around Messines, 19 January 2022

 An absolutely beautiful morning welcomed us all to intermarche Messines!

After fuelling up with caffeine we marched up a wee hill ( I don't recall it being wee...quite steep! Ed) to be rewarded with an amazing view of the surrounding countryside .

                      A disorderly group eventually turned around to face me for the group photo .

Miriam Ken Bica Frank Sue Julie Kevin Pete Linda Geoff Sergio Jim and wee Ros hiding behind Frank!
Sorry that Sue M and Karen didn’t make it due to something happening on the motorway .

He marched them up to the top of the hill and he marched them down into the valley below, to be rewarded with beautiful spring flowers . (I think the author is referring to her husband Jim, rather than the now infamous D of Y...Ed).

                             

Time for a banana and Quiche stop :


                                           

                              (Actually, that's your Ed opening a banana case for Mrs Ed's banana....)

Onwards mostly on the flat, hearing but not seeing the Lisbon train passing, we headed to our water crossing .....well it’s only a trickle....

After paddling through we approached the church  Santa Ana
Famous for a battle that was fought years before , our history teacher miss Ros informed us of the details ( please email Ross for more info if needed )
End of term questions…?

(Tut Tut author.....think this is code for Gill not paying attention to Ros....she was seen wandering about with her phone/camera....the battle was between 2 brothers, one who had recently returned from Brazil and wanted to inherit the land ; the other didn't agree, so fought him and, I believe  I  recall, won.....because he had cannon and cavalry. Quite a few casualties,  whose bones were buried in a mass grave in front of the church, suitably inscribed Requiescat in Pace, RIP. .......Full marks for ed?).

Onwards upwards stunning countryside and pine forests :

                                                 

Later a small hamlet, a riding school, a house named after our four legged friend Bica, and then an Irish digger driver from County Galway....

( The resolution isn't too good on Gill's phone....hint for a birthday present Jim...but the inscription is " Quinta da Bica"...Ed)

Lunchtime now approaching, and the usual sounds of "I’m hungry, are we there yet " were heard, but our leader pressed on. Another 10 mins became 20mins! All was forgiven as we saw our lunch stop ….. silence overcame them (or hunger ) as we sat and enjoyed views over the water .

(Unfortunately, the camera missed Linda doing some yoga contortions that made those less-supple of  us wince!...ed)

Eventually, creaks and groans, we had to get up and carry on, up a steep hill!
Yet 5 km later up and down, and up again, another pleasant surprise, fields of gold, sheep and lambsies, and a tasty looking black pig....

                                                           Beautiful Almond blossom


We were nearing the end of our walk, talk turned to beer and Ros went forward to get them in  but the cafe in the sun did not sell beer !!! So it was back to intermarche....

Cheers to you all and thanks for the company!

20.53 km
585 elevation gain
5 hours walking time
4 km an hour
Gill