AWW 8th January 2025
Lost and Found around Querenca - or "where's Wally aka John"?!
L to R: Alan, John, Steve, Susan, Peter, Marian, Miriam, Tony, Linda, Julie, Karen, Tom, Ken and David. Plus Bica and Toby. But where you ask is Jacki? missing from the photo apparently. Or was she? Answers in the comments section later please. Shades of things to come.
The going was good to start with, as and it was the first walk of the year there was lots of chatter about Christmas and New Year, who went where, and with whom and mutterings of dry January - blah, blah blah.
But we soon turned off the main path, and went off piste for a bit, retraced our steps and low and below 3 people are missing - too busy talking and didn't spot the left turn that the rest of the group followed. So shouting and hollering, we spotted John, Ken and Alan climbing over a wall to join us back on track.
But as you can already see, the group is spreading out and the leader, Miriam, also busy chatting is oblivious to the gap widening. (Poor leadership some might say).
The path was quite stony and rocky at this point, and the chattering quietened a little as we all concentrated on our feet.
Then we reached the familiar Fonte Benemola trail and chattering was resumed. It was quite reminiscent of my teaching days on school trips,, as the group was walking happily along, catching up after the school holidays. I was made aware then that Susan and John had received a call to say their house alarm had gone off and had to take a phone call. So someone whistled and the group halted while we waited for John and Susan to quickly resolve their issue.
The Fonte at Benemola had plenty of water, and there are now some ropes to hold onto fortunately to cross to the other side.
We crossed back over the river after a short while and started the long climb up to the ridge. I seem to recall the chattering had quietened a little at that point. The Christmas pud was taking its toll.
No photos on the hill. Then we headed down to the Fonte where Ken drew some water for Bica. NB What do you notice about this photo?
As you can see, by now we were all warm and stripped off, even though the clouds were looking more ominous by the minute. But we strode up the hill, around the Cerro da Corte, avoiding a rather grumpy looking dog. Then we reached our early lunch spot at the Fonte Poco Novo.
There were plenty of seats for everyone, and sweaters went back on.
The clues of what was to come!
So rested and fed, we set off for the second half of the walk. Up through Corcitos and onwards towards the ridge. I was in front with I have to say, some fast walkers, and back to chattering completely oblivious to the unfolding drama behind me. The path was quite circuitous but Ken and I had marked all the turnings with cairns so we could remember the way should the technology fail. Down from the ridge we marched checking all the way for the markings, and glancing back from time to time to make sure we were all together, when my phone rang. I don't usually bother to answer it when I'm walking but i saw the call was from Susan.
" I've lost Alan, John and Ken she says. i realised they weren't behind me so stopped to wait for them and they haven't appeared. I did whistle but you didn't hear me."
Oh bu****! said I. Never mind, I'll walk back to the crossroads and wait for you all there. So with instructions for the main party to stay put I retraced my steps. Nothing at all. called, whistled - nothing. sh** i said. Tom and Jacki and Tony had decided to come back with me, so we were now in 3 separate groups. I called Susan again, and she had spoken to John who was by now on his own, ( having stopped for a comfort break after lunch) and lost Alan and Ken. So now we were in 4 separate groups. Susan sent John a pin of where she was and he was trying to make his way back to her. I called Susan again and she was by now off the path we had taken. At this stage my phone signal packed up so there was radio silence. I had already tried to call Ken but to no avail.
Quite a while passed. I was beside myself as losing by now 5 people was well and truly above the allowable 10% you're allowed to lose on an AWW walk.
Clocking that I could use my UK phone, I got through to Alan who said they had found a way down and would see us soon. Also got through to Susan and she had found John and Tony and they were making their way back. Lots of shouting and we saw Susan John and Tony heading down the hill and we could also hear Ken and Alan. By this time the original group had given up waiting and headed back along the road to the cars as David had an appointment.
But at that point when we thought everything was going to be OK, there was no sign of Bica. She had been with us all the time and then vanished. Calling, whistling but nothing. Finally i got through to Alan and asked if they had Bica. Yes she suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
There was an executive decision to use the direct road back to Pombal
I had Bica's lead, so Alan kindly took off his belt for Ken to use as a lead.
And then, we all trooped up to Querenca to the café for a very well earned drink. In dribs and drabs as we arrived in stages. Alan decided not to join us and David had already left so this was the final group reunited. As you can imagine there was a lot of chatting and laughing and recriminations on all sides but thankfully all was well that ended well. Note to self though, don't let the front runners get too ahead, and keep the rear in view.
Stats:
Distance: 12.42 km for the majority of the walkers
+5 km for John!
+ 2-3 km for Tony and Susan!
Elevation gain 365 m
+ a bit for Susan who went up and down the wrong hill a couple of times looking for John
Moving time: about 3 hours
Actual time: varied from 3.5 hours to 4.5 hours!!
Thank you Alan for all the photos. None of the front runners at all!!!
