AWW 21.10.2009: Soidos Law!

Now we are getting into it:- a nice 4* walk from Terry - a proper cafe with toilets and coffee OPEN at the start - and a leader who knows how to ignore the pitiful mewlings of those at the back who don't appreciate the importance of statistical averages!

Start from Marcio Bar in the south.

Stats: 

Total Dist: 19.5;

Moving Time: 4 hrs 37 min.;

Total Time: 5 hrs 21 min.;

Moving Avg: 4.2 km/hr.;

Overall Avg.: 3.6 km/hr

Total Ascent: 647 m.;

Max Elevation: 475m.

Leader: Terry A.

Present: Chris; John O'; Rod; Val; Ian W.; Myriam; David ; Paul; and Sheila and Peter (guests of John O' ).

Dogs: Misty, Rusty; Rosie

Here is Terry's Succinct Summary:-

Well, Tuesday's rain went away, walk day on Wednesday did not look too bad - there was the promise of a good day.  After coffee, pleasantries etc, we set off for a newish walk of mine some old ground and some new, so new that I knew turn left at the bins and head up the hill was the easy bit except we did not have the path to do it on, the path was spied off to our right so after a  brief contour across to the path sanity was restored and upward momentum could begin again (in mitigation I said the bins had been moved but I don't think anyone believed me).  A steady  plod to the trig at Rocha dos Soidos at 475m the ground a bit sticky after the rain, the view from the trig well worth it though, retraced back to a path descending to the track to Sarnadas turning left and heading through mature cork oak valley where I took the pic of the large fungi but alas no fairies underneath. We kept climbing up to the ridges and up to the trig Picota at 350m, lunch was taken just down from the summit, then down to the valley floor only to contour up to Cerro and the next ridge, round the end by the wind farm and into the next valley to follow the Algarve Way and the Via Algarviana back to St Margaride and then down to Alte for a well earned drink.

      Paul's stats confirmed the walk's 4* rating,  I was a bit out on time but we all made it back in one piece and in the dry.

Thanks to all who came it was a good day.  Terry.   

 

There wasn't a formal start photo as Myriam got distracted after this one by the lack of Octopus and the arrival of John O' and guests, just as we were about to set off.

As Terry remarked it would have been an easy start except someone had moved the bins which were a remembered landmark!

 

The Bins!

Doubts set in about the path..........

That was where we should have been.......

Summit of Soidos

Terry and Rusty stalk the Toadstool

No doubt Antje can identify it..

Some of us reached a second TP before lunch!!!

Terry took the pic - the others (you know who you are) .. went round.

 

An atmospheric shot by Myriam as we reached the top of yet another climb. The amazing thing was that the rain that had been predicted throughout the day never materialised, negating the need for the 4-5 kg of rain protective gear that some of us had carried!

Lunch was taken among stony ground!

Downhill at last, towards David's former lodgings.

As we reached the final valley and started back towards Sta Margarita, there was momentary concern that we would not pass the 600m total ascent mark, and fail to gain 4* status, but in the end, the little updulation over past the Alte Hotel added a further 47 m, and the status was confirmed with flying colours. The starting point, Marcio Bar was rather crowded with tourists, so we determined to go to a larger place near the market, so the dogs could stay with us. It was noted that had we walked to the Restaurant Alcafé instead of driving, we would also have exceeded the 20 km!

 

Space for all!

 

However, as a venue worthy of our patronage this place may have to be reconsidered in future, as there were adverse comments about the cold tiled seats under the shelter, and Myriam reported that the prices were a bit steep, and insufficient profit was made towards the forthcoming Xmas lunch.

It is not easy, but you have to be willing to make mistakes. And the earlier you make those mistakes, the better.   Pfeiffer, Jane Cahill