AWW 02.12.2009: The Medronho Meander.

 

The last ‘training session’ before the RTC, which is only 5 days away, and Ian W. dragged himself from his sick bed, having failed to complete the course (very wisely) last week, to lead a short but vigorous circuit from the Foz de Banho past the plentiful medronho bushes of the slopes below Caldas. Even so, as the stats tell, by the time he had thrown in an extra loop to ensure he fulfilled his prediction, we were on a 3 * walk. Hazel, too, insisted she had caught her chestikoff from Ian, but bravely joined the walk in her Eskimo outfit!

The starters who were there on time!

 

Chief Picker: Ian W.

Support Pickers/Tasters:  Paul; Hilke; Rod; Hazel;   Peter;  John O’; Dina; Ingrid; Hedley; Terry A.; Bob; Myriam; John H.; Elaine; Stan

The Track (click to enlarge)

Stats:
Total Distance: 15.6 km.
Moving Time: 3hrs 20 min.
Total Time: 3 hrs 59 min.
Moving Average: 4.7 km/hr.
Overall Average: 3.9 km/hr.
Total Ascent: 538 m.
Max Elevation: 323 m.

Walk Grading (D.o.D.)  3*

 

John O’ reprises his male model days – bumping on a grinder!

 

Not sure what the Leader is doing here!! Perks of the job?

 

Without more ado, here is the Leader’s report:

      Rain threatened as we gathered at the bar of the Foz de Banho for a coffee fix before setting off. There was a slight delay as Stan checked the exhaust on his car which was reported to be falling off, but it was found to be in perfect working order. The record photo shot was a bit like the Charge of the Light Brigade. Cameras to the right of them cameras to the left of them.........., hampered by the local who parked right in front of the Foz to get his brandazinho. We set off at a good pace down the side of the Ribeiro de Banho which now seems to have a permanent perfume and grey colour. Rain gear was put on and taken off at frequent intervals as rain started and then stopped almost immediately. The first river crossing had been made into a ford for vehicles and we took it without breaking step, and it wasn't until we reached the small fenced bit of bush when we stopped for a breather and the leader found the track down to the road.

 Extended lunch!

Moving on at a fast pace, no doubt a result of the punishing walk the week before, we climbed the ridge to overlook the Medronho man's house and still, where we took an early lunch and discussed how to cross the next river. (One of the earliest recorded AWW lunches at 1140 am!)
      We also spoke to Ian S who reported that he was now in a wheelchair, without "L" plates and that the nursing staff were younger and prettier than they are in UK. (He had to say that – see photo supplement!)

 

Pioneering descent

After lunch when we set off down the hill towards the river, the leader was heard to murmur that this could end in tears, to which a nearby wag said do you mean tears (as in rips). However after a rather steep descent we reached a track which led to a ford and an easy crossing.

 

Gentleman John at the ‘Easy Crossing’

 Getting strung out

Unfortunately when we climbed the hill to the ridge we missed the Medronho man where Hedley had bought a bottle previously. As we were going along pretty swiftly, and we had cut the corner taking the new river crossing, we took a little detour at the end to climb a little hill with panoramic views of Foia and Picota before heading back to the Foz.

 

Man from Ku Ching about to pour a beer on a man who hasn’t spotted the camera!

 

Stan spots it this time

 

Just after we got back the rain started in so we huddled under the canopy at the front of the restaurant for the final photo.

 

Myriam washing her ‘borrowed dog’

Medical Colour Supplement:

As I mentioned in my comment to last week’s Blog, Ian S. had fractured a hip and was in Barlavento Hospital waiting for an operation.  To ensure that his time inside wasn’t totally wasted I took him John’s Blog of Rod’s walk  last week, on my computer to cheer him up. He was delighted to have missed that particular walk!

Ian S. reported that the nursing staff were younger and prettier than they are in UK.

These photos are of a visit after his operation on Monday in which he allegedly received a ‘dynamic screw’.  When asked how many screws, Marg replied he could only manage one. 

 Sometimes you enjoy getting it ‘in the ear’!

By this time, he was feeling much better and looking forward to the next bed bath, and the sheer bliss of being able to go to the toilet cubicle.

“Time you enjoyed wasting, was not wasted.”     John Lennon

Time rushes toward us with its hospital tray of infinitely varied narcotics, even while it is preparing us for its inevitably fatal operation.    Williams, Tennessee