AWW VA…blog of Day 9 - Walk from Marmelete to Monchique : 4th February 2022

 

AWW VA…blog of Day 9 - Walk from Marmelete to Monchique

Date: 4^th February 2022

 

The Uneventful Walk or maybe not...

Following a quick cuppa in Monchique we drove along the twisty road to Marmelete for what promised to be a shorter, easier and uneventful walk. Despite the almost loss of a walker from a moving car, the apparent loss of a passport and lunch we all made it to the start for the initial photograph.

 

 Group L to R :Alan, Jan, Marian, Sue, Ross, Ken, John, Susan, Jim, Gill, Miriam, Geoff

 

 Return of missing passport and lunch by the green man

 

 Off the merry walkers march happy in the knowledge of a shorter and less arduous walk than yesterday.

Geoff and Gill go up the hill and Geoff comes tumbling down.

Despite our restored energy levels our walk co-ordinator suffers a tumble and luckily survives it without a scratch.

(As Ed, I feel I must elaborate a little here.....it was only a slight downward slope, fortunately, but covered in loose grit. One foot slipped, as did the next when I tried to steady myself. By this time I was accelerating and wondering whether it would be best to just fall or keep going....I stumbled on, still accelerating it seems, but "fortunately" found Sue in front of me to crash into , reduce speed , and stay upright! Too fast for the cameraman.)

We continue our steady climb to Foia through Rota das Adelfeiras. We walk quickly along before Jim our recce champ decides to detour.

At last a welcome lunch break or maybe a bit of wood gathering for the camp fire which may be necessary due to the inclement cold weather and sprinkling of rain. Coats are quickly put on and Marian is ready for Baltic conditions with her multiple layers and gloves. Luckily this fails to materialise.

The cows were initially startled to discover our presence but having examined us move along unperturbed.

Eventually we arrived at the exit gateway which porter John held open.

(Being our official photographer, Alan usually escapes the camera's lens, but here he is circumventing a rare puddle....Ed.)

 Exit to the promised land

We continued along under a grey sky which was reminiscent of our homelands. Thankfully the rain abated and we arrived at the final signpost which signalled that we had only 3 kms left to our three day walk.

Nearly but not quite there

We began our descent into picturesque Monchique nearly losing the track through the labryinthine of narrow streets.

We celebrated with a final coffee/drink prior to our drive back to Marmelete to collect the cars of the initial drivers.

Stats

Distance: 16.2 kms

Time: 4 hours 35 mins

Elevation gain: 612m

 

Photographs courtesy of Alan Sheridan.

Many thanks to Geoff, Sue, Jim and Gill for organising a brilliant walk.