AWW 23.06.2010: From Aguas Belas and back or ABBA

Another early morning start, and a prompt one at that with the Leader particularly delighted that everyone turned up in good time.

The Starters (click to enlarge)

Present:

Leader: Rod

Walkers: Celianne, Frank W, Hilke, Chris & Antje, Dina, Tina, John H, Yves, Terry A.

Dogs: Misty, Harry, Tiggy, Bella and Shelley.

The Statistics:

Moving time: 2hr 21m

Total time: 3hr 18m

Moving average: 5.1 kph

Overall average: 3.6 kph

The Track:

The Leader´s Report, along with a handful of illustrative pictures:

"An 8.00 am start from Silves Cemetery and a short drive up to the beginning of the Aguas Belas valley. The early start to avoid the heat worked out as most of the, albeit gentle, climbing came at the start. Up on the ridge looking east to the Arade valley we could see the enormous amount of terracing and replanting that was being done in the Serra de Silves and big bulldozers are still at work. Many of the tracks too have been graded for better fire and forestry access purposes....and, apparently, BTT and quad-bike purposes!

Pause 1: up on Eucalypt Ridge

Terracing

Pause 2: "Rod, have you ever been lost?"

"Very little to relate really; few exertions and, unusually, no trig points..... but plenty of pauses. The Aguas Belas Valley itself lived up to its name and still had plenty of water in the stream... the dogs certainly had a good time. Only two minor events disturbed the pastoral atmosphere; whilst taking our 11sies under the shade of a spreading sobreira a couple of Equine Belas passed by, but such was the air of heat induced torpor that only the dogs (and Rod) were aroused! The only other event was when our leader deep in expounding the wonders of vintage port to Chris, tripped over an offending rock and fell flat on his face ... damage: minor only - lesson: look where you are bloody well going, even when conversing about highly important issues. By then we were but a short step from the Para e Fica bar and the usual rehydrations."

Doggy delight

A happy Hilke

Spreading sobreiro

Checking out an equine bela

Nearly home
No ice-creams

Bar and quad-bikes

AWW 16.06.2010: Stroll in the Sunshine

An early start, (for Celianne coming from the east a very early start) but well worth it, super weather, great views, and an ebullient breakfast host at O Amigo at the end. First, there was a presentation of a sort by Ian W.

(click to enlarge)

Leaders - Chris and Antje ( finally back on two good feet ) ,
Faithful followers - Alex, Ian W, Janet,Ingrid, Tina, Rod,
Celianne,Terry M, and John O'N with his grandson Eoghan.
Pestilential Paparazzo - JohnH
Four-footed friends - Misty, Maddie, Tiggy and Harry

The Track

The Statistics (grâce à Ingrid, comme toujours) -
Distance: 13.94km
Moving Time: 3hrs 06m
Total Time: 3hrs 30m
Moving Avg: 4.50kph
Overall Avg: 4.00kph
Total Ascent: 211 metres
Max. Elevation: 111 metres


The Leaders´Report

"A Short Cliff-top Stroll in the Summer Sunshine

"Thirteen AWW's gathered at 8am at Praia Dona Ana in Lagos in
anticipation of an enjoyable stroll along the cliff path to Luz, and
back. The weather was perfect, warm sunshine with a cooling breeze,
quite unlike the previous week's downpour that caused this walk's
cancelation. Despite having found that the Avenida in Lagos was
closed to all traffic we set off with only a slight delay after the
obligatory posed photo perched perilously close to the collapsed
cliff face overlooking Praia Dona Ana.

" The group then headed towards Ponte de Piedade where progress slowed whilst the splendid scenic views were enjoyed. For the moment at least these unrestricted views
remain, although given the amount of new building development around
Porto do Mos this won't always be the case.

After a planned water-stop near the beach (a well-organised leader, Chris -he had arranged for a water-bowser to be in the beach car-park), suitably replenished dogs and walkers headed up
the steep cliff path towards Luz. Resisting the temptation to compare
everyone's fitness with a timed descent and ascent of the escarpment
above Luz ( are you listening, Paul?) the obligatory trig point photo was taken at the Obelisk.

Some trig!

Maddie under new management

"Circling back beside the Boa Vista golf course saw us once again
rejoining the cliff path close to the beach at Porto do Mos. The
challenge of beating the tide by walking along the beach was
enthusiastically accepted, much to the dogs delight who could then
cool off in the sea.

"The short sharp climb up the cliff path from the beach warmed up most of us, with the prospect of a cooling drink, or even breakfast beginning to look very attractive.

"A bee line was therefore taken towards the Cafe de Amigo at Praia Dona Ana where the
owner gladly opened his upper terrace to the obvious relief of
walkers and dogs alike. Most enjoyed an excellent breakfast which for
some consisted of ice cream washed down with beer, everyone to his
own taste.

Maltezers, ice-cream, and Sagres

" Such is enthusiasm for an early morning shorter walk of
between three and four hours that the general consensus of opinion
was that the AWW's should continue to walk during the month of June
unless prevented from doing so by seriously hotter weather."

And so say all of us.

AWW 02.06.2010: Bensafrim Bumble

After an absence overseas, DCB has diligently researched the archives to find this record of the walk on 2nd June, dutifully filed by the day´s Leader.

The Six Starters

Present: Chris, Janet, Yves, Tina & Dina
Leader: Rod
Dogs: Misty and Tiggy

Stats (very general!):
Distance - 14.1kms
Time - 4hrs 5mins

The Track

The Report:

"A very warm previous few days had frightened off quite a few but 6 hardy
souls turned up for a walk that was anyway billed as very heat oriented. In
the event the start temperature was well under 25 and it was still well
under 30 at the end. We set off north from Bensafrim along a river valley
which still had plenty of water for the dogs before ascending what was the
only hill (Pic 2) called, for no apparent reason, Monte Amarelo......and it
didn't even have a Trig Point.

"We wandered down to another valley again through the only bit of testing scrub.
The stream along the bottom still had plenty of water and required several crossings...all achieved without any incident.
We stopped briefly near one crossing for a light refreshment (Pic 3)


"before returning along the flat Bensafrim River valley back to the Market
Square Bar. All very uneventful really and , in the absence of the court
photographer and chief blogger and statistician, the record is a bit sparse
too."

A closing picture:

A property near Bensafrim: do you think he claims expenses on this one too?

AWW UK Visit to Maurice 22.05.2010

 

As you no doubt know, Myriam and I have been in UK after a lengthy (and wet) trip through Portugal and Spain in the Hymer to relicence for another year. (The Hymer – not us!)

We took the opportunity to contact Esme and to visit Maurice in his care home on 22nd May. Hedley and Joy were also able to join us and after a good chat with Maurice we took lunch in a nearby Hostelry.

 

Here are a few pix of the occasion:

 

 

 

 

 

…. and also a random snap of a Bluebell Girl!!

See you all in July,

Paul & Myriam