AWW 30th December 2009. Nine Who Dared.

The Eve of New Year’s Eve.

Nine Who Dared…..+ 2

The Daring Ones:

Paul, Myriam, Alex, John H, Hazel, Geraldine, Terry A, Lindsey, David.

Plus Rosie and Rusty!

Given the state of the weather in the preceding week, it was something of a surprise that so many actually made it to the start at Casa Benjamin. Chris and Antje had the (fairly solid) excuse that as they were travelling on to Spain they did not want a car full of steaming wet clothes. Ingrid, Tina and Andrew on the other hand, simply w….d out. All, however, made it to the restaurant in Salir.

Arrivals were greeted first by an over-enthusiastic Rosie, and then by coffee, and mince pies prepared by Dinah that very morning. There was a misleading cessation of rainfall as we gathered for the start, but immediately we made to leave the house the heavens opened for the nth time, and the traditional group photo was taken in the teeth of the rainstorm.

 

Look, it’s clearing up!

Do I have to walk in this, Auntie Lindsey? 

The first batch of rain lasted for about the first twenty-five minutes, long enough for everyone to be thoroughly wet, on the outside at least, and for some shoes to be squelching water. Having descended from Portela da Nave, a detour from Fonte Figueira to the very outskirts of Salir was necessitated by the state of the streams on the valley floor, which had become badly swollen by the torrential rainfall of previous days.

A brief stop was made to admire the sports facilities now available to the population of Salir, including an immaculate astro-turf football pitch next to the outdoor swimming pool, the latter totally unnecessary given the conditions. By this time the rain had temporarily ceased, although threatening squalls continued throughout.

Good progress was made on the concrete roads and dirt tracks on the north side of the town, culminating in a climb to the hilltop overlooking Arneiro, home of El Tel the Magnificent. On reaching said home, (having covered the section we were about to walk earlier in the day) said ET wished us all a Happy New Year and vanished into the warmth of his sitting room, shortly no doubt to burble with delight at our sudden misfortune (see below).

Climbing for a view

The remaining 8 + 1 trudged on over the low ridges between Arneiro and Ponte de Salir, along rather soggy pathways, facing into yet another heavy shower.

Don’t look now, but it’s raining again!

Let’s go find the pot of gold……..!

It’s thataway!

We were, as Paul’s fabled crow flies, less than 500 metres from Casa B., just approaching Ponte de Salir, when a flash of lightning and a huge thunderclap heralded a total cloudburst of such proportions that we were forced to shelter for a couple of minutes under a friendly carob. When we emerged, it was to walk along roads turned into rivers as we struggled up the hill to our refuge.

River, stay ‘way from ma door……

Suitably dried out and changed, the group then proceeded in convoy to the Quinta do Cavaco for lunch. This proved to be a most satisfying experience, in spite of the fact that the staff managed to confuse us all by putting the couver and some of the entradas on the tables at the same time, with the result that no-one knew precisely whose was which. John H certainly didn’t see any of his queijo fresco – and oo et my 'am, then? We all, however, had a share of the very tasty prawns, and there were noises of approval when the designer espetadas arrived on the table. Paul is planning to move to Salir to take advantage of the exceedingly generously priced house red. All in all, a good meal to round off an interesting day, and to conclude the business of the AWWs for 2009.

Here’s one I shot earlier….

Careful, Madam, it was still wriggling a moment ago….

The Shootist….

…and the shot!

A Happy New Year to all from the Updulator and the Mince Pie Maker. See you in 2010!

The Track

Stats:

Total Distance : 13.5 km
Moving Time:    2 hrs 32 min.
Total Time:      2 hrs 49 min.
Moving Avg.:    5.3 km/hr
Overall Avg.:    4.7 km/hr

Total Ascent: 359 m.

Max elevation: 347 m.

“For last year's words belong to last year's language.  And next year's words await another voice.  And to make an end is to make a beginning.”  - T.S. Eliot

 

CB’s Comment:

 

Nicely summarised David – almost made the walk sound as enjoyable as the lunch – but for me well worth the sodden misery for the Christmas calories we burned off!!

A special mention for Alex, who unlike her two, perhaps wiser, (oh I am getting to be diplomatic!!)  members of the Gang of Three, sacrificed her newly cut and blow-dried coiffure to the inclement weather, and still appeared at lunch looking as if she had just stepped out of Harvey Nicks! – apart from her mobile phone, which had suffered water ingress of alarming proportions while still in her ruck sack.

John and Hazel’s daughter, Geraldine was a conscripted volunteer to the walk, but thought it was rather a nice day compared to what she normally experienced in Edinburgh.

A memorable final walk of 2009, and as a bonus, I decided to include the post-Christmas take on the collage photo I published last week – that was ‘Before’…………

…

 

…………this was ‘After’

A Happy Healthy and Prosperous New Year 2010 to all our Reader!!

“Know where you are at,so you can plan where you are going - but never forget from where you came .”    Unknown (probably an AWW Leader)

No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.    King Jr. Martin Luther