AWW 21.04.2010: Romeiras Reincarnated!

 

        Not so much Romeiras being Reincarnated, but the 2010 debut of Ian S. making a comeback from his pre-Christmas fractured femur.

I rely on the second Chambers 21st Century Dictionary definition - “Reincarnation (2) to re-embody someone or something”.

It was also to have been something of a comeback for Antje after only one appearance this year so far, (to my recollection) , but becoming a Grandmother for the first time on the Eve of the walk, evidently provoked a severe case of New Grandmother Lassitude, and so New Grandad Chris, who was made of sterner stuff, turned up with only Tiggy for company!

Today was to have been the ‘Walk and Lunch’ at Equus Ourique organised by Rod, but he had been stranded in London by the Icelandic Volcano Ash, and was unwilling to spend a couple of thousand quid for a one-way car hire back to lead us.

I had volunteered to go to Ourique early and learn the walk (or at least record it on my GPS), so that I could lead the way in Rod’s absence, but The Senior Member spun a story of potential climatic disaster in the form of rain showers in the Beja area, which would totally ruin his enjoyment of the spring flowers, and persuaded Rod to prevail upon Pru, the proprietor and head lunch preparer of Equus Ourique, to store the lunch in her freezer for a second attempt in May. It was only later that the S.M’s motives became clear when he failed to turn up for today’s walk, claiming Trench Foot.

Thus, at extremely short notice, I upgraded and dusted off one of my Romeiras Rambles, and reincarnated it for the delectation of a select band of 15 as detailed below.

 

A sunny start – is it raining in Ourique?

Leader: Paul

Walkers: John H., Ian W., Myriam, Bob, Janet, Tina, Hazel, Ian S.,  Alex, Ingrid, Stan, Chris, John O’, Elaine.

Dogs: Amos, Alfie, Maddie, Tiggy

Track by John H. well worth clicking to read the highlights!

It is a great shame that Google took the satellite pictures of the left and right halves of this area at different seasons! Even Photoshop couldn’t cope with this! I am not sure what the reference to ‘circle squared’ is unless John was having a Masonic Moment. Perhaps he will enlighten us with a comment.

Stats:

Total Distance: 21.6 km. (Defectors 14.8 km)
Moving Time: 4 hrs 45 min.
Total Time: 5 hrs 43 min.
Moving Avg.: 4.5 km/hr.
Overall Avg.: 3.8 km/hr.
Total Ascent: 636 m.
Max Elevation: 389 m.

D.o.D. Just 4****

Average Age: 63 yrs 0 months 20 days (excl.Janet ) 

Dona Aldina having administered to caffeine levels, we set off from Casa Pacheco only 5 minutes after the advertised time, everyone having navigated faultlessly to Romeiras, including the usual suspects who couldn’t remember having been there before.

 

Ian S. was securely flanked by some ‘heavies’ standing by should he stagger and turn back to the bar before he had had a decent walk.

Once over the first ‘heart-starter’ hill the route descends to  a valley and joins the Almargem version of the Algarve Way up a pleasant wide path heading for the Marmelete Road.

There was a short break for energy bars where Myriam lectured certain walkers on the adverse effects of sticky sweets – luckily they didn’t answer with their mouths full!

(Click the pic and you will see what I mean!)

 

At the top of climb, no trig point, but some good views of Marmelete and the hills behind. 

Soon after we turned downhill towards the valley and abruptly came across a large number of beehives that had been set up on both sides of the track  since our last visit in January for a shorter version of this walk, which can be revisited by clicking HERE

Myriam bravely took this picture before running the gauntlet!

The advance guard got through without incident apart from Stan who managed to capture one bee by flapping his Tilley at it (yet another USP for Tilley), but alas, Tina in the van was brutally assaulted by at least 3 of the irate worker bees as she passed. Myriam was elated at the chance to operate with her Patent Snake Venom and Bee Sting Extractor!

I knew it would come in useful one day…..

The device not only took out the bee sting but also sucked up about 5 cm of Tina’s forearm. It appears to have worked, as Tina’s arm was apparently not as swollen as usual after the ministrations.

Unfortunately I was too far ahead to recite a version of “Where the bee sucks……” on Myriam’s behalf.

A little further on, though Ian S.’s dynamic screw was functioning perfectly, he felt a twinge in his left knee, and Janet fortunately had an elastic bandage to support the affected part.

Regrettably while pulling the elastic up over Ian’s knee, she lost grip with her right hand resulting in a rebound injury to yet another vulnerable area of his anatomy, which no doubt hastened his decision to go for an early shower, and apply some internal pain-killer. Maddie looked suitably concerned!

Soon after we reached the valley floor, Ian S. decided he had proved his point and earned enough credit to take the direct route back to Casa Pacheco. John O’ bravely sacrificed the last 3 hours of the walk to navigate him back.

The parting of the ways!

We climbed up out of the valley to the road, reduced to 13 in number, and Myriam brilliantly captured Bob singled out by a signpost describing his hair colour exactly…!

Blonde …. me?

At this point I threw in a loop, not only to get a magnificent view at lunchtime, but also to achieve the 20km as promised!

The views were good………

……and the wet winter has accelerated the recovery of the landscape as the replanted trees grow with amazing speed.

Another view of the lunch spot.

During lunch there were some beautiful butterflies around, and Myriam spent a lot of time chasing them until she achieved this amazing shot.

Can anyone identify this butterfly/moth?

CB Note: Done:  click HERE for info 

         At lunch the GPS was showing less than 3 crow kilometres to Casa Pacheco. We set off down the river valley, and it was clear that the recent wet winter had totally modified the previous path. Plenty of broken rock fallen from above, and several extra tributaries had gouged out paths into the main stream, which all contributed to slowing our progress.

This stream had widened and created a mini waterfall, but luckily we were able to cross easily.

Perfect Poise!

After a short final climb towards Romeiras, a green field of young wheat materialised, where formerly there had been a clear path. At times like this – trust the GPS!

They walked among untrodden ways!

No trig points on this walk so this will have to do !

And so back to Casa Pacheco to a rousing welcome from John O’ and Ian S. who had apparently ‘only just got there’ (unless they had been ferrying the empty bottles back inside….)

However we soon made up for that……..

….. with the help of Tina….

…..and a few of the others!

A rain-free walk and great to have Ian S. walking again – there is still a chance to accumulate enough for the Christmas blow-out!

Latest on Rod is that he has abandoned RyanAir and is making his way back from London via Brittany Ferries to Santander and then RENFE.(Spanish National Railway). Shabby treatment for a former Cathay Pacific model and video star!!

 

“Never stay up on the barren heights of cleverness, but come down into the green valleys of silliness.”    Wittgenstein, Ludwig

“The marvellous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome. The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse.”    Keller, Helen