The Starters at Snack Bar Sol e Serra
( click to enlarge )
The Leader's Report:
"The ramblings of a poor demented soul.
The people entrusted to my care were Janet, Ingrid, David L, Phil, Tina, John O, Lyndsey & Andrew, John & Hazel, and no dogs
Every one found the start ok and on time so, after coffee and the loo, we were ready for the off at 10am on a very nice September morning. So for starters we went straight up the north face of Cerro dos Negros that got the heart rate up and a good sweat, after a re- group we went up to the trig at 404 metres - well worth the view.
We wound our way down to the valley floor and then East to the road to Carvalhal where we turned South along to Almarjao on newly cleared paths to Amendoeira where we had lunch at Cafe Mateus, then on through lovely old tracks across the Cerro da Zorra climbing up to the ridge top at Alcaria do Gato with a good view to the finish. A gentle descent down to the valley again across the river bed and west back to Corte Garcia but with a short sharp climb to get there We were all hot and dry by this time and the bar could not come soon enough as some of us were wilting by now, but the Sagres and ice tea soon had us back to our happy selves. Thanks to all who came, it was a nice walk but a bit too hot, I will do it again in the spring when the flowers and blossom are out
Terry "
The people entrusted to my care were Janet, Ingrid, David L, Phil, Tina, John O, Lyndsey & Andrew, John & Hazel, and no dogs
Every one found the start ok and on time so, after coffee and the loo, we were ready for the off at 10am on a very nice September morning. So for starters we went straight up the north face of Cerro dos Negros that got the heart rate up and a good sweat, after a re- group we went up to the trig at 404 metres - well worth the view.
We wound our way down to the valley floor and then East to the road to Carvalhal where we turned South along to Almarjao on newly cleared paths to Amendoeira where we had lunch at Cafe Mateus, then on through lovely old tracks across the Cerro da Zorra climbing up to the ridge top at Alcaria do Gato with a good view to the finish. A gentle descent down to the valley again across the river bed and west back to Corte Garcia but with a short sharp climb to get there We were all hot and dry by this time and the bar could not come soon enough as some of us were wilting by now, but the Sagres and ice tea soon had us back to our happy selves. Thanks to all who came, it was a nice walk but a bit too hot, I will do it again in the spring when the flowers and blossom are out
Terry "
The statistics:
Distance: 14,56 km
Moving time: 2 hrs.20 mins Stopped time: 2 hrs.23 mins
Moving average: 4.9 kph Overall average: 2.4 kph
Moving average: 4.9 kph Overall average: 2.4 kph
Midday temp: well into the 30s.
Comparative heights above sea level: Snack Bar - 204 metres, Cerro dos Negros - 404 metres.The track:
The pictures:
Is that steep enough for you
Coo, that does look steep
Casting long shadows
Trig point: Cerro dos Negros
Monarchs of all they survey
Road junction
Leading the lunch at Cafe Mateus, Amendoeira
The seasons's complement of new gear included Andrew's Vaquero-style titfer:
and Ingrid's brand new airconditioned knapsack, fully equipped with every neccessity including, so she claimed, a pair of dancing shoes " just in case.."
We needed the shade
An optimistic hitchhiker
We were up there
Time for an early bath
Coolth at lastSnack Bar Sol e Serra in Corte Garcia has good facilities and a gracious host; Terry's offer to do another walk from there in the spring should be certainly be taken up. Chief Blogger was missed; mend soon, Paul.
Finally, from the Archives:
There was some debate about whether or not the AWW had ever stopped for a cafe refreshments before. DL was quite sure that they had and Janet waxed nostalgic about one especially wet and windy day at the top of Foia and the hot chocolate with brandy. So this is for Janet and David:-
"Time is an illusion; lunchtime doubly so."
(Douglas Adams)
