WAGS 17.10.2018: Double 9th (9th Day of the 9th lunar month, Wu Xu Year, Year of the Dog)

This week's notional walk was to be a short excursion round the forest which is more elevated at some points than our usual environs on the coast (not for all,  Ingrid!)
     However, it is also the time of year when visitors arrive and people travel thus avoiding the school holidays and increased prices. And some WAGS this year seem unable to find the time to get walking.
     By Tuesday night, only Ingrid had signed up for the walk, and I was reluctant to drag her down from her mountain eyrie when the dangers of too much yang were threatening in the lowlands, so the formal walk was cancelled.

Some pretty useful male attributes there!!

A short video that will increase your knowledge immeasurably can be found HERE

     By way of explanation, the 9th Day of the 9th Month in the Chinese Calendar, is an ancient holiday known as Chung Yeung and this year it fell on the 17th October. Nine is a 'yang' number and it follows that Double 9 produces far too much Yang and is therefore dangerous to the more sensitive types.   One countermeasure is to flee to high ground. Another less energetic antidote is to drink chrysanthemum liquor (until you have enough not to care about excess yang), or to wear the zhuyu plant (qv).  In Hong Kong as I remember it was also a day  for 'bone-polishing' ie cleaning and redecorating ancestors graves, and then having a good feast of roast suckling pig.
     In 1966, Taiwan rededicated the day as Senior Citizens Day, which is something the WAGS should think about.
     Anyway, once again left to our own resources, Myriam and I were not to be cheated of our weekly stroll, so decided it would be an ideal opportunity to do some Geocache maintenance in Sagres, and to hope that the hills of the Trilho Ambiental in Castelejo would be high enough to keep us clear of all the yang being produced.
     First we visited the 13th Century Chapel to the Virgin of Guadalupe, where I have a cache that is causing problems, and resolved that.
     A couple of New Zealand Geocachers had visited the Algarve in 2007 and set a cache at Sagres called 'The End of the World'.  It is at Cape St Vincent, and is quite tricky to extract, being right in the field of view of countless tourists, but nevertheless it has survived 11 years. I had maintained it for this couple before and I had a request to replace the container which had apparently bio-degraded and cracked. So this was the second call. It was breezy but a cool glorious clear day.

View from the Cache

             It was rather draughty to walk far here, so we headed back to Vila do Bispo and Cafe ZigZag for a reviving cuppa.  
           On the way we stopped for a quick recce of the Fortaleza de Beliche , which has been rescued and now houses a cafe. Sadly it was not open, but now you can pass through the fort and see the views from behind. There is a long path with steps heading down towards the sea, which once had a rope bannister to hold on to, but the rope is gone, and I didn't fancy the climb back up.

Fortaleza de Beliche

In Vila do Bispo we found that the town had been swamped with hippies and surfers, tattooed, dreadlocked and pierced to the hilt. Nevertheless we enjoyed our coffee at ZigZag, which appears to be under new (and younger) management, if the price of coffee is anything to go by!

            After this we headed for the Trilho Ambiental which has been maintained in terms of the signage and waymarking.  We walked the circuit' visiting and maintaining my caches as we went and only met two or three walkers the whole way round.  

Serious selfie practice. Apparently I can't smile and operate the camera at the same time!

By the time we reached the Forestry Guard house we were warmed up, when a German registered Land Rover Defender emerged from behind the building, and proceeded to lift the wooden barrier and drive out.  Of course we interrogated them and they turned out to be a pleasant enough young couple, who had been here for 2 months and were going to head back to Germany later in the year.  We looked back behind the house and saw several other German vehicles parked almost out of sight, and the door of the house was also open. I suspect it is a 'squat', but apparently Vila do Bispo Camara are aware.

The Forestry Guard House

A choice of trails

We returned via the car park and picnic area to find a couple of Camara artisans repairing the public barbecue.  Possible WAGS event here!!

So, a pleasant walk, must do it again soon, only about 5 km on the Trilho, but we had other things to do in the afternoon, which surprisingly ended up with a feast at 'Chicken in the Gutter' in Silves and a fact-finding mission after to the Top-of-the-Range Super Luxury Lidl close by. But that is another story!

The lively Miss Ing-e-rid Bonte,

Ate bananas in a manner quite jaunty.

    When on a long walk

    She loved a good talk,

But demurred at performing Full Monty!

WAGS 10.10.2018: Lagos Limited Edition or The Walk that Nearly Wasn't!

There was an almost complete lack of enthusiasm from the WAGS for a walk from Lagos on the Double 10 National Day of the Republic of China.

Republic of China National Anthem (only to be opened on 10/10 )



 Only Yves signed up, and when I telephoned him on Tuesday evening, his Frogginess had extended to his throat, and he did indeed sound as rough as a swampful of amphibian Ranidae. We persuaded him not to carry his germs down the Frog to the healthy end of the Algarve.
    Other excuses were less convincing, including this meisterlich dissemination from Hilke, who I may add has not walked for eons:-

Hi, Paul,

why for heaven's sake don't you start at the usual time for the WAGS? It is not that hot anymore.

I am not coming until you get back to a comfortable time ( I am not here anyway for the 24th9.

     The '24th9' is history anyway, but it has actually been quite hot after 10am, and popular agreement has had us starting earlier, and there is no such thing as 'normal' applying to WAGS walks.  In fact I wish more WAGS would offer to lead whatever walk they consider normal, at whatever is a 'comfortable' time for them!

     The National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan, or once Formosa) is celebrated (not too widely outside of Taiwan) on the 10th of October (10-10 or Double 10).  
       It commemorates the start of the Wuchang Uprising of 10 October 1911, which led to the end of the Qing Dynasty in China and establishment of the Chinese Republic on 1 January 1912.  
       During the Chinese Civil War in 1949, the Government of the Republic of China, led by Chiang Kai-shek, were overthrown and fled to Taiwan leaving the mainland to the Peoples Republic of China led by Mao Tse-tung, whose descendants are now taking over the World, including my apartment in Lagos!!
     Anyway, we decided , as there are no WAGS rules about quora, that the two of us would embark on a Limited Edition, urban/rural/cultural tour of our local area.
     Sadly no starter photo, as I am lost without John's expertise and magic camera, and anyway there would be enough chance for photos of Myriam on her own later.  I did remember to start my beta Locus Map app and it functioned satisfactorily for the first time.

Lets get the Stats out of the way early too.

Yes, we clocked in at 8.74 km and an altitude gain totalling 285 m. Well within 'normal' WAGS walks.

I must confess to an ulterior motive, in that as there were only two of us, the walk could be used as a Geocaching maintenance walk (without whinging) for my Cachewalker Lagos Rural Wilderness Series of 10 caches plus a bonus, and we managed to cover at least half of them.

Another bonus was that near the first of the series is the Lagos Pet Cemetery, I believe the only example of such in the Algarve. It was opened a year ago, and doesn't appear to have attracted more than a few occupants to date.

Entrance to the 'Cemeterio para Animais'

Is this a repository for complete pets or just ashes?

Anyone interested in booking a place for their beloved pet, contact Lagos Camara.

The Pet cemetery is at the back corner of the Human cemetery, and we made our way through the untamed fennel along the back wall to our next cache.

Back wall of the cemetery

Further on, Myriam found an Algarve Workers Rural Kit............

......wheelbarrow, tools, ropes and a mattress for the obligatory Soneca

   At the next cache, an old ruined farm building we found that a street Artist from last year's ArtURB Festival had been here.

'O  rapaz' 

Life imitating Art

After completing the rural bit we circled round to try and catch my elusive TV man at his place of work, but he must have had the spotters out and had disappeared.

   By now it was about 11 am and hunger pangs were gnawing at me.  I decided to eschew the traditional WAGS post walk snack of a tosta mista or bifana in favor of a visit to the best Breakfast joint in the Algarve.  This would have been impossible if there had been a greater nuber of WAGS, but ideal just for the two of us, so we repaired to Cafe Odeon.

Cafe Odeon - a scruffy little hole-in-the wall, that does sensational breakfasts at amazingly low prices, but only seating for about 12. Always busy.

Myriam went for the Veggie Breakfast,( Euros 4,50) basically a Full English less bacon and sausages, and with tomatos, but cooked on the same griddle!

Luckily she feels no remorse for pigs and just wanted a really healthy fry-up.

I of course went for the Super Full English with sausages (Euros 5.00).......

..... but was too excited and got stuck in before I remembered I was lead photographer. 

BTW I put my hash browns to soak up the runny egg yolks, an old trick I learnt in Hong Kong.  The breakfasts here are a bit hybrid for the purists among us, as the owner Thomas, is an American and does all the cooking himself propped up at a tiny range, and he has developed it into an art form. And of course HP Sauce and Colmans mustard on every table.

    We left groaning under the weight of the belt-strainer breakfasts, and unfortunately for me had to return home via the town centre. This meant stopping to look in shops and an exhibition of artisan art.

There are some very talented artisans around and lots of inventive objects were on display.

Also a marvellous long-haired cat that was fascinated by what Myriam had trod in on our walk.

And so the honour of the WAGS was maintained, another week crossed off the calendar. Hopefully next week we may get more interest, but it doesn't matter, we only need one subject and one blogger/photographer and some decent tucker at the end to fulfil the virtual WAGS charter!

An elegant WAG Myriam LO,

Wasn't short but she wanted to grow

     She ate a Full Greaser

     She thought would increase 'er

But it all ended up in the Po!!

WAGS 03.10.2018: Over the Boardwalk - Reversed

The jury is no longer out on Global Warming! By this time of year, we should be starting our walks towards 10 am in a perfectly acceptable 20C or less, rising to 23C in the afternoon, and dropping to 15-17C overnight. At least that is what Accuweather claims for previous years.

Incandescent Sun

      This year the warm winds from the SE have carried on - and on, resulting in  daytime temps of 30C and more for an extended period and not dropping below 22C at night in Lagos.

     Being cautious, I decided that to be more comfortable we should start walking at 8am from the carpark at the Boardwalk end of Alvor. Everybody got the message except Rod who was a late entrant thanks to a cancelled meeting, and Tony W. who accused me of being drunk for the musical invitation I sent!!  


The Calling Circular:

The heat seems not to be abating as fast as usual, so this coming Wednesday here is a musical clue to our WAGS walk!

https://youtu.be/EPEqRMVnZNU.

Of course it's Alvor. Meet at the carpark near the start, or even in the Sports Centre coffee shop - if it's open, for a start around 8 am. Unfortunately

https://youtu.be/ppYgrdJ0pWk

at about 0945, so we may walk the beach first. Or even just a couple of laps on the boardwalk. Please let me know if you are coming.

Paul

Most found it perfectly straightforward - I even gave the answer to the venue away.
Rod rolled up at 0815, oblivious and using the traditional "Well it is the WAGS....!" gambit, but Tony had needed a fuller answer to his emailed reply.....

Are you drunk, or am I? Can't make any sense of your message.

Please re-send. In English. Plain.

Despite an 'English. Plain' response, Tony failed to toe the line citing problems with his Rolls-Royce brakes, but more likely not wanting his two exuberant dogs to rearrange the prime cow leather seats in the Roller. And who can blame him with verbiage like this:-

The superior finish of Rolls-Royce leather begins with the hides from which it comes. The cows live freely – and their welfare is fundamental to the quality of their hides. Our carefully selected farmers understand this and genuinely care about the leather that comes from the cows they raise for food. 

Most hides come from the Simmental breed. Not only do these larger cattle give bigger hides, but they are also raised in a moist region with a temperate climate. This makes a big difference to the hide, as their skin doesn’t dry out. The lush grass they feed on has a direct effect on their skin. Brian Staite, General Manager of the Leathershop, explains: ‘The hide of a cow is the same as our skin. If you don’t drink enough fluid, eat junk food and lie in the sun all day, your skin will suffer.”* From the outset, quality is the main motivation.

Each hide is rigorously scrutinised for imperfections and only the finest make it to Goodwood. “We’re talking no better than one in 100 hides. It is a very, very selective process from the beginning,” adds Staite. 

When it takes 12 of these A-grade hides to upholster one of our motor cars, each panel must live up to Rolls-Royce’s extreme standards.

* So that's where we are going wrong!

The WAGS waiting for Rod. Myriam holding forth on some scatalogical subject which conveniently no one can remember. The benefits of age!!

Sadly, out of season Alvor coffee shops remain resolutely closed until well after our appointed start time, and even though the Swimming Pool in the Sports Complex was open at 8 am, there was no sign of the lady who runs the coffee shop.

    We eventually set off around 0830, the exact time I may never know, as John's camera, which captured the starter photo, is, according to the data possibly  showing GMT, and the time he edited the picture!

L-R Myriam, John, Maria, Dina, Hazel, Yves, Paul, Rod and Chris

A pleasing effort after a couple of false starts when locals walked through as the timer was going off, and only Sasha refused to look at the camera. It is not clear why Myriam and Hazel needed  their windbreakers - perhaps a fashion statement, - or perhaps they don't believe in Global Warming.

John's track showing his personal journey!

The Official Garmin track.......

..........and Official stats.

I decided in view of Blondie's warning in the second link of the Calling Circular to start off by walking East and joining the beach at Tres Irmaos to take any benefit from the soon to be High Tide.

They're not the Kind of Girls who give up just like that Oh No-o-o-o-o!

A wide board walk to the Sisters was soon over.

The Three Sisters........

......and Two WAGS

Jackets still on the  ladies after 20 minutes!!

So we set off west along the beach, with only moderate difficulty on the narrow strip of firm sand the tide had yet to cover.

I had taken the precaution of engaging the services of the Camara Beach Grading machine to smooth our path if necessary.

A study entitled  'Fin de Saison'  by Yves

This one had been to the Special Effects Dept.

If you squint you can see this is a Tribute to Lewis Hamilton!

Halfway along the beach, the Leader, and most of the others, had had enough of the shifting sands and rejoined Chris who had been on the boardwalk claiming that Sasha was not allowed on the beach.  Rod however decided he needed the hardship and ploughed his lonely furrow along the sand.

Before too long we reunited at the mole or breakwater at the Western end of the beach.

An opportunity for some photographic endeavours.

The Dismount

Further on the way back we left the main path for the estuary beach route.

The Other Three Sisters!

On the way back, a pause for Maria to show off her elastic ham strings!

Wisely no one else attempted to match the feat.

Sasha liked the look of the water better in this section.

By now caffeine levels were dangerously depleted, and only a brief pause to save ViewRanger stats, tracks from Garmin and whatever John uses, and we headed for the shady outdoor space of the cafe at the Sports Complex.

Myriam took a photo........

....and John took a photo of Myriam taking a photo.......

....so not to be outdone, Paul took a photo with Myriam in it.

Food started to arrive........

.....and needed to be sauced.........

....adequately!

And finally Yves achieved an amazing feat .. a ViewRanger map WITH detailed stats and sent from the table at the cafe to Paul's OnePlus.   Oh the mastery of Technology.

And even more finally, the weekly limerick - remembering Ian, who unfortunately no longer walks with us, but follows these Blogs avidly- or so he says. We shall see!

An ex-Wednesday Walker named Scott,

Had a penchant for taking a tot.

     He enjoyed a Canecond

    And often a second.

How many knew that? - Not a lot!