AWW 26th September 2018: Barrosas.

On a relatively cool and blustery morning we gathered at the cafe Paraiso da Serra at Barrosas: it was still hot, but significantly cooler than the last 2 Wednesday’s.

There were 7 of us plus Bica.

Backpacks were substantially larger than last week. Some advised they had brought more water, but I did notice that other strategies had been adopted to dull the pain of the walk.

I will not say to whom that backpack belonged, but I thought it a bit unfair when it was strapped onto Bica. She is a bit small for this burden

The first 8 1/2km was planned to be an ascent to Malhao. The gradient was not too steep, but as we came out into the open it was beginning to get warm. Heads went down.

So we stopped and immediately they all (except Miriam and Bica) got out their phones to check the temperature

As we were about to cross the road to the north of Malhao, there was a light in the sky and strange music was heard. we looked up and there was this unearthly BEING: very thin but with a large globular head looking down on us.

We turned and ran. But only to encounter other unearthly objects.

To ward off the evil spirits and as Maria was not in attendance, some of the men in the team climbed the especially tall trig point, while the women kept a lookout in case the ETs were following us.

As we travelled on our fears were allayed when we met a “lucky” Chinese dragon.

We arrived at the cafe in Malhao. We were tired, so we sent two of our number over to negotiate a lift back down to the start. Unsuccessful, but being men they told us how many kilowatts they put out.

Then it was down the hill and through the valley back to Barrosas.

Technical details

Distance:                  13.34km

Elevation change    498m

Total Time                3:51

Time Walking           3:26

Average Pace             3.89km/hr

Frank M

AWW 12 Sept 2018: Fonte Ferrea: 1st Walk of Season

The plot starts on a warm and humid morning in the eastern Algarve.

Even the birds are stilled as the languid sun slithers over the horizon and and the dark sky slowly starts to lighten and turn azure blue.

The air was heavy and not a breath stirred.

A lone dog was heard with a muted growl in the distance.

OH! it was hot.

The AWW slowly gathered at Fonte Ferrea.

It was apparent that over the hot summer that they had all been driven indoors reading or watching 1957 TV spectaculars such as HG  Wells’ Invisible Man.

Do you remember that in the Fifties ties were a “style” thing. Clark Kent always wore one and used to pull his off in a telephone box.

Most of the walkers had discarded their bandages and without a “fag” dangling from their lips they were invisible on the starting photo. Only Sue, Miriam and Bica had been too busy over the summer to “slather” on the invisible cream

You can see that Bica is looking confused at hearing all the voices but not seeing anyone else.

We were off down the valley to the Font. I found it difficult to keep the group together when they could not be seen.

There are various routes out from the Font but the 2 that I reconnoitred had been steep. So we tried a new one which was just as steep.

But the views from the top were fine.

The only issue was the thorns and sharp stones, about which I had lots of complaints from those who had discarded their bandages.

We stopped just after the top for a group photo. Sue and Miriam were hiding so only the rest of the group was (or were) in the photo.

As you will undoubtedly remember (those that had a TV in 1957) the Russians were still the enemy and they had cunningly found a way to find the invisible man by the shadow she  casts (Series 1 show 7): see in the bottom left.

At one time we thought we were lost, but Bica read the signs and she was off. It was obvious that Bica had not been walking very much over the summer, as she found every bit of shade to wait for the rest of us and she was drinking the most

However Sue and Miriam refused to join the rest of us as we climbed to the trig point.  Those who climbed to the top had a great view both to the north and south.

And then we were back at the Avalanche café for a quick drink.

I had cut the walk short to only 12km, as I was shattered and I was concerned that without their bandages everyone would get sunburned in unusual places (eg at the trig point).

Below is some true information

The route

Route:           12km

Time:             3:05hrs

Walkers:        3

Total Dist:     36km

Elev gain:       350m for leader but only 315m each, for the 2 who did not accompany us to the trig point

Water consumed by leader: 1.5litres (beer extra)

Enjoyment:    great to get back out walking despite the heat

Just Do It

Frank M