The Walk that Never Was...then Was....but still Isn't !

The Walk that Never Was...then Was....but still Isn't !

 Intro. Back in Easter 2019, Gill & Jim planned a walk at Bordeira , but a combination of fuel-tankers' strike and wet weather meant a postponement. Nothing too dramatic in that, but film buffs may recall the 1950s  wartime film of "The Man who Never Was" about a scheme to fox the Germans about the invasion of Sicily : hence a blog was written of " The Walk that Never Was".  This was before walks were regularly blogged, but John H couldn't resist posting it for posterity at : AWW 2016-21: AWW 2019 04 17: A Wee Bit Rain and No Petrol (hopejandh.blogspot.com)

This even caused Paul of the WAGS to comment ...."Which brings me on to the Philosophical point I made in my Blog of October the 18th 2006 -A Walk that Wasn't:-Can a Blog exist without a Walk? - OR can a Walk exist without a Blog? I am still waiting for a satisfactory answer, but John has provided some fine evidence!"

As there is now  the film's remake ( called Mincemeat, the code name for the scheme) it was considered time to attempt the actual walk rather than the fictional one. Jim  & Gill readily agreed to lead the walk as Ros couldn't do her scheduled one, as long as I did the blog. I don't know if the film remake is better than the original, but the blog won't be as I don't possess Jim & John's erudite commentary skills.....but the actual walk ( such as it was) was a vast improvement on the imaginary.

Enough digression, onwards to the blog....

Seven walkers and Bica arrived at a quaint little cafe in Bordeira, recently taken over by an enterprising young couple, for the usual prewalk caffeine.  We welcomed Marian's sister Helen. The starter photo:

L to R : Gill, Helen, Marian, Miriam, Jim, Geoff Steve

Setting off promptly, we digressed to a local well.....

Nobody  felt brave enough to see if the taste had improved over the centuries,  so off we went, only to  retreat as a herd of cows, calves, goats and sheep headed towards us:

All delightfully picturesque,  but a good 10 minute holdup before a pressing 22kms.....and 3 hills and 3 trig points to go.

The spring flower were truly magnificent...if only our official photographer Alan was in residence  to do them justice, instead of being AWOL.

Onward and uphill to hill number 1....

When Trig Point number 1 was also spotted.....but it was decided not to divert over rough ground to climb it ( no doubt, much to Helen's relief!)....

The sea was spotted along with a large lake :  that area was all fenced off, with a rumoured €20m having been paid....but for what? the soil didn't look too good.

More lovely flowers...

and a stop for dried apricots.....only the bag refused all attempts to open it!

The poppies were a particularly virulent red in the sunlight...

We spotted spotted suckling pigs in the making.....

And then it was time for hill number 2 , which needed to be conquered before lunch.

It was at this stage that one of our group felt unwell and decided to go back ( via a shortcut) once fully recovered . Those that had climbed the hill readily descended  to provide company and support , and we all met up for a late lunch:

Some more flowers ........ 

...and then back to the cafe:

A farewell to Bordeira:

One of these days, this walk will be completed!  Wednesday 3 May 2023 is pencilled in.....it needs to be in the spring to enjoy these:

The stats for the shortened walk: