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!
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
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.
PaulMost 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!
Sshhss! If the good folks at ViewRanger hear of this unprecedented feat (pour moi) they' ll change something to bamboozle little frogs...
ReplyDeleteThe Starter photo was taken at 8.26 am, so the start was well within WAGS permitted leeway, I would think. Rod´s conscience can be clear.
ReplyDelete