AWW WWW December 22, 2021

 An AWW WWW (Algarve Wednesday Walkers Wet Winter Walk)

There was a break in the clouds at 08.30 and the rain had ceased. I pressed the button and sent the email confirming it was GO!

I had originally had six acceptances to walk, which with me would be a Magnificent Seven. This was an inauspicious number, but luckily 3 dropped out and only 4 turned up at Font Ferrea for the 09.30 start.

Sergio, Julie, Frank and Tony

We were all dry and there was only a very heavy drizzle at the time, so we set off.

It got wetter, and the streams had water for the first time this year.

Sergio properly dressed for just a little rain.

And it got wetter and the roads had water as well.

And the Triffids attacked Julie as she tried to slip pass.

And the Triffid was not the only Science Fiction character that was out in the rain. We were stopped by a Dalek, but the rain got into its eyes and we managed to run past. 

We outran the Dalek who got bogged down in the mud

However, there was a bright flash and a few seconds later there was a boom. We were sure it was the Dalek fireing at us, but Tony assured us it was a thunder bolt thrown at us by that Marvel hero Thor. It had missed, but for the next half hour, he threw some more, but we were getting out of range. To check how close, after every flash we would start counting "one elephant, two elephants,....". 

We were concerned that if we went up onto the ridge that Thor might see us and properly target us, so we decided to reduce the planned walk

And it got wetter. We thought we might get swept away in the floods

A wet one

However Sergio advised that he had his climbing rope in his bag, and we could tie oursevlves, if it got any worse.

However, Julie advised that no one was going to tie her up and decided to have another go at the bushes.

And this was still the road and not the stream.

We cut it short and circled up to the road at Cova da Muda, where the rain actually eased off a little.

We then cut back down to Font Ferrea. The Avalanche cafe was closed. There was a notice that they thought that it might be flooded, and they were coming back in the New Year.

We went to the cafe at Alportel.

The rain had momentarily stopped

And we had a cup of coffee and a mince pie. However, the leader had only brought six, so it was auspicious that some had cancelled or there would not have been enough to go round. We did offer the lady at the cafe a mince pie, but she refused as she was on a diet.

Frank M

27th December 2021