AWW 06.01.2010: B(l)og-trotting in Bensafrim.

On a day that would have had Alfred Wainwright hunched by the hearth in a Lakeland pub, puffing on his favourite pipe, Rod having summoned the faithful and foolhardy to Bensafrim by an exceedingly vague walk description, led the AWW's out of the village in what was to be a four hour session of drizzle through the boggy hinterland.

Celianne made a bold attempt to be excused at the last minute, by explaining that she had packed her husband's boots instead of her own, and only had carpet slippers to walk in, but Rod dismissed this by indicating that Reverend Bob always walks in carpet slippers!

Geraldine was up for her third walk of her filial visit to the Esperanças, and showed her confident disdain for the weather by completing her Sudoku while the Health and safety briefing was in progress!

  Bob's son, Tom was a first timer, recruited I suspect to allow Bob some free-style walking without being towed by Alfie.

Rainwear exhibition (spot the publicity seeker who did not walk!)

In Rod's favour, technically it was not actually raining as morning coffee was taken before the start of the walk, hence some smiles in this starter photo, but soon after we left the village there was a stop to put on the rain gear. I had pre-empted this by showing an uncharacteristic pessimism, donning my poncho before the group photo. It remained on until we reached the cafe some 4 hrs 32 minutes later - which is I believe a new record for continuous wearing of rain gear for AWW's.

 

Wetter than it looks.

Chief Bogfinder: Rod

Waders: John H., Ingrid, Paul, Hazel, Ian W.,  Myriam, Celianne, Geraldine, Dina, Chris, John O', Tina, Bob, Tom.

Water Dogs: Maddy, Misty, Tiggy, Amos, Alfie, Harry.

Track (unlabelled as we didn't stop much!)

Stats:

Total Distance: 19.2 km.

Moving Time: 4 hrs.

Total Time: 4 hrs 32 min.

Moving avg.: 4.7 km/hr

Overall Avg.: 4.2 km/hr

Total Ascent: 471 m.

Max Elevation: 202 m.

Umbrellas : 1

Decathlon waterproofing: Several

Upmarket protective Gear: Not enough.

Unsurprisingly, there were not too many photos taken on the way round, most paparazzi unwilling to expose their long lenses to the elements.

Here is Rod's account of the paddle, cunningly written in the third person to avoid personal culpability:-

      Amazing turnout really bearing in mind that the forecast predicted heavy rain !  Nevertheless all fourteen (fifteen?) set out from Bensafrim market square heading west towards the ridge now adorned with countless wind turbines. Most of these were happily obscured by heavy low cloud which after about 30 minutes proved the forecast correct. From that moment on it really never stopped raining, not torrential, but enough to ensure that nobody had brought their rain gear in vain...indeed everybody wore an assortment of Géologique and K-way capes, Quechua and Berghaus waterproof jackets and indeed a brolly, the entire time!

    The onset of rain provoked the leader into choosing plan B ....although only he knew (or did he?) what plan A was.

    In any event he assured us it was a bit shorter and eventually led us down to the main road.  A couple of hundred metres down this and then back up north, we finally took a track up a valley to the east.  No sooner had we settled on this track then we came across The First Stream…. somewhat unavoidable if one sticks to valleys in such weather! 

River deep……

 Nobody seemed keen to venture across this, wary perhaps that there were  several more along the valley, so we reversed and headed up a track to a ridge that kept us well away from water hazards.  The price of such comfort was a more testing switchback track which, to certain consternation from some, seemed to curve away from our destination.  Our leader assured us that this was necessary if we were to avoid water filled valleys and was not purely to ensure  we were going to achieve 20 km’s .

Myriam uses Rod as a mobile telephone box

 …..and Mountain High

 The complete Almares

 

As there was no let-up in the rain and therefore nowhere very suitable to stop for lunch, it was mostly taken on the hoof!  There was a 5 minute break in the rain near the ruined stone windmill above Bensafrim allowing a brief moment to stop and finish snacks before down it came again.

 

 

Unretouched Windmill scene

 

Lunch ‘on the hoof’  (brightened by Picasa)

 

 

Gimme Shelter

 

 

  From there it was all downhill  to the bar and a surprising number of hot ‘galões’ rather than beer helped the drying out process.....then the sun came out!

 

Afternoon ‘tea’ on the verandah. (Who is Tina talking to?)

 

 

Study in ‘Body language’!

CB’s Comment:

          A navigational tour de force by Rod, who managed to get us round the course without having to wade across a stream, though I suspect that for many it would not have made much difference to the dampness of their feet. At least it was not particularly cold, and the dogs enjoyed it!

Queen Maddy of Bensafrim

 

Maddy soon realised why Ian had sent her out with Myriam, and stayed at home himself!

 

“Rain and adolescence are the only problems that disappear if you ignore them long enough.”    Wilson, Earl 

“Bad weather always looks worse through a window.”    Unknown,

(Not sure about that last quote!!