Events conspired to cause the walk on 13th January to be cancelled the evening before - an exceedingly rare event, but as at 5 pm on Tuesday, I only had firm acceptance from Myriam, Rod and Chris, and a couple of 'maybe if it's not raining' from Lindsey and David, the forecast was not encouraging, and most of those that walked on the 6th were still trying to dry their boots.
However, with a Wednesday free, Myriam was suspiciously compiling lists of 'things to do about the house', so I suggested that we head out to Romeiras and check on the river levels and the depth of the Bravura Reservoir. And since when have we needed an official walk to have an official Blog?
On the way we drove alongside the NW reaches of the Bravura, and saw that the levels had caught some by surprise!
The Bravura is quite full!
Plenty of water in the well!
Fig. to get a little first-time experience with something. (Obvious literal possibilities.)
eg. "Of course he can't lead the walk. He's hardly got his feet wet yet."
and .. "I'm looking forward to leading a walk. I can't wait to get into those rivers and get my feet wet."
This was the rill that previously, we barely broke step to cross, at the beginning of the long valley up towards the Marmelete road. The photo can't show the ferocity of this raging torrent and the fact that it was thigh deep in the middle, and beyond the capacity of the average 65 year old to leap nimbly across! There is an encouraging new path caused by forestry activities on this side of the river, but it needed further exploration to see if it actually went anywhere useful.Anyway, my objective was to find a walk for next week on which we don't have to paddle, and things are looking hopeful if I can get out before Wednesday and check a few paths.
After an hours driving on muddy, rutted tracks in the Berlingo, 80% of the walk was deemed 'suitable - but not for the faint hearted', and we repaired to Casa Pacheco for a liason meeting with Dona Aldina.
Drive-in Coffee Shop!
It was a slow day, which rapidly degenerated into a long conversation in Portuguese on the treatment and prognosis of osteoporosis between Myriam and Dona Aldina. Still I didn't have to put up shelves or clean anything, and we did get a cup of coffee and 6 fresh eggs, though even the hens were taking shelter!!
I'll leave it to the ducks!
On the way home we went to the Hansel & Gretel end of the Bravura to laugh at the motorhomers, and to check the dam. I must say I have never seen it so full.
Muddy Waters
La dam belle sans merci
One of the workers on the dam informed us that the water in the reservoir had increased from 20 million litres at the beginning of December to the present 35 million litres. We can expect a few more golf courses to be approved on the strength of that!
Rod had earlier visited the new Odelouca Reservoir which we saw
not too long ago, with barely any water, yet now it is apparently half full!
Another piece of good news is that I have received some recognition for Services to Blogging. The Swedish Committee went public recently and you can see their pronouncements by clicking Hero . It may take a little while to load, but it is worth it.
Até a próxima Quarta feira !
“My evil genius Procrastination has whispered me to tarry 'til a more convenient season.” Lincoln, Mary Todd
wow, tack sa a mycket, paul. Du ar min hjalte.
ReplyDeleteDear Paul,
ReplyDeleteA lot of the stuff that you send out is absolute rubbish that wastes my time and blocks up my computer BUT that little film was bloody brilliant and it made me laugh. Well done, and if I could get into the bloody blog comments, I would have posted this. I see Terry is being smart again!!
love Janet
PS You have commented Janet by proxy!
Not bad but not a patch on Wallender (in the Swedish utterly bleak version on BBC 4)
ReplyDeleteHedley