A soggy tail !

Mid April 2020

Hi, I'm Baxter & I blame Lockdown for what follows...

After suffering several days of internal lockdown due to incessant heavy rain, we took advantage of a break in the clouds to bundle two dogs into the car and head off to Fonte Filipe, near Amendoeira, Loule. It being rather easier to 'socially distance' around here.

Fonte Filipe 

Regular AWW's in the East will know the location well, as its frequently used as the starting point for
our walks, indeed many will have walked the narrow concrete road which follows the valley, leading away from the car park, towards Querenca.

With rain still around and not feeling too energetic, it was along this road we set off, having decided to walk to the old water mill (now an abandoned restaurant), which is further along and on the same side of the road. Its usually a nice gently stroll, there and back, of about 4km.

The Old Mill - A hidden little gem!

Together with our own dog Baxter, we had a foster called Pip who's a very boisterous puppy, only 7 months old and abandoned last Christmas. She should now be with her new owners in Belgium but her travel plans are now delayed.

Pip.....and only 7 months old !

As we walked along you could hear the roar of the water in the valley below, but as we were not intending to cross onto the other side, this wasn't of concern.

With both dogs running ahead we approached the right hand path that one would normally take if intending to cross onto the other side. On getting level with this path you can normally look down and see a small stream of water. Not today,  for this was now a 4 metre wide torrent of brown thundering water.

Path from road leading down to river (not taken on day in question )

Whilst Pip was standing nervously half way down the track, looking at the spectacle, Baxter was no where to be seen.

Knowing his lure towards anything wet, I scrambled down the slippery slope towards the waters edge, to immediately see he had been swept away and was pinned against a clump of bamboo shoots, about 3 to 4 metres down stream. His head was just above water but if he moved he would be gone.

Unfortunately there was no way of reaching him from this side of the steep bank. The only possibility
would be from the other side, where a partly submerged reed bed jutted out across what is normally a tranquil rock pool. From there it may be possible to get him if he could swim out. Problem being he was treading water and tiring, so any rescue needed to be done quickly.

Nothing for it but to strip off my jeans, put my canvas shoes back on, and try and wade through the water to the other side. With Trish now holding my pants, car keys, money and ID cards in one hand, and a panicking 17kg dog now on lead, from the other, I wadded in, whilst she was offering shouts of encouragement to Baxter to hang on.

Any words towards me to take care, were obviously being drowned out by the thundering noise !

With the aid of a stout stick for support, I'm quickly up to my thighs in water trying desperately not to slip and be washed over the hidden stepping stones, into the rock pool.

Thankfully I reach the other side still upright,  so now all thats required is to scramble over some flattened reeds that are being swept partly across the rock pool, to get closer to one exhausted animal.

This really was going ' swimmingly' well and to plan, when suddenly that all changed.

The reed bed beneath me collapsed, and I was dropped chest deep into the rock pool, thrashing around for something to hang onto, whilst kicking out for a firm foothold,  trying not to be swept away. At the same time, Baxter thought this would be a good time to launch himself at me. Whether he knew my predicament was probably now slightly worse than his,  I don't know but to compound matters he was now too weak to fight the water and was sucked under.

A situation not helped by his colour, being that of muddy water !

Thankfully the effect of the whirlpool we were in jettisoned him first towards me, before he would be swept away, through a narrowing neck of water. Having just grabbed onto a bamboo reed with left hand I caught his body by the scruff of the neck with the other, as he passed by and pulled him up onto the remnants of some reeds, coughing and sputtering.

Still chest deep in swirling water, with Baxter now recovering  I had just put his lead on,
when its what wet dogs do....shake themselves vigorously to off load as much water and mud as possible. So now I'm not only drenched to the top of me chest, but facially covered in mud and dog hair !

All it now required was to hoist myself out of the rock pool by scrambling over flattened bramble and
bamboo, against the incessant flow of water and back onto dry land. A minute or so later...success.

Oh, one slight problem !

We are still on the wrong side of the river from Trish, and more importantly my Jeans and money !

There was no way one could get back across carrying a dog, so the only option was to walk back to the Fonte along the opposite side of the valley, a good kilometre away.

Meanwhile Trish being left with Pip, who perhaps believing Baxter was lost, refused to leave the scene, and literally needed to be dragged back to the car,  no doubt having been put off water for life.

I'm not sure what the locals thought on seeing an Englishman strolling down the road, walking his dog, dressed only in wet underpants and soaked T-shirt, with a mud splattered face, grazed arms and legs with the odd splash of blood, but frankly I had past caring !

It just goes to show you don't necessarily need to walk 20km on a Wednesday for a good work out, just get yourself a dog who loves a challenge !

Oh, and don't be surprised if you see me taking the long way around any future water crossings !

And as I didn't think you would wish to see a picture of me in my Undies, I could only find this one from the archives, of Trish and I, ....taken on a dry day !

Roger & Trish