AWW 2015-24: September 2016

Friday 30 September 2016

AWW 21st September 2016: Two Soft plus One Stiff Peak

Text verbatim by the Leader, Frank McEwan

AWW: 21^st September 2016: Location –Bordeira - Estoi:

Two Soft plus One Stiff Peak

(Baking definition of difficulty: and temperature on walk)

Walk.

17 x 2 legged walkers plus 4 x 4 legged walkers met in the square beside the church in Estoi in the Far East of the Algarve. This was the planned end of the walk: so we shared cars up to the start at Quintas das Raposeiras. This was to be the first one-way walk of the season, instead of the more usual circular routes.

They were generally an unruly group of walkers and camera shy. We only caught 12 in the starting photo. David was excused as he took it. Those who were missing had various excuses: the most original was: one had no socks: how can a Brit be out in the sun with sandals but no socks? He was away hunting / borrowing a pair to fit.

So off we went, through the hedge and up to the first soft peak at Monte de Murta. There were great views down to the coast to the south and to Sao Romeo to the north. This was the first of the day’s photo opportunity at a trig point. However the leader had no control and they all said it was too “scratchy” to go to the base of the trig point. So instead, David took this photo of a man with no legs, shouting at people about the photo opportunity, but with absolutely no success.

Off we went again, keeping to the ridge as much as possible. As we crossed the Bordeira road we lost 3 plus a dog, as Miriam and her friends had decided that one soft peak was sufficient.

And then there was 14.

Up towards the 2^nd trig point where the ladies found a location for a photo opportunity that did not involve trudging through the scratchy bits:

And the leader managed to get a photo of the group: but minus David who had been considering climbing the trig point in the background

Now comes the easy bit from an elevation of ~350m at the trig point down the valley to the N2 road at ~110m elevation. Part way down we came upon a meadow dotted with trees and stopped for lunch. It was hot.

After crossing the N2, the group split: the “foolish 8” deciding to take the “high” road to the trig point just north of Estoi, and the “sensible 6” taking the “low” road around the hill.

It was hard and warm on the road to the top. However we all put a smile on for the photo; but as you look at the dogs hiding in the shade in the background you can see how we really felt.

The last of our water was consumed.

Then it was down the hill all the way into Estoi.

Technical Data.

As normal there was disagreement about most things:

Distance – somewhere between 16.0- 17.2km depending on device and software. However as leader I get to decide that it was only 16.0km.

Ascent – 574m

Descent – 807m (so it was easy)

Time - 4 1/2 hours

Temperature –hot.

Max Elevation 373m (second soft peak was highest elevation)

Min elevation 97m (Estoi)

Calories – 967 (it felt like it should be more)-2100 (hopeful)

Monday 19 September 2016

AWW 20th Anniversary: Part 1–The Walk

Pre-amble to the 20th Anniversary Blog

Traditionally AWW blogging, as instituted by Paul, was a mixture of factual, photographic and statistical record, along with diverse and inconsequential commentary, not infrequently irrelevant, mildly scurrilous and gently mocking. As one trying to follow in those his footsteps, this scribe has found this a difficult blog to put together because, much as he would have liked to maintain Paul´s ethos, he is even so very well aware that our two Anniversary Co-Organisers, Rod and Myriam, share a strong aversion to anything that remotely smacks of waffle, both firmly adhering to the completely admirable dictum that “brevity is the soul of wit” (a nod towards Shakespeare was not uncommon in Paul´s day as Blogger-in-Chief), and he would not wish to offend them (at least, not on this occasion) by disregarding their preferences. This blog therefore will consist very largely of Rod´s own writings, which will be in black in the following pages. Editorial asides will be in blue or orange, will be low key and kept to a minimum - well, that´s the present intention anyway. You will find four parts to the blog – the Walk, the Lunch, a Photo Album, and then a Miscellanea.

And now, without further ado, please give your undivided attention ( a catchphrase frequently used in Blackadder, I believe)… your undivided attention, I would repeat, to Rod.

From idle chatter with Myriam, as one does!, about how long we had been tramping the hills came the realisation we had been going 20 years and we ought to do something about it in terms of an anniversary event. Thus was born the idea of a shortish walk in Maurice Clyde´s old stamping ground and a lunch at one of his local restaurants which we would jointly organise.

Little did we imagine that 50 past and present members would appear and that 3 of them would come over from the UK specially for it. What was even more impressive was that, despite record September temperatures, 23 would actually join the walk which the leader (Rod) had only slightly tailored to suit the circumstances.

Early arrivals were looking keen and were already boosting their energy reserves.

The Starters

Those brave and seasoned souls surely deserve a mention.

Back row: JohnO (AWW Supporters Club Rep), Chris, Tony Webster, Rod,

Middle row: Myriam, Judy Cooper, Antje, Marian, Nick, Pam, FrankM,

Front row: Rose, Jane Cook, Hazel, Francisco, Yves, Paul, Jan, Carla, and George,

On her haunches: Maria, and on the side lines: Ingrid, Janet, JohnH.

The Statistics and the Track

The walk from Cafe Sustelo followed some easy tracks and footpaths to the north of Poço Barreto, partly following a walk appearing in Maurice´s own walking guide book.

A neighbourhood Vigilante patrol, just checking

Among the returning veterans was this 48 year-old Rohan shirt.

And, in accordance with tradition, blood was shed

There was little shade to be found

and two hours was enough in the heat, and the ever noble Yves came back in his car to collect a couple of wayward stragglers.

Towards the end - Poço Barreto in sight

Paul´s splendid personally designed T-shirts featuring the AWW name, the blue blob, the cistus flower, and the ship and ravens of St. Vincent (our patron saint for those that remember), were distributed, proved very popular and were at once donned by many.

Autograph signatures were collected for Myriam´s personal shirt. Following a post-walk drink or two and a freshen-up (well in some cases a total reformation!) at the Bar Sustelo we repaired just along the road to O Alambique to meet up with everyone else.

Reformed Characters indeed

End of Part 1. The narrative continues on Part 2.

(Go to

http://hopejandh.blogspot.pt/2016/09/aww-20th-anniversary-part-2-lunch.html

for Part 2)

Saturday 17 September 2016

AWW 20th Anniversary: Part 2 - The Lunch

A group photo was taken just before lunch; quite remarkably, Rod managed to get 50 people to leave their drinks, to line up outside, to look at the camera at the same time, and then to go back inside the restaurant, all in less time than it takes for a chilled Sagres to lose its cool.

It ´s just a pity that the paparazzo responsible for the picture paid less than proper attention to protocol and waved his arm in front of Janet´s face at the critical moment. Oh dear! his copy book with her blotted once again, she won´t forgive him this time.

The 20th Anniversary Fifty

Back to Rod.

Marlene, O Alambique´s proprietor, had prepared a splendid repast, enjoyed with great conviviality and bonhomie. Myriam too did a splendid act as hostess with the mostest, delighting everyone her specially autographed T-shirt.

The feast culminated in the appearance of a splendid cake decorated, of course, with the emblematic blue blob and cistus flower.

Following that, a siesta was encouraged while one of the co-organisers rambled on (his words, not mine) about the origin and activities of the AWW.

He particularly welcomed Esme, our founder Maurice Clyde´s widow, Judy Cooper, widow of Ian, a founder member and participant of the first Algarve Way walk, and Jane Cook a frequent early walker... all of whom had come from the UK just for the event. He was also very happy to see Tony Webster, and Ricky Cruz who, along with Rod were on the very first AWW walk in September 1996, also Francisco Graça who was an early walker, facilitated our relations with Almargem, and was the creator of the joint names of Algarve Way and Via Algarviana.

He emphasized that the Algarve Way/Via Algarviana was Maurice´s brainchild, that many early walkers, especially Hedley who had walked with the Saturday walkers before the creation of the AWW, were involved in reconnoitering the route that was eventually first walked as a whole in October 1998 by Maurice and Ian...no longer with us, Mark Harman...too ill to join us, Ian Angus...resident in Spain, Tony Webster, Myriam and Rod (proud of the fact he believes he is still the only person to have covered it on foot and horseback)...still with us! Since then it has been wonderfully mapped and waymarked by David and Terry, the latter having now covered it probably more times than everyone else together. In the meantime the Almargem version, for which they took on the Via Algarviana name, has been separately mapped and waymarked.

He went on to laud the work of various Hon Secs...namely Lindsey, Janet, Tina and David, and those who had organised special events, particularly Paul for creating the RTC, for creating the blogs (now ably backed up by JohnH) and for being the unchallenged fashion style setter: Mike P for his Moonlight Walks and Sparrowfart summer walks and breakfast a role now taken on by Antje and Chris: Rod for walks in different locations in Spain and the Alentejo: and David for many recent events including the Rota Vicentina walks.

He particularly mentioned the many leaders, not already named, who have guided (or does he mean sometimes misguided?) the AWW all over the Algarve amongst whom there were present:-

Thyl, (and his better half Gita.. a frequent early walker and composer of the early AWW anthem – see later), Ian Wilson, Lindsey and Andrew, Ian Scott, Jim, Hilke, JohnO, and Nick and Pam. He went on to say how lucky (or should it be well prepared?!) we had been to avoid any serious accidents. The record was slightly marred only by Anna Rose (also a frequent early walker) breaking her leg during a walk in Madeira, and Yves who managed to convince the Bombeiros to rescue him from a precarious position on a west coast cliff.

Who - Me? …… Qui - Moi?

He finished by pointing to the future and asking where were all the organisers of new events and volunteers for specific roles....these days everything seems to be organised by the Hon. Sec. David. There is an obvious risk in being a one man band...so come on step forward!

This was followed by Mike P with some amusing reminiscences about some of the events he had organised, and then by Janet who said how happy she had been on so many walks and who stated her preference for keeping them free of rules and regulations...and even guidelines!!

During the open floor afterwards, Esme emotionally expressed her appreciation of the event as did Tony Webster. Hedley, Frank W, David, and Ian W.had their say before Hazel finished with an appropriate Deo Gratias.