“I won´t be there - it´s off:”
True, the weather does not look promising but my Windy app indicates that by noon any rain at Bensafrim will have ceased. Things can´t possibly be that bad. And, to my surprise, both Hazel and Geraldine are super-enthusiastic about a walk. So, as I really have no excuse, we head off to Bensafrim to meet up with Paul and Myriam to suss things out.
In the event, Paul remains in his Command Module coping with sundry skeletal problems and monitoring our progress, but Myriam is there to meet us. As we sit in Bensafrim Market Square nursing our coffees, the sky brightens up and blue patches appear through the clouds. Things seem to be looking up. So we take the plunge and gear ourselves up for the off.
Four Starters – suitably geared
Well, of course, it didn´t quite pan out like that. As soon as we had geared up in swathes of plasticy stuff, the wind and the rain re-appear with a vengeance. An experienced mariner like Chris Whittle, had he been there, would of course had warned us that only half of the rain had blown past and that what we had fooled us into think the rain was over was just the eye of the storm, the calm in the centre; the other half of the rain was yet to hit us.
Somehow, I found myself leader by default and, having retained vague memories of Rod´s walk from here on 7th November last – the one, you will remember, with the notorious sting in the tail – decided to do his route in reverse, swinging eastwards out of the village and then up the hill towards the radio masts and the ruined mill with the trig point. True, there was a temporary track miscalculation to start with but that soon got corrected by tramping through a muddy firebreak and we were then on solid ground.
It was here that what I at first took to be a snake on the path turned out to be a moving line of processionary caterpillars, three to four times a long as my Leki stick.
And now the weather at the hill-top really did hit us but, true to our traditions, we managed to take the trig shot before heading for lower ground, resisting any temptation to tackle the assault course of Rod´s sting in the tail in reverse.
And by now, the storm gradually abated and progress thereafter was pretty serene. We took a few location pictures along the way so as to convince any doubters that we did actually do the walk. Past Charrascosa we went
and on in search of Monte Amarela – lots of signs for this place, pointing this way and that, but where it actually is remains a mystery.
At the top of the route, the rain had virtually ceased; real blue skies had emerged,
and wet- weather gear was proving to be a hindrance, not a blessing.
I can´t get my damned thing out!
True, there were a few minor puddles to negotiate but nobody got boots (suede or other-wise) unduly wet.
By the time we had returned to base and Hazel had changed into her up-town gear, the sun was blazing down and casting long shadows on the ground.
Thoughts now turned to refreshments. The good news from Bensafrim is the café Barbáro has re-opened for business. However, we didn´t stay to sample its wares on this occasion because the message from the Command Module was to meet in Lagos. There, Paul and Myriam´s usual TM spot Bairro was too crowded so we went over the road to Pizzeria Oliva, a friendly joint where the arrival of our main meal was bracketed by two on- the-house freebie offerings,
mini-pizzas to start
and limoncellos in chocolate to finish
While we were waiting for the main meal – it was a busy lunch time by now –we amused ourselves by playing some of those traditional table top games that modern kids get up to, including “Compare My Mobile”
A mobile brand apparently called “OnePlus” won the team prize. Which of the three individual specimens of that particular brand on display took first individual prize, I really couldn´t say - the differences between them are boringly technical.
When the main meal did arrive…Well ! you will, I am sure, have heard of the drinking challenge, the Yard of Ale. Well, this was the eating challenge - The Metre of Pizza, i.e.four - or was it five? - different types of pizza, vegetarian at one end, non-veg at the other end.
Very adequate, and certainly good value for money. But, as a replacement for the day-to-day TM or bifana, I hae me doots.
Back to the basics:-
Today´s Track:-
Today´s Statistics:-
Distance walked:- 8.30 kms.
Moving time:- 1 hr 55 m
Av moving speed:- 4.2 kph
Ascent: 298 metres.
I was assured that this is within the normal WAGS parameters.
Not much to say really –no point in making remarks about wimps and slug-a-beds – just that the weather wasn´t as bad as the forecasts had been making out. As AWWs, we used to walking in far sterner stuff.
pics
But the very fact that we did a walk seems to have generated a whole storm in itself over the WhatsApp airwaves so reproducing that saves me a lot of compositional effort. Here goes.
John,
It's 5 am. Have just woken up by nature's call and can't fall asleep again. So checked the phone for messages from my Asian relatives. Nothing from them today but several from the WAGs!!!
After our Wednesday walk, I sent a WhatsApp message to Paul to meet us at Bairro. Because I said we had done a complete WAGs walk, the word "complete" has caused a storm of discussion.
Because you don't use WhatsApp, please read the whole chain from Hazel's phone.
I think they are "jealous" that we were brave enough to have done a walk which met all the WAGs criteria!!
Followed is my WhatsApp message :
"We have just finished a complete WAGs walk!
Going to Bairro in Lagos for TM in 20 minutes."
Terry sent the following in the evening :
"Just a thought what is a complete WAGs walk??"
My answer :
"Below is Oxford Dictionary's definition of the word "complete". I think the adjective is appropriate for today's walk!
complete
—adjective
Having all parts or elements; lacking nothing; whole; entire; full:
a complete set of Mark Twain's writings.
Finished; ended; concluded:
a complete orbit.
Having all the required or customary characteristics, skills, or the like; consummate; perfect in kind or quality:
a complete scholar"
From Rod :
"Wow...some walk!...at least we surely now have two more leaders!..I await with great anticiption the blog and stats/track of this epic walk!"
From Antony, sent at 23.08, Thursday:
"Myriam...I think Terry knows what “complete” means, however the juxtaposition with ‘WAGS walk’ is what is in question here. How would you best describe a complete WAGS walk...a full complement of WAGGERS? (Dogs included), complemented with usual cheery banter? A portion of bushwhacking? A disagreement of how much distance was achieved and whose GPS was most accurate? Surely without all of these components the walk was not a complete WAGS walk...just saying. Antonio de Montanha."
My answer at 5.12, Friday:
" O meu António!!! Of course everyone, including me, knows what complete means. The Oxford definition was just to stress the point that :
It was definitely a complete, full, whole, lacking nothing, characteristic walk which met all the WAGs criteria in distance, terrain, degrees of difficulty, fair shares of rain, wind, sun and clouds!! Plus a little bit of navigational hesitation and a variety of topics of conversation!! There is also a difference in distance between my "steps counting watch" and John's proper GPS!
The only thing lacking were dogs!!”
Please write the Blog as a proof of our achievement!
Muito obrigada!
Myriam
The Dragon Empress´s wish is my command!
And then Paul chipped in:-
“But the "icing on the cake" of a WAGS walk, the 'completion' nay 'climax', is of course, the availability and quality of the comestibles BEFORE and AFTER the invigorating and calorie consuming stroll itself. As a temporarily disabled WAG, who agreed with LOD Rod's decision, I can only assume that the Bensafrim Market cafe came good on the before but I can definitely vouch for the aprés-walk extravaganza, details of which you will have to wait for the Blog to marvel. Well done Hopes and M for maintaining the Honour of the WAGS! ”
A small limerick to conclude:-
When Myriam was invited to explain
Why she liked taking long walks in the rain
“I´ve been told I look better
“As I become wetter.”
Paul scoffed, but she did it again and again.
plus a final touch of music:-
https://youtu.be/T1Ond-OwgU8
click on the link
A new maxim for the WAGS inspired by this week's walk: A Walk - When you don't want it is when you need it the most! An inspirational determination by John and his team - to carry on when all around had abandoned hope. Let's aspire to having more brave volunteer leaders at the first call, not having to come out of the woodwork in extremis. Never throw in the towel - use it to wipe off the sweat (or rain) and keep going!
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