AWW 10th October 2018

10th October 2018. Os Pocos em Penina.

Numbers have been fairly low since the start of the season, but on this occasion, the cause was easily identified. A party of Hashers from the fair (?) city of Birmingham UK, had descended upon the Algarve, and a joint Hash had been organised with the Algarve outfit, sadly taking place immediately after the end of our walk. So, only seven of us rendezvoused at Penina on the last dry morning of the long summer, to find the café closed, with only a note on the door detailing the day´s bread order. 

    Not enough bread for Russell there!

There was almost total cloud cover for much of the day, with a little sunshine mid-walk.

The Caffeine-Starved Seven:  Linda, Russell, Martin, Frank, John H, Hazel and David. Jasper came along, but he had no mercy barrel round his neck, so we couldn´t even have a snifter to help us on our way.

    The two ladies on the right wanted to join us, but we thought they looked too fit.

Various local folk came to see us off – very kind of them, but I guess they might have been waiting for their morning stimulant as well. We left on time after the usual photo - very good to welcome back our official paparazzo, ( thrice retired). The climb onto the Rocha da Pena plateau was a big pull from a standing start, but all made it in good time and good order. A visit to Trafele trig-point was spurned, everyone present having been there before (most had done the walk before as well but what the hell).

We walked the length of the plateau, passing and debating as ever the origins of the enormous wall of loose stones that crosses north to south across the middle. 

    If it´s written down, it must be true!

The view to the south was as breathtaking as ever. 

Then it was on to the very clear but steep and rocky descent from the eastern end. Surprising that none of the group other than the leader had ever wandered that way. Down past the twin windmill bases (one now partially collapsed) and all the way down to the tarmac road we ambled, already aware that our pace was somewhat slower than the usual AWW average.

After the crossing the valley floor we walked through the rather shambolic and less than pretty hamlet of Casas Martins Anes, full of dogs of all descriptions and conditions, and up to the N124. Warning: do not stand inside the bus stop here, as the stone wall forming the back is about to collapse outwards. Local attempts at repair are not comforting.

    A very old alfarrobeira was spotted at this point. Incredible root system.

Leaving the main road after a short distance. We climbed over the low ridge and down into the next valley, joining the route of the Via Algarviana as it winds its way through the wilderness west of Salir. It was decided to lunch at the top of the rather formidable climb out of the valley towards Benafim, so the ascent began. Russell was determined to overtake a small party of walkers glimpsed halfway up the slope, and according to his report, he and Linda did so – but the rest of us did NOT see it, as we were at varying distances to the rear. (Photographic evidence required).

    Aftermath of the second climb. 

Lunch was taken at the track junction at the summit of the climb, in hazy sunshine and a cooler breeze than of late. Then on, with Russell repeating his counting task of two or three years ago, to locate the turn-off some 500 metres along the broad moor-top. (John tells me that the actual distance to the turn is over 1k, which I dispute!) We missed it first time, and had to retrace our steps, luckily not too far, before locating the start of the descent at a small cleared area. The drop down to the valley was then straightforward, if a little uneven underfoot.

Having crossed the wide valley floor, now aiming back towards our start-point, we made our way by degrees up the less steep hillside to the 124 between Pena and Benafim, crossed it and again using slightly overgrown tracks and ploughed areas, finally located the winding path down into the valley below the Rocha. While five of the party followedmeleader along various different pathways, more ploughed areas and sunken donkey tracks, John opted for the tarmac back to Penina, accompanied by Russell. The larger group were rewarded by finding various hanging fruits along the way.

    Harder than we thought!

Fortunately, the café was open when we got back to the village, and the usual refreshments were taken. All agreed that we had been slow, (something like 4.75hrs) but the walked had seemed quite hard for only 14.4k. Our moving average in the end was a little under 4k, so maybe we did a lot more stopping than usual! Maybe some of us (me included) need to get out more!

    The Track, showing the Wall on Rocha da Pena.