WAGS 15.03.2017: WAGS Mata

 

         Forecasts from the previous few days gloomily predicted rain for our Wednesday outing, and rain it did in Lagos until about 0630 am, when the skies cleared and we were almost back to Spring. Hedley needed a little reassurance, but even in our Dias Douradas, we WAGS can still handle some potential rain.

         The chosen walk was a bit last minute, as I wanted to walk in or near the Mata Nacional, but there was still some doubt as to whether all the processionary caterpillars had descended and gone to ground, as Sasha would be with us. Instead of diving in amongst the pine trees, I chose a wide open path that should take us to the north of BSJ and mostly avoid the pines.

         Most of the party of 8 found the Vadibar Cafe open, and had their fix before 10 when we carried on up to the Cultural Centre carpark and RV’d with Hilke and Hedley. Fortunately we had John and his timer camera com Gorillapod. so we had a comprehensive photo of all the starters including a rather dubious looking chap in the background. I am sure he was there the last time!

L-R John, Hilke, Chris, Myriam, Paul, Hazel, Geraldine, Hedley, Algarvean Shepherd

Quite why Hilke thought it was necessary to have Chris on a lead I am not sure.

Colour commentary may be a bit short this blog, as it was all fairly straightforward. Wide flattish paths, few navigational decisions, not streams or puddles to cross, and only one minor hill at the end, which Chris and Hilke managed to circumvent anyway. Conversations could be held in Dolby 7.2 Surround Sound, on at least 5 channels simultaneously.

   We got underweigh at about 1020, which could have led to an intense etymological discussion, but we were all rather relaxed about it.

Ski-ing out along the long wide paths

There are always more wind turbines than last time!

A  bit of excitement – I believe this is a juvenile ladder snake or was, as although it appeared undamaged, IF it was still alive it gave a very convincing performance as an ex-snake. Apparently a constrictor with no fangs.

Wandering round the backpaths of the forest, we always come across sites which have been set up as camps for the New Age Travellers, or draft dodgers as they used to be.  A couple of English reg. vans with a wooden hut in between.

A used processionary worm nest. There were more than a few on this section of the walk.

Some killjoy from Vale de Coelho had posted these private signs prohibiting all manners of natural enjoyment. If only I had had my trusty black marker pen!!

Before we ascended sculpture hill we came across this beautifully blossoming tree. We quickly ascertained it was not almond, nor standard cherry, but Hazel and Hilke ventured it might be an ornamental cherry. Perhaps Lindsey knows.

A closer look at the blossom.

And then the sting in the tail. A short but sharp romp up Sculpture Hill where the sculptures are increasing in number faster than could be reasonably be expected by propagation.

Soon after this insight into the imagination of the BSJ Sculptor, we arrived back at Vadibar, where the slightly unprepossessing surroundings revealed an owner possessed of the abilities to prepare gourmet bifanas and tostas mistas at a very reasonable price. And chips!!

John managed to find some street art, though not on a par with that in Lagos.

Vadibar complete with multilingual coffee themed dicta on the tastefully coloured walls.

Alas the beer wasn’t ‘free’, except of alcohol, but the bifanas were well marinated and on fresh crusty rolls.

 

For the record, the total distance for those that climbed the Hill was 10.95 km, moving time 2 hrs 32 minutes, total time, 2 hrs 53 min., moving average 4.3 km/hr and overall average 3.8 km/hr, all within the statutory WAGS limits. We reportedly climbed almost 300 metres, although most of that was in the last section up the hill!.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

WAGS 08.03.2017: Figueira Ladies’ Excuse-me.

 

PROLOGUE from A Midsummer Night’s Dream

(delivered by QUINCE)

If we offend, it is with our good will.

That you should think we come not to offend,

But with good will. To show our simple skill,

That is the true beginning of our end.

Consider then we come but in despite.

We do not come as minding to contest you,

Our true intent is. All for your delight

We are not here. That you should here repent you,

The actors are at hand, and by their show

You shall know all that you are like to know.

The brave call had gone out, proposing that a WAGette would be an entirely appropriate person to lead a walk on March 8th,  International Women’s Day.

I forebear from detailing the deluge of excuses and apologies that flooded in, but suffice to say that we would be Leaderessless on that historic day. 

Having stepped into the breach, I was gratified to have the support of Rod, Chris, and Peter.  Hedley, with a keen nose for a crisis flew in the night before and signed up with alacrity.  There was a short period of hope when Gita protested that she would walk with Thyl, and she wasn’t a man, after I had surmised that it would be a 5 man walk, but regrettably, she and he cried off on the day of the match, for reasons unadvanced, but I hope it wasn’t something I said!!

     And so the Famous Five gathered at 10 am at Tassbem in Figueira, although I recall the Original Famous Five had two girls and a dog among their number.

 After a leisurely coffee we drove over to the start outside  the Figueira Recreational Club in Rods limo. It was the best day for weeks, about 22C and clear blue and windless.

After crossing the N125 – considerably more hazardous than crossing the rail bridge, seen from the road, below, unless you took the 2km detour over the Footbridge That Is Never Used, we saw the target.

        Health and Safety deemed it necessary for the Leader to be familiar with the train times as we had to cross the rail bridge  early on, and sure enough the 1027 went past, bang on time, just before we reached the track.

Hedley is a belt and braces man, so he applied the time honoured acoustic test to make sure it was safe.

 

 

It was strangely quiet and peaceful as we traversed the Long Dyke, about which no jokes were made as it was IWD.

Entering the Long Dyke

Later the conversation picked up, ranging on all the manly topics, wine, cars, rugby and……I am not sure if I can mention the rest!

The first ice plant flowers were beginning, giving a rare splash of colour.

Before long we had reached the causeway and sluice gates across the river, giving me a chance to get in a photo. Clearly by this stage of the walk we were missing the company of the fairer sex so much that we looked quite miserable………..

….except Chris.. while the camera was working anyway!

 

After leaving the causeway, there was a short slippery descent which counted Rod as a victim, and then a shortish climb up a damp dirt path.

They’ll be coming round the mountain…… Splendid views across the Alvor estuary.

 

 

If you look carefully in the photo below you can just make out some tall wading birds, probably cranes. The flamingos we saw last time have moved on.

The skydivers had been very busy from Portimao airfield during the whole of the walk, and we passed right under the flight path on our way back.

We took a slight crosscountry detour to the Roman site at Abicada derived from the Komoot map, and it saved us repeating part of the walk. We managed to circumvent the bogs and stay dry, preserving Rod’s stylish new Colombia walking shoes, without testing their waterproof qualities.

Abicada was fast being reclaimed by nature and none of the mosaic tiles could be seen from outside the fence, which had been trespass proofed by large quantities of blue twine.

 

The remainder of the walk back was uneventful – we crossed the railway again, safe in the knowledge that the next train to Lagos would be at least 5 minutes away.

It was a nicely judged walk, even if I do say so myself. Almost exactly 3 hours and 10 km.

Back to Tassbem, where all stayed for a very reasonable bifana or tosta mista in what might be termed luxurious surroundings by usual standards.

 

LYSANDER

“He hath rid his prologue like a rough colt. He knows not the stop. A good moral, my lord: it is not enough to speak, but to speak true.”

WAGS 01.03.2017: Bensafrim’s optional brooks

 

     Rod kindly offered to lead a gentle walk from Bensafrim market, for the benefit of the convalescent and debilitated (our fastest growing sector), and not just because his left fetlock was feeling the strain of some recent activities. Google searches for off-road mobility chairs have increased of late………

………and there are some great options.  Start saving now, and looking for test drives!!

At 10 in the morning Bensafrim Market Cafe is open and catering to the usual crowd of village worthies. The congregation was swelled by 10 WAGS and 2 dogs arriving at the cafe.

 

L-R Peter, Guido, Thyl, Janette, Hilke, Myriam, Chris, Sascha, Antje, Rod and Misty.

Thyl had brought Guido along, whether under orders from Gita or not was never really established. . It transpired that he was a nephew, who had been living in Silves for 2 or 3 years, but had clearly never crossed paths with the WAGS nor AWW as he was clearly far too young.

Another novelty was that far from aspiring to our healthy, nay saintly life styles, he had lapsed and was now a regular smoker of roll-up cigarettes, something that hasn’t been witnessed on our walks hitherto, and he even demonstrated his ability to keep the fresh country air at bay by sucking away while walking along. I suspect that by the end of the walk, he had been proselytized sufficiently by the WAGS anti-smoking lobby.

Janette was back for her second walk, practically a regular, as no contra indications had been unearthed, except perhaps an inconvenient allergy to textile walking footwear, but she is imminently heading back to Holland to remedy this.

 

 

It had been cool when we set off from home, but by the time we started walking the sun was beaming, and minimal breeze, so clothing was doffed as far as was decent, and it was a wonderful day to be out in the countryside. So much so , that there were no complaints when Rod set off uphill for a long gentle climb, except from Thyl who wanted more, and set off further uphill at one point, ostensibly for a call of nature, but disappeared along a ridge, not reappearing until some time later, after  a few calls and Antje and Rod demonstrating their whistling skills.

We went a little off road, but I reckon it is scooter accessible.

After a couple of hours, we had turned for home when the more perspicacious noticed that the track crossed a deep stream, that would require extensive engineering works to cross and remain dry. Antje danced across the shallowest bits in her big boots, but it was not an entirely waterfree crossing. Thyl appeared not to be concerned with a minor obstacle and strode manfully across the deepest bits with the water gushing into his boots. Chris also made his way across, but I didn’t see if he sank or swam.

      The leaders, who both had non-goretex low cut boots looked for an easier solution and walked along the bank parallel to our intended direction, hoping for a drier option. It rapidly became clear that not only were we not going to find a shallower crossing, but that we were not going to be able to thrash our way through the tangled vegetation and even reach the bank for some distance. Perseverance and hydrophobia prevailed and after about a kilometer we found that the the intended path recrossed the river and that we were standing smug and dry on the correct side, while the adventurers had to risk another bootful to rejoin us.  Sometimes the best course of action is to do nothing!!

From there it was a flat 2.5 km back to the village, in on the tarmac past the laundry.

After the long run in, we found that the thoughtful villagers had put out seats for our recovery. The cloud had come over, the breeze increased and it was definitely cooler by the end.

There were some fine melons and gourds growing through the fence of one plot.

Unfortunately for us we arrived back in the village during the workers lunchtime, so Cantinha de Gloria was packed with diners. We must go back and arrive before 1215 next time. We diverted to our old venue, Cafe Nacional, where those of us that had time to stay were seated easily, and indulged in some very passable tostas mistas. and caught up with the Portuguese news on the omnipresent cafe tv.

For the record, the walk stats were.

A fairly respectable performance, and I had enjoyed the bonus of finding a geocache on the way round, duly recorded by Myriam.

Cache number 2069 for Team Caracache

The track picture actually worked this week.

Post Script.  As the header to the Blog says, The WAGS are an Invitation Only Group of Friends with fairly loosely defined parameters about the length and conduct of walks.  If you are not the leader and wish to have  a guest, it should generally be a visiting family member, or someone known to several members of the group as an ex AWW. In any case guests should be cleared to attend by the Leader. It is not intended to be a free for all like the current iteration of the AWW, which may be a more suitable group for introductions.

“What does education often do? It makes a straight-cut ditch of a free, meandering brook.”

• Henry David Thoreau