat route back to Bensafrim was a bit 'boring' for the leader so we set off up a 'short cut', which turned up to be a succession of 'Just One More's' without a 'Rest and Be Thankful'.
Rod proudly demonstrates the sign that informed the quad bikers the previous weekend that the route was 'Radical' and that there was an alternative. We didn't take it!
Just One More......
Are we there yet Dad?
The GPS says that we were only 15% in total time over the WSM (WAGS Statutory Maximum) and the distance showed that too. Once heading downhill with the fleshpots of Bensafrim in sight the group re-energised and we were soon sitting in the similarly revitalised Barbaro Cafe under a shady terrace discussing the relative merits of pao forma and pao caseiro/
The new Proprietress, Madelina, took this shot for us, as you can see from the following candid picture. The one she took with her own phone apparently destined to go viral on Facebook!
The TMs and bifanas were generally well accepted and photogenic....
While the local lunchtime trade at Gloria might not be affected, it is certainly a great addition for a group of hungry and thirsty walkers, and much closer to the Market carpark.
Finally the artistic representation of The Barbarian, on the wall inside the bar. A similar theme was found marking the toilet doors, though one or two walkers had trouble distinguishing the barbarian from the Valkyrie in the dim light. At least that was their excuse!!
A secret sign was spotted on one of the vineyard posts:-
Water was found!!
A rare Oasis - who says there is a drought on!!
Apparently the flat route back to Bensafrim was a bit 'boring' for the leader so we set off up a 'short cut', which turned up to be a succession of 'Just One More's' without a 'Rest and Be Thankful'.
Rod proudly demonstrates the sign that informed the quad bikers the previous weekend that the route was 'Radical' and that there was an alternative. We didn't take it!
Just One More......
Are we there yet Dad?
The GPS says that we were only 15% in total time over the WSM (WAGS Statutory Maximum) and the distance showed that too. Once heading downhill with the fleshpots of Bensafrim in sight the group re-energised and we were soon sitting in the similarly revitalised Barbaro Cafe under a shady terrace discussing the relative merits of pao forma and pao caseiro/
The new Proprietress, Madelina, took this shot for us, as you can see from the following candid picture. The one she took with her own phone apparently destined to go viral on Facebook!
The TMs and bifanas were generally well accepted and photogenic....
While the local lunchtime trade at Gloria might not be affected, it is certainly a great addition for a group of hungry and thirsty walkers, and much closer to the Market carpark.
Finally the artistic representation of The Barbarian, on the wall inside the bar. A similar theme was found marking the toilet doors, though one or two walkers had trouble distinguishing the barbarian from the Valkyrie in the dim light. At least that was their excuse!!
"Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit."
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