Goldilocks and Four Friends Go Walking

It is too early.

It is too cold.

It is too long

The sun is too low

The hill is too high

The slope is too steep

The water is too deep

The steeping stones are too far apart

It is too warm when climbing the hill

The blister is too big

Ah! but the walk was just right.

We met at Font Filipe on a glorious bright morning on what we assume to be our last get together for a while. You would have thought that all the talk would have been about Covid and Brexit (there are no pork pies in Tesco Almancil), but no: it was about cars.

"my car started to beep at 4 deg C and when I got to the fonte it is now only -3.5 deg C"

"my car started to beep at 3 deg C and when I got to the fonte it is now -3.0 deg C"

"my car started to beep at 5 deg C and when I got to the fonte it is now -1.5 deg C"

"my car is old like me and does not have a outside temperature thermometer"

It was cold even if the temperature had the same large standard deviation about the "mean" as the dis-agreement about the final distance of most AWW walks. It was cold! Lots of layers for most and gloves for the hands at the start.

David, Frank, Miriam, Ros and photographer Ken. 
Ken used the orange filter on the camera to photoshop Frank,s blue knees.

After coffee and biscuits (Ken said that Ros's chocolate biscuits were better than Frank's) we were just about to set off.

A sixth illegal guest turned up. Jack. We could not turn him away. He accompanied us for most of the morning, but left as we got out of the valley and away from the stream.

Jack Frost

Round the corner, we came across some solid puddles. Ros wanted to go back home to get her ice skates. She wanted to initiate the Algarve Elfstedentocht (as we all know this is Welsh for the skiing race that links all 6 cities is Wales and was last held in 1997: the last time the snow / ice was more than 15cm thick )

It was fascinating for all, including Bica who put his foot in/on it and recoiled suspiciously.

However we could not stand around all day wondering what it was and we were off again. Frank is getting a little better with his photography and decided to take a selfie of his new slim self.

The early morning sun is very flattering: I like the long shorts

There was lots of water. 

Frank had put down some stepping stones on his recce the previous day

But we had to leave the shade and water behind and come up into the sunshine and heat. 

As is normal, it is heads down and concentrate.

We got to the first ridge. Everyone stopped,and turned to take in the great view over to Rocha da Pena. As is normal it was really to suck in gasps of air but they said it was to look at the view

So the gloves were off and the other 3 layers as well. It was warm, steep and mutterings started from those that had any breath with which to mutter.

But as always happens we got to the top and had lunch.

Some sat down and scoffed their sandwiches; others stood and stared at the sandwiches; while others gazed out over the 7 Kingdoms which were laid out from this hill which is higher than Cerro do Negro, but does not even have a trig point.

Replete, we set off downhill.  As is normal the photographer went to sleep after lunch and only woke up as we neared the end.

Striding out, head high on the flat.

And as we had started off from Font Filipe, there has to be a photo of cute pigs

Miriam went over with a gorgeous red apple to place in their mouth and tried to entice them onto a spit at home.

And it was back to the cafe at Amendoeira for a drink.

Goldilocks comment was 'that beer was just right'.

Distance              16.3km

Pace                     3.8km/hr

Total time            4hrs 55mins

Elevation change  560m (I was told that it was all up, despite it being a circular walk)

Temperature            -3.5 deg C to +12 deg C

Fun                        Had by all as defined by the leader

See! there was only one hill.

Frank M

14th Jan 2021