AWW – RIBEIRA DAS CANAS 11 MARCH 2020

AWW – RIBEIRA DAS CANAS 11 MARCH 2020

We met at 9.45am at the Café in Rasmalho and then car shared ready for a prompt start at 9.51am.

17 enthusiastic looking walkers and 1 brave dog.  Sara, Steve, Margaret, Jim, Scott, Ros, Linda, Frank, Doug, Laura, Trudy, Dan, O.P, Sue, Terry, David, Russ and Jasper the dog.

The day was already warming up before we scrambled up the short, sharp hill.  Jim decided to pass on the hill so Linda scrambled back down and escorted him round an easier route.

The rest of the group enjoyed a breather at the top before heading out to enjoy the flat section and views up to Caldas de Monchique.

Linda and Jim joined the group further along.  But a couple of kms later Jim decided it was time he should drop out before the “point of no return”.  Frank kindly offered to escort him back to the cars.  Then we were held up again whilst David desperately tried to find the arm to his broken glasses.  After groveling in the grass for 10 minutes someone spotted it hanging from his ear.

The temperature was rising fast as we headed up the hills.  By the time we stopped for lunch it must have been around 28C.  We all struggled to find shade and some had to squeeze together under one tree.

We enticed them to set off again with the lure of lots of downhill and flat sections for the 2nd half.  Plus a nice breeze and made an appearance.  Everyone was trying to make the water last a bit longer.

Ros having just returned from colder climes and not used to the excessive heat and hill walking was starting to feel physically drained.  We made her wear a hat and Dan poured freezing cold water over her head.  Much to Ros cries “I don’t normally wear a hat and that was freezing”.  Fortunately, this helped cool her down and we nursed her round to the end.

We had plenty of river crossings and lots of mud.

We headed down the new valley to the small baragem and Jasper took a cooling swim.

The boys also took time to cool off and Dan collected more water for the ladies to pour over their hot necks.

    

By now we were all well strung out but the front group made it back to the café in just under 5 ½ hours where ice cold beer was well deserved and comments of “the best cold beer ever”.  Fifteen people finished the walk of 20.9kms.  Thank you to everyone for joining us and especially to Doug and Laura.  Hope we havent scared you off.  We enjoyed watching Laura run down the hills with her beautiful golden locks bouncing around

PS – no photo at the café as we all looked well bedragled.  Until next time!!!! Linda and Russell