AWW Walk report – 19 February 2025 – RIBBA A TERINHO

AWW Walk report – 19 February 2025 – RIBBA A TERINHO

12 walkers and 3 x dogs. Susan, Linda, Kieran, Audrey, Fiona, James, Sue, Ros, John R, John D, Bruce and Geoff (the photographer).  The dogs were Bica, Toby and little Zoe.

We met in Rasmalho and then drove 3kms further up the road to the start of the walk.  Geoff kindly offered to be photographer in Alan's absence. We started out at 10.10am.

We kept the dogs on the lead for the start in case of cows but there was no sign of wildlife so they ran free the rest of the day.  We could hear the gushing river flowing down from Monchique.

On to our first water crossing which was much easier to cross than advertised.  But the guys had a play about with a few stepping stones.  It looks like they were trying to play golf.

Lots of flat sections to get us warmed up and get the conversation rolling.

( Lots of backsides, the temp photographer imitating the Official one, Alan)

The next water crossing was just as easy so no plastic bags required today.

Now it was time to head up the valley one of the only main hills of the day, albeit a long gradual one.

Once at the top we could enjoy some more flat walking as we zig zagged on winding paths, enjoying the views and the heather....and some strange ordure...

After 2 hours of walking we took a fairly early lunch at a point with a few stones to use for seats.  John D had brought his little chair which he has had for several years.  Susan said next week's lunch will be much later.

After lunch we kept the pack close together as there were lots of paths off to the sides.  Some asked how I knew which way to go.  Only Geoff had noticed some of my shiny markers and arrows left from the recci.

We had one more steepish hill and then it was a nice downhill stroll back down the valley whilst enjoying the lovely Algarve sunshine.

At the bottom of the valley, we joined part of the path from this morning and one of the river crossings.  It had become much wider in just a few hours so it was a slightly longer jump, but no wet feet and no falling in, even though Geoff had the camera at the ready.  Lots of water was still gushing down from Monchique but it gave the leader an opportunity to wash a very dirty little dog.

I had just been thinking how nice it was we had seen no other sign of life during the walk, apart from a few birds.  Then across to our left about 150 metres away we saw the motorcade for the Volta do Algarve heading up the N266.  So, we stopped and watched all the cyclists and the support vehicles as they went by.  We could not have timed it any better.  Lots of chat after about all the other times the walkers had come across this event elsewhere.

 

Back to the café for the post walk drinks sat outside in the sunshine.  Susan and John had to rush off as they had to get one of their car tyres repaired.

The walk was 15kms as advertised and we had perfect walking weather and dry feet.  Thank you for joining me and thanks to Geoff for the photos.

 

Windmills, Art and Forest Bathing in Barao Sao Joao

 AWW 12th February 2025

19 of the AWW met in Barão São João for a day of views, windmills, culture and Forest Bathing (the new marketing term for walking in the woods).  They were:

Tony, Julie, Peter, Jan, Linda, Karen, John, Susan, Jim, Gill, Kieran, Fiona, Audrey, James, Holgar, Jane, Ness, Steve, Margaret, Bica and Toby.

 

We all set off from the Tasquinha do Gloria into the hills past the odd "off-grid" settlement. The "off-grid" dogs who had been so “friendly” the previous Saturday kept themselves to themselves, so Toby, Bica and all the humans were safe.  Also the elusive wild boar were nowhere to be seen.

Despite the heavy rain the day before all puddles were easily crossed.

Though storm clouds threatened, we enjoyed perfect walking weather.

When we reached the crossroads we continued straight on to the abandoned house to walk around what was once a volcanic crater.  We then walked past the slowly turning windmills to the edge of the forest.  The speed of the wind turbines matched the speed of the “leader”. 

After some beautiful views.

the heavenly scents announced the beginning of the forest.  We passed stone sculptures. 

The frog pond was devoid of tadpoles and frogs.  Then we reached the picnic area complete with tables, water taps, bins and toilets.  Nobody took advantage of the barbecue or children’s play area.  

After a short lunch we headed off along the Passeio dos Poétas (Poets’ Way) past the stones carved with poetry.  For those of you who have not read last year’s blog, here are some examples of the poems.

Trazer a tona sem suspirar a vestigem inebria da luz

Bringing out the intoxicating vestige of light without sighing

Na débil melancolia do fim de tarde o sol que entre os ramos adormece perde luz para a luz da saudade essoutro sol que semalarde ao lece raiada luz que arde e não fenece.

In the faint melancholy of the afternoon, the sun that dwells among the branches loses its light to the light of nostalgia, that other sun that burns brightly in the afternoon light, that burns and does not fade.

 Minha alfarrobara estao plantada espera-me a um passado a cena alabadas  em cimzas em redemoinhos da ar outro dado das vestimas da apa primitivas sem a rustica primitiva do meu sangue.

My carob tree is planted and awaits me in passing; a dinner of carobs; in the swirls of air, given from primitive epicure without the primitive rusticity of my blood.

At the crossroads the front-enders were called back so we could turn right up the hill.  James took a break to fish.  You can tell the fish wasn’t happy by the stoney expression on his face.  (apologies for stealing the pun).

At the T junction out of the forest we then turned right and walked through the windfarm again.  By the afternoon the wind had picked up and windmills were turning full pelt.  There were 24 windmills in view (thanks Tony for the info).  We then met the Via Algarviana (thanks Jim for that info), and continued to the edge of the forest, where we debated the merits of alternative routes.  The original plan was to skirt the forest for the sake of adding a few Km to the walk, but somehow the lure of forest bathing was too much for the leader and we turned into the forest.  The lure of coffee was too much for Peter and Holgar and they pointed out the most direct route to the Passeio Das Figuras (Statues’ Way).  The first statues we passed were made of wood and tastefully depicted a few men sitting together. 

We reached the other statues.  Very arty, interesting or obscene depending on your point of view!

Finally we meandered through the atmospheric village of Barão São João where Bica has a road named after her.

Thanks to Julie, Jan and Linda for organising the drinks in the bar afterwards.  Hope the hippies weren’t too annoyed at being moved from their usual drinking hole.

Length 15.5Km

AWW 5th February 2025. A Very Easy Walk - Official.

 

Monte de Charneca Circular. 05.02.25.

The Taberna Monte de Charneca was a new starting venue for the AWW, but all 12 participants turned up well before time, probably because the cafe is right by the side of the N124, hard to lose your way.

Those signing up for this Very Easy Walk were:

John D, Audrey, Linda, Alan, Fiona, Kieran, Steve S., Holger, Peter, Martin, Jan and your humble servant.  Bica, Raffa and Toby were also with us, whether they wanted to be or not.

A welcome back to John D, who came expecting the walk description to match the reality, to Jan, fresh from the ski slopes of Austria, To Steve S on one of his regular visits,  to Audrey, taking charge of Bica while Ken and Miriam live it up somewhere exotic, and to Holgar, an escapee from the delights of winter in Stockholm

The Starting Lineup

After coffee etc from a fairly taciturn bar owner, we set off along the 124 to the far end of Charneca village, and I made the first mistake in record time, turning up the wrong track as I looked for the way to Fonte Santa. Returning to the main road, we advanced up the correct track in the bright sunshine that stayed with us all day.

Right Way, wrong way.

Right Way.

Spurning the delights of Fonte Santa, we cut across the fields to the south and, reaching the track coming back from there, turned south to return to the 124. When we arrived at the main road, Alan decided to call it a day and went home to nurse his throat/chest infection. Which left us down to 11 two legs and minus our paparazzo  - hence the lack of photos after a certain point.

Crossing south of Fonte Santa

Wall One of Several.

The Track back to the 124.

Water Stop.

Crossing the 124, we made our way on clear tracks gently downhill, crossing a shallow stream before climbing through the first of many orchards to reach a fire tower, followed by the long trek through lovely countryside down to Monte Brito.

Alan Decides to Leave

Stream Crossing - the Easy One.

Here I had anticipated having a break and a drink at the one remaining cafe in the village but despite the door standing open, we were told `fechado`, so we resumed the walk, and had lunch sitting on a low wall beside the track leading towards Areerio.

The next stage was somewhat complicated, as we wandered around orchards, over walls and rough ground, before reaching the edge of a precipice overlooking a quite deep stream gorge. I remembered this from my last experience, but it seemed that a lot more stones had been piled up, making the rocky descent more precipitous. Peter went exploring for an alternative route while the rest descended gingerly to the stream, and then hauled ourselves out the other side courtesy of Linda´s pole and a tough tree root.

Well, Hello!

Oranges, oranges everywhere - but where are we?

Water crossing 2- the hard one.

Gathering ourselves after that minor ordeal, we crossed a meadow and climbed the hill up to Areerio. Having walked through the slightly confusing streets, we ended on the tarmac at the other end. Martin and I were in the lead, and we took what turned out to be the wrong road to follow for my intended route, but the chosen way ended at a main road which was only a few metres from the continuation of my track in any case.

At this point time and distance were beginning to be a factor, so instead of pursuing my original route, we decided to return by a shorter and more direct way, linking up with our outward track in the process. Finally, to avoid some of the 124, we took a minor path to the left, which ended up facing the main road - behind a gate. Fortunately, as Peter demonstrated, this was held closed only by some coated wire, so we were able to escape, and walk the final half k back to the bar. We supplemented the outdoor chairs and sat in very pleasant conditions with our drinks.

It turned out that we had covered 15.8k (almost the distance I had offered) at a very respectable 4.4k moving. I suppose that having only climbed a total of 282m, a good speed was to be expected. 

Thanks to Alan for the early photos, and to all for the patience and good humour shown throughout.

Yellow is the intended route, red the late changes.

MUD MUD GLORIOUS MUD

 AWW WEDNESDAY 29JANUARY

MUD MUD GLORIOUS MUD

Shall we or shall we not? 14 brave souls, brave? The weather forecast was…, waterproofs at the ready off we went. The brave 14 from left to right:

Tom (friends of John and Susan from Cork) Martin,Miriam, Ken,John, Nora (Tom’s wife) Linda,

Kieran, Sue (my friend) Fiona, Jim, Susan and Peter, and the dogs, Toby, Bica and Rafa. A steep short ascent to the top of the ridge and then a steep, very muddy, slippery decent to the

other side…, who mentioned no steep ascents or descents in the invitation! A bulldozer had been at work or play and turned the path into a muddy swamp. Treading

carefully slipping and sliding on to a slightly less muddy surface, lovely spring flowers were out,

nature enjoying the wet weather!

Big raindrop showers…. waterproofs!

Onwards to the 1st water crossing…. deep, fast flowing water. Linda Peter and Toby braved the

stepping stones…..

the rest carried out individual risk assessments and headed back to what will

forever be known as ROS’s TUNNEL. On Tuesday Ros had given me prior local knowledge advice…

in the event of impassable deep water crossings, there is a secret drainage tunnel to alleviate railway

track subsidence risk! We are all so grateful Ros, otherwise we may have had to abandon and retrace our way back through

the swamps!

Some 15 minutes later we met up with Peter, Linda and Toby. The second water crossing had proved

too much for them and they had to scramble up and over the railway, luckily the express

train had already passed! Reunited we continued on to the Sant Ana church and views of the battlefield.

As we made our way along the river bank towards the barragem, we encountered more mud,

enhanced by the feet of a flock of sheep which had nicely churned things up ahead of us!

and on to the lunch spot, more mud and a wee water crossing.

The heavens opened as we sat down for lunch! The wind blew as if blowing its last, the rains drenched…, soggy sandwiches! Was this Algarve or

was it Ireland or Scotland! Enough is enough, time to head for home, up MONTE da BICA and the riding school,

Quinta da BICA (our Bica was having a great day out, we even picked up an Alsatian teenager woofter

who loved the AWW friendships! (sorry no photos)

Rain never faraway, we quickly head back to Intermarche. Suesan took the orders and Peter insisted in paying - birthday boy🎂!

Fiona immediately was on the case and an Intermarche cake suddenly appeared,

Miriam served up and we all sang happy birthday and the cake 🍰…, all gone! THANKS for all who braved the mud and the ☔️! 12.5kms 3 hours 25 min walking time