“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
You have suggested in your latest blog that I might be able to inform members a little re the Roman villa site at Abicada.
ReplyDeleteHad I been on the walk I would have regaled those walking with lurid and eye-popping tales of Bacchanalian debauchery, revels and wanton orgies that took place some two centuries ago on the very mosaics that the walkers were admiring. Of course, none of this would be have been true but I have no doubt that every word that I might have said would have been believed for the simple reason that no one would have been able to say me nay.
Sadly and disappointingly, the truth is nothing like so colourful or imaginative.
The villa measures some 1000 – 1300 m2 and would have consisted of some 30 rooms. So it would almost certainly have been occupied by a Roman of some standing – perhaps the official responsible for the garum (fish salting) production plant that was carried on alongside the nearby estuary. Bear in mind that in those days the sea-water level would have come up very close to the edge of the villa. The mosaics are arranged in two ‘afria’ or small peristyles, one hexagonal and the other square. Finds from excavation at the site are few and consist of some coins that date from the 1st to the 4th C A.D.
Some years ago the Assoçiação Arquelologica do Algarve were involved in recording the position and design of each of the mosaics and Jyll was one of those who spent some hours, bottom up and head down undertaking this tedious sketching process. I believe that some of the mosaics were lifted and can be viewed in Lagos Museum.
Since then, the site has, indeed, fallen into some degree of repair. I have spoken to Rui Pereira who is a senior archaeologist and has much to do with the site – his partner, Elena, also an archaeologist works for CML and can be contacted through Lagos Museum. He agrees that action should be taken to repair the vandalism that has taken place and to improve the general maintenance of the site. As usual money is a problem. Perhaps the AWW could assist with some funding??
Meanwhile, I am endeavouring to find out more information regarding the site from another source.
Happy walking,
Mike
For those particularly interested in Abicada the website below has some ‘official’ description. It also has at the bottom a link to the IPPAR website which has some further info and in its bibliography a reference to a booklet written by Isabel Soares, Presidenta of Silves Câmara, (which I haven’t read!)
ReplyDeletehttp://radix.cultalg.pt/visualizar.html?id=8595
Rod