AWW 24.03.2010 Addendum: Bars and Cafés Competition – Part 2

 

I know for a fact that the current leader in the competition, Ingrid, (see Stop Press at end of THIS Blog) would be bitterly disappointed not to have Round 2 to help pass the time in between building crises, so here it is.

Top left to bottom right:   A  B

                                              C   D

This one is more difficult than the first (you wouldn’t want it too easy!) and should really test your powers of observation and recall. All are from previous Blogs, and if you are unable to find the previous blog addresses the links are all laid out in the sidebar to the current blog under ‘Top Links’.

Answers by email please. One point each for name of bar and location – max 8 points.

As in the Olympic Games – it is not all about the winning but the taking part!

“It's not the will to win, but the will to prepare to win that makes the difference.”   Bryant, Bear

AWW 24.03.2010: West is WE(s)T

 

After two dry Wednesdays, Chris had been selected to lead his famous Carrapateira walk, or a variation thereof, and renewed his bid to take over as ‘Rain Man’ from the CB. This time, the rain was from the off, and those that heeded the forecast were adequately covered with a selection of rain gear that would have served Noah and his family very well.

   It’s raining women - halleluiah

  There could have been a nasty International incident at the start when Yves, (who only turns up when ‘Le Coq Sportif’ has something to crow about) arrived bedecked in a Tricolor scarf, but such had been the lack of expectation at last Saturday’s meeting of Les Rosbifs with Les Bleues, that the CB did not rise to the bait. It was clear to all interested parties that the Antipodean Referee who did not know his offside from his backside was entirely to blame.

Entente Cordiale!

Enough said – if only Ian S. had stirred himself from his torpor to join the walk, then we could have had an informed explanation of the rules of scrimmage.

A massive turnout, for a walk so far west, no doubt encouraged by the new trend of underestimating the length of the walk, leading to no small difficulties for John to marshal the start photograph, but it was finally accomplished just before the rain started.

The starters (click to enlarge)

Leader: Chris ( the Rainmaker)

Bedraggled walkers : Janet, David L, Rod, Bob, Tina, Terry M, Terry A plus two guests, Karen and Ian from UK, Dina, John H and Hazel, Frank, Alex,  Hilke, Lindsay,Yves, Val, Paul & Myriam, and a welcome return of Mike from his shoulder surgery.

Even wetter hounds ; Tiggy, Maddie, Rusty, Misty, Nandi, Amos, Alfie, Shelly, Bella and Rosie

Track – anticlockwise from Bravo – click to enlarge

Stats:
Total Distance: 19.8 km
Moving Time: 4 hrs 20 min.
Total Time: 5 hrs 13 min.
Moving Avg.: 4.5 km/hr.
Overall Avg.: 3.8 km/hr.
Total Ascent: 331 m.
Max Elevation: 142 m.

D.o.D.: 2 1/2*

Avg. Age (Excl guests): 64 years 7 mths. 2 days (Thanks for the boost Mike, and where is John O’ to push us up a little more!)

Here is Chris’ report in it’s unexpurgated form:-

The Leader leading – note the cistus emerging

Ignoring the usually accurate forecasts of wet weather, twenty two intrepid souls together with ten dogs (a record ?) gathered at Cafe Bravo in Carrapateira for what promised to be an easy stroll along the cliffs, with ample time to admire the magnificent sea views. The leader confidently predicted that as he knew this walk backwards, we would tackle the coastal path first before heading inland for the loop back to Carrapateira. Previous attempts to include this spectacular section on earlier occasions, having already walked the lengthy inland loop, had usually been greeted with a muted response, which at the time suggested that most preferred the warm café to the brisk winds and rain which seem to occur frequently on the West Coast. The continuing unseasonable wet weather hardly warrants the title of "Rainmaker", although it is certainly true that if there is any rain around it falls first on the West Coast, coming as it does straight off the Atlantic ocean.
To the stares of the local population, who must have assumed that we were a hunting party, the group headed off towards the dunes into a heavy drizzle that fast became a continuous downpour. Dogs and walkers seemed to be undeterred by the inclement weather, although some pointed requests for the location of the cut-off points for the elderly and infirm were noted. Despite the rain, the views were still spectacular if not a little obscured, or as Yves commented " that he now understood what the colour battleship grey was ", even though there was no sign of the French fleet offshore.

A gloomy first TOTPP

Avoiding the cliff path, which has now been obstructed by inconsiderately placed viewing platforms reached by environmentally friendly wooden walkways designed to minimise damage to the ages old cliffs, good progress was made along the wide track leading to Praia do Amado. Within sight of the beach the rain finally eased, to the detriment of those seeking a warming coffee and use of the facilities of the one cafe open, the owner of which would have been delighted to serve a large group of damp walkers. However, AWW traditions were rigidly maintained, and the main body of walkers continued to shouts of " Let's walk before the next rain shower descends "  Reaching the beach, and at the point of crossing a flowing stream some walkers witnessed a rugby style tackle on our French member by two unruly members of the dog pack, who were perhaps intent on making amends for the recent unfortunate Six Nations defeats. Needless to say, Yves was not amused.

Despite the lack of clear views, the previously optional steep climb away from the beach and the subsequent slippery descent was undertaken without a murmur.

Later we were outnumbered by a large herd of cows and calves, who fortunately did not take exception to one or two of our less well-behaved dogs!

 
An abbreviated lunch stop was then taken in the usual place beneath a clump of pine trees which rather than providing shade served as minimal shelter from the elements.

Second TOTPP (Chris opted out of going for 3!)

An executive decision was then taken to omit the extra inland loop and proceed directly to the village of Vilarinha and then follow the river valley back to Carrapateira.

Myriam reminding herself of tonight’s dinner!

By now the rain had cleared and finally everyone started to dry out, in time to enjoy a well deserved beer outside the Cafe Bravo, where all ten dogs and owners posed, together with a few local hound for a final photograph.

Despite the inclement weather, everyone expressed their enjoyment of this popular walk, even though the advertised distance had been comfortably exceeded, the result perhaps of too many variants being added and subtracted, together with the confusion caused by trying to walk backwards whilst still looking forward. Apologies for this, since I have usually been one of the first to complain about misleading pre-walk information. A 2 1/2* walk it certainly was, completed more or less within the envisaged time scale.

 

After the rain

Not much to add. Rod generously distributed KumQuats from his estate, to the needy, and Myriam is transforming them into marmalade as I write this. Our guests from UK, introduced by Terry A. were obviously expecting ‘soft’ weather, and Karen had an impressive dry rucksack, I obtained the details from her and it can be found on this site, described as a Gourdon 25, although other sizes and styles are available.

Now two rugby quotes, one English one French:-

“For by superior energies; more strict affiance in each other; faith more firm in their unhallowed principles, the bad have fairly earned a victory over the weak, the vacillating, inconsistent good.”    Wordsworth, William (coach to the England Rugby Team ca. 1800)

“There are some defeats more triumphant than victories.” Montaigne, Michel Eyquem De  (coach to the French Rugby Team, ca. 1580)

and a message of hope:-

“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips it's turn.”    Borland, Hal

AWW 17th March 2010. Trials and Tortures

17th March 2010.
Trials and TORtures.

Victims:- Janet, Tina, Ingrid, Paul, Myriam, Lindsey, Dina, Rod, John H, Hazel, Val, Terry M, James.
Hellhounds:- Maddie, Misty, Rosie.
Master of the thumbscrews:- David.


The Track.
The trail to Casa Benjamin is becoming so well-beaten that no-one missed their way, and all were well in time for refreshment before the start, served with efficiency and even panache (tho’ I sez it wot shouldn’t) by the stand-in waiter. After a dull and cloudy start, the day promised to be fine and warm.


After surveying the ground down in the Lagoa da Nave a few days earlier, the leader decided to start the walk with a descent into said Lagoa, preceded by a brief explanation of its seasonal comings and goings from the hill above. The wet weather of the winter just passed had certainly created a larger lake than in previous years.

There proved to be more than sufficient firm ground on the valley floor to effect a crossing dry-shod, and the climb to Nave das Mealhas followed without incident. The group walked quickly through the very dilapidated hamlet, which, dogs apart, has all the appearance of a ghost town.
The ridge overlooking the Algibre Valley was soon attained, and in a fresh breeze, a portion of it was walked, followed by a descent to the outskirts of Funchais and a walk along tarmac lanes to Tor. The village is remarkable for, it seems, two things: it does not have a bar at its heart, the only one – in Paul’s encyclopaedic memory – being off-track near the main road, and the local Junta is currently attempting to ascribe names and erect name plates for every caminho and travessa it can find, with some interesting results.
The exit from Tor was along the Rua do Cimeterio, followed by a descent of the Rua Poco da Nora. Said Nora proved irresistible to John, who had to have a go, with no positive result.



Waterless, the group marched across the Algibre via the Roman bridge, sadly lacking the information which was once provided on now vacant boards. The river was still running at a good rate, with inviting pools below the bridge. A quick dash along a short stretch of the main Loule road was followed by a long easy stride down the river valley to Ribeira do Algibre, with the signs of spring all around us.

Lunch was taken halfway along the valley, utilising a convenient set of rocks to avoid the pain of having to rise from ground level afterwards.

There was further interest in old lime-kilns,first encountered on the leader’s previous walk. It would be good to know exactly how these operated.
Taking his already shaky reputation for guidance into his hands, the leader departed from his recce’d route, looking to avoid some tarmac, and it actually worked! Whilst on this short detour, a sinister discovery was made!

Then everyone took their lives into their hands crossing the narrow bridge to reach the coffee bar near the Tor road junction. Shortly before this, the Algarvian version of real-time public transport information was discovered in a bus shelter.

It was at this point that the leader was informed by the Guardian of the GPS that he was probably going to exceed his stated distance yet again, so the coffee stop became an even better idea than when it was first proposed.

Following this very welcome pause at Cafe Reguengos, the climb out of the valley towards Picavessa was tackled, interrupted by yet another lime-kiln.

Since TPA rules were in force, the peak was by-passed to the right, and the long descent to Nave do Barao began.
The dogs had not seen much water since leaving the Algibre, so a choice selection of muddy pools on the track was very welcome. Rosie and Misty took their opportunity, but Maddie was held back by that hard-hearted Myriam Lo. Shame on her!!
The climb up to Portela da Nave proved very tiring towards the end of a long walk, but all were still in good spirits as we passed through the hamlet, encountering Bruno, who seemed none the worse for devouring the leader’s plastic bagful of liver-cake the previous week. On to Covoes via a back-path to avoid the village dogs, and the inviting chairs at Casa Benjamin.
Failing memory had meant that not all had remembered to bring their own supplies of liquid refreshment, but what was available was shared round. Since his ears have long since become flame-proof, the leader heard for the first time of the terrible curses that had been heaped on his head by a certain sm… B…… l… .

Stats.

Total Distance: 24.8 km.
Moving Time: 5 hrs 27 min. Total Time: 6 hrs. 32 min.
Moving Avg.: 4.5 km/hr.
Overall Avg.: 3.8 km/hr.
Total Ascent: 581 m.
Max Elevation: 319 m.
D.o.D: 4*
Average Ages: 64years 11months 4 days (not including James)
Quotes of the week:
You won't realize the distance you've walked until you take a look around and realize how far you've been.” Anon.
Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time.
Stephen Wright.

CB's Comment:

We can always rely on David not to short change us with one of his specials, and so it was, the AWW's who took up the challenge were given a bonus of almost 25%, on the tentative estimate of the leader. I for one am particularly challenged by the barrocal broken stone under foot, and really felt the 'ankylosing' effects during the last 4-5 km.

No rain however, and despite my failing memory omitting to remember the instructions to 'bring your own' at the end, Terry M came good and was generous enough to share the cans he and James had brought with them.

There were several spirited and intellectual conversations on the way round - the adjustment of rucksack straps to avoid uneven lumbar tensions - the naming of saints, which made it through to the competition above, and not least Myriam's encouragement to we estrangeiros to participate in the 'Limpar Portugal' campaign which takes place nationwide this Saturday. I will be out in the area of Lagos City walls with my gloves and black Camara rubbish bag - but only until the 6 Nations starts after lunch!! Please submit any photos of you doing your bit to avoid castigation by You Know Who!

In an age of unscrupulous and shameless book-making, it is a duty to give notice of the rubbish that cumbers the ground. There is no credit, no real power required for this task. It is the work of an intellectual scavenger, and far from being specially honorable. Hutton, R. H.

Postscript re Myriam's bus stop query
6.15 pm mais ou menos. See additional photo



DCB

AWW 10.03.2010: As Easy as Abicada

 

“Alvor estuary and beyond.
Start time 10.00am   Walk about 15km + (dependent on some reccying tomorrow, Sunday) and 5 hours inc lunch.” (extract from preliminary email)

 

Stan and Elaine introduced an all-new walk starting in Figueira, and at least they got the weather right. The best walking weather for weeks, and just as well, as with a near  record turnout of 25 walkers and 8 dogs, the final walk of just over 20 km could have taken much longer.

Track by John H.

Stats:

Total Distance: 20.2 km;
Moving Time: 4 hrs 45 min.;
Total Time: 5 hrs 45 min.;
Moving Avg.: 4.2 km/hr;
Overall Avg.: 3.5 km/hr;
Total Ascent: 270 m.;
Max Elevation: 50 m.

D.o.D:  2+*

Average Age: 63 yrs 5 mths 7 days

 

The starters (less Stan who was finalising the recce!)

Leaders: Elaine, Stan

Walkers: Terry A., Antje, Ingrid, David, Alex, Frank, Ian W., Myriam, Dina, Paul, Lindsey, Hazel, Val, Hilke, Tina, Andrew F., Janet, Rod, Bob, Chris, John, plus Dave and Alice guests of Ian W. over from Scotland.

Dogs: Bella, Shelly, Misty, Maddy, Amos, Alfie, Rusty, Tiggy.

The forecast fine weather and promise of an easy walk had resurrected  a few walkers who had not been seen since before the rain, or else had been on holidays in exotic parts like Brazil (Chris and Antje) and Malaysia (Hazel). Plus Val was welcomed back on her regular visit and Dave and Alice were in from Perth, Scotland.  Hilke had recovered from a Scottish dancing injury, Janet had temporarily misplaced the grandchildren, Ingrid wasn’t required for building duties, Andrew F. had a flat tyre on his golf buggy, Alex had changed her hair day to Thursday, and the rest of us really needed a walk.

Elaine sent in the following account of the walk:_

 

25 walkers and 8 dogs set off from Figueira car park on a sunny, well partly cloudy, morning.   We first had to cross the EN125 and then we walked briefly along a river bank to the railway line, which we crossed and joined a very long dyke, 2.5km along the Alvor estuary towards Alvor.  

Crossing the railway bridge

No rain overhead but very wet under foot through the high Oxalis spurred on by all the rain.  So soggy but warm feet for most of us all day, the trousers dried out but not the feet!

  Along the dyke

We crossed the barragem, turned briefly inland, long enough to encounter a shepherd with heard of sheep, goats and a horse! who was very worried about us and 8 dogs.

A banana break before Alvor

   Safely past them, we followed the cliff path into Alvor.  Along the esplanade past the harbour, we reached the beach and walked east along 'not as firm as we would have liked' sand to the cliffs.

  We climbed steps and clambered up and down cliffs finally reaching a flat path at the top, en route for Praia da Vau.  Views of Monchique inland were partly spoilt by so much urbanisation in front and showed why we didn't try an inland route back to the barragem to complete the circle.    We followed the path through the pine forest emerging to stunning views of Praia da Vau, Praia da Rocha and beyond and of the grassy sea stacks complete with comorants on guard and  gulls nesting, confident they were well out of our reach.

  Lunch in the sunshine and with a view of……….

…..Ingrid providing the lunchtime entertainment!

We came back the same way - too many of us and too much rain had fallen for us to try a tricky cliff path back (we'll save that for a future time when its been dry for weeks) .

Spoiling the view!

  While we were waiting for Ingrid,taking a rest sitting on the wall by the harbour, Shelley decided she had to live up to her water dog name and went chasing and almost catching a poor unsuspecting seagull swimming well out into the harbour.

Almost the only ‘climb’!

Back at the barragem we took the dyke to the side of the lake and spotted the spoonbills tucked up on the island and the multicoloured skydivers floating down from the sky.  

Back along the oxalis-strewn dyke

We then took a short diversion to the 'ruinas romanas'  thanks to Paul's directions and saw the amazing mosaic floors which won't be there to see much longer as they are being gradually covered or worse destroyed by the weeds encroaching.

Abicada  Roman ruins

Part of the mosaic floor going to weed!

A short walk along a track and over the railway line at Figueira station! and we were back to the car park and off for a beer in the Cafe da Aldeia  25 walkers and 8 dogs back safe and sound although we did lose one or two of both before we reached the cafe -  Stan and my fault - the walk was 25% longer than promised - we'll do better next time!

Ian S. sacrificed his free time to welcome the weary home!

We took over most of the terrace.

CB’s Comment:

   A walk with a bit of everything – except a trig point!  Dykes, cliffs, dunes, an air display, sea views, mountain panoramas, and Roman Ruins.  Not much was known about the Abicada ruins which are in a state of decay, and without even an information panel. David did some research and came up with this link which leads to a Portuguese info page.

   I am hoping that the doyen of  The A.A.A.  (NOT the A.A. but  the Algarve Archaeological Association), Mike, who was forced to miss the walk by a neck twinge, will weigh in by way of comment to enlighten us all.

   Let us hope the more settled weather is beginning, and we can break out the sun cream and wear less clothing!

 

“See one promontory, one mountain, one sea, one river and see all.”    Socrates  (Not the current Prime Minister of Portugal!)

“Thank Heaven, the sun has gone in, and I don't have to go out and enjoy it.”    Smith, Logan Pearsall

AWW 03.03.2010: An Odesoaka Odyssey

Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.    Franklin, Benjamin

Well Ben Franklin got it wrong today!!  We anticipated getting wet and we certainly got wet!
The forecast was correct – rain and winds until late afternoon – and I was waiting for the cancellation , but Rod was economising on his phone bill and never made the call. Myriam insisted on going to the start, and on the way kept saying brightly – ‘Look it’s clearing up over there!’ – pointing in the direction of Africa.

 
Not much smiling at the meeting point!

Really she wanted to field test her new €15 Decathlon anorak, so there was no turning back.  We all agreed we needed the exercise – it was just a question of ‘how much?’

 
The ‘soon to be soaked’ six

The objective was to see how full the new Odelouca reservoir was after the extraordinarily wet weather of the past 3 months, and here the Google satellite picture was sadly useless, showing the Odelouca as the faint trickle it had been in October 2006.

The watercourse

Rain God: Rod

Wet Blankets: Myriam, Paul, Lindsey, David, Terry A.

Water Dogs: Rusty and Rosie.

Stats:

Rainfall: Several bootfulls and an anorak hoodfull.
Total Distance: Main Party (MP): 12.7 km.
                                Dog Recovery Team (DRT): 14.9 km
Moving time: MP: 2hrs 38 min; DRT: 2hrs 45 min.(approx)
Total Time: MP: 3 hrs 10 min.; DRT: 3hrs 15 min.
Moving Avg.: MP: 4.8 km/hr; DRT: More
Overall Avg.: MP: 4.0 km/hr; DRT: More
Total Ascent: 367 m.
Max Elevation: 323 m.
D.o.D: 2* plus bonus foul weather *= 3* 

Here is Rod’s flowing account of the walk:

Well this one sorted out the real walkers from the wimps....or anyway the weather did!
Of 15 who had checked in as coming only this stalwart 6 actually turned up.
It wasn’t even raining when we met up at the suitably gloomy rendezvous of Silves Cemetery for a 12 km drive up the S.Marcos road to our start point below Louro trig point.  Within minutes of the start we, of course,  had to make a short upward detour to get the statutory pic  and it still wasn´t raining...much.  Terry correctly thought it imminent, however, and spent some ten minutes taking his boots off so he could don his impermeable pants.....and just in time as it happened!

Louro Trig Point

The walk was primarily designed to be able to get a good view of the encroaching waters from the perspective of the lesser known side of the Odelouca dam lake.  Our leader, as usual, was relying on his dimming memory to follow a route down through some quite complicated terrain of steep winding valleys in an area which had been dramatically altered by heavy tractors and trailers hauling out scrub from the rising waters.

 

‘Noah’ checks out suitable locations

Although we didn’t end up quite where he intended it was good enough to get some excellent views, well between torrential downpours anyway,  of the new lake and to look nostalgically down on many walks we had done in this valley, now for ever consigned to the deep.

 

 

Log jam

We had negotiated a trail along existing tracks, although some were little used and where blockages from mudslides seemed likely at many points, to a point  somewhere beyond the halfway mark, when Rosie, seemingly bored with our company, decided to wander off on her own.  Much local searching and calling produced no results so not knowing whether she was ahead or behind we split into two; David and Terry back tracking and the rest pressing on.

Captioned photo by David

The forward track proved to be considerably shorter than the one originally intended  which turned out to be no bad thing in view of the increasing frequency and ferocity of the deluges. The backtrackers eventually, and maybe fortuitously, found the errant hound and arrived back at the cars only minutes behind the main group.

Colour coordinated

Reunited – and hungry

The gods were still not with us apparently for they saved the mightiest of the torrents to just before we got into the car and ensured we arrived at the Cafe Terinho sodden enough for even Paul to reject a Bohemia for a Galão and a Bifana.  Ah, what the other 9 missed !

Mopping up

“Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning how to dance in the rain.”    Unknown

Competition Time


Now I realise from past attempts that most readers are ‘not very good at competitions’, but this first one of an occasional series, should be close to the hearts of the AWW’s, as it is based on the bars and cafés where we spend the best part of each walk.
All you have to do is to name the location of each bar/café in the 4 pictures: A B 
                       C D
for one point each, and for bonus points the NAME of the bar/café.  



There is no point protesting that you haven’t been there, or “I was away!”, as I have the incriminating photos, and senility or alcohol-related memory problems are not a socially acceptable excuse!
You know how to submit answers, and there could be a Major Prize for the most points at the end of the series!

STOP PRESS
Competition Leaders: Ingrid 6 points
                                 Hilke 5 pts
                                Janet 3 and 1/2 pts
                                David 3 pts
As at 0900 hrs on 8th March