AWW 7 March 2018 : Moinha de Rocha

AWW 7 March 2018 : Moinha de Rocha

Someones once said, I think, that blogging is a bit like riding a bike : once learnt, never forgotten ; well, let's see! Just the sort of think to experiment with on a wet friday in the Algarve. Anyway, as our ex-treasurer would say if she wasn't AWOL in Tulipland, I digress.

We started with not one, but two Firsts :  the first First was when our Official ( but retired...think it's then  called  Emeritus ) Starter Photographer in Chief...let's just call him OSPiCE for short, aka John H, thought he'd demonstrate his technological prowess to all the old AWW codgers by magically taking the starter photo from a distance of 20 feet ; no hands, no self-timer...but a camera app on his phone ....installed, we learnt later , by Geraldine. Anyway , as the ex-T would say, here's the result:

Lto R : Jim,Russell,Hazel,Sue M, Geoff ,Rose,Linda,Pam,Miriam,Ken,Isabel,Sandra, Jan, David,Frank,sue H, Val,Nick,Martin,OSPICE...and Bica & Jasper.

One immediate comment on the new gizmo : the OSPiCE can never again  be photographed without a phone on his hand!

Despite the comments of Pedant-in Chief ( again Emeritus) or PiCE , aka Paul, that I should have said " turn right at the new roundabout , signed Alcalar etc"  rather than just "turn right signed Alcalar etc" , all seemed to have successfully arrived OK, other than  Maria didn't make the starting grid : AWOL on Granny Duties.

The second First ( do keep up) was evidenced in the photo  : blue stuff in the heavens! The rain had ceased, pro tem.

Now where were we, if you haven't lost the will to live already....ah yes, the walk!

Whilst we have done this particular walk a few times  ( "too many " did I hear from the back?) , the earth sculpturing post the fires had meant a new path , some new ponds and some rather strange domes whose use could only be guessed at :

Anyway, as the ex-T (or eT) would say, (think you get the idea by now), onward and upward, with Sue and Hazel back-marking ( or, gossiping so much, they lagged behind) , whilst the rest strode on ( thanks Rose for photo).

We thus came to the excitement of our first water crossing ( "why on earth did you choose this route" I was asked) where Russell set to work building stepping stones, but OSPiCE just walked through, so he could get some good photos from 'tother side.

Isabel seemed to think that you walked alongside the stepping stones rather than on them :

Miriam had similar trouble, but must have bribed OSPiCE not to capture her for posterity, though she later claimed her new super-expensive boots didn't let in any water. ( Note : remember to tell the RA on Sunday about Swahali Swingers new boots!)

Pam and Frank donned their waders :

   

and Sue, for reasons best known to herself, decided to strip off and cause everyone to wait, and wait, and wait while she dried her toes...and Jan did her baglady impersonations:

                  

With all, eventually, safely across, it was time for water-crossing no.2 : everyone  discounted the rickety bridge, which, whilst crossing the stream, seemed to actually go from nowhere to nowhere. Sue wasn't allowed time to strip off again so gentleman Russell helped her across :

and thus on to the third and final crossing, where  Sue ( yes, her again) seemed to think that the pole better helped her balance by waving it in the air, rather than putting one end on the ground...and goodness knows what Jan was up to (best not to ask...especially after the recipe for slimming involving duct tape!)

                                    

It was then a steady slog up the hill : not a steep one, but it seemed to go on for a long time, not helped by the lack of sun and an increasingly cool wind. The stream had been cleared in places :

Onward and upwards, with lunch taken quickly on the ridge.  Sue M did a good job as Bica's guardian  whilst Lord & Lady  Lobo took their seats :

until a momentary lapse in concentration meant that Bica managed to sneak some lunch from a rather inattentive  Val :   

The rain evidently hadn't read that it was due at 3pm and so started to drizzle too early at about 1pm, though it did provide an excuse for Russell to show off his latest  kagoule.

and so back down...the fires having destroyed the strange object that used to lurk in the trees.....see the archive photo from Armistice Day, 2015 :

Fortunately, the  final track through the burnt cistus was fairly visible and we didn't have to walk along any tarmac, much to Jan's  dismay, no doubt.

and thus back to O Tasco for a beer/coffee.......not too sure what Frank had said to Sue.

Thanks to all who came,  though it was a bit short at 4 h 15 m incl lunch.....distance seemed to vary between 15.2 and 15.4k......and thanks to all for not pointing out that IF we has started at 0930, we would probably have missed most of the rain!

And thanks to OSPiCE for many of the photos......or as he now calls himself, John O'Spice...and here, a little belatedly, is John's GPS version of where we went :

Geoff

9 March 2018