There was a very healthy turnout of 10 AWWalkers. I’m not sure if that was because I said it was short or easy. Seems like most AWWs prefer short and easy to long and hard in the summer. Good job it’s not a hash.
The 10 happy adventurers
From the left: Ros,Tim, Digby, Julie, Steve, Karen, Jan, Kieran and Fiona. Tony behind the camera.
As we set off Ros pointed out that she had waited for a while in the bus shelter. Well we all know what happens in bus shelters !! I recalled when my lovely and more innocent friend Linda had asked if the ladies sitting on chairs on the N270 were waiting for a bus. Sadly I had to destroy her innocence by explaining what they were really waiting for!!
Thankfully Steve offered to help navigate and we set off down the PR11.
Jan pointed out the beautiful thistles and explained that in Scotland they’re called pricks. I bet there are lots of pricks in Scotland
A little bit of friendly support.
It was good to be on easy tracks to start off with but then came to steeper, rockier downhill. Tim asked me to get his stick out for him and I obliged.
Across the dry river bed.
Note the Irish bridge.
Up the road up to Almarjao Karen added some culture to the walk by pointing out the the tarmac design on the road looked like art. Very Jackson Pollock. We did have a chat about who might have added the strips.
Up and up a bit more to Chapada where the chief navigator and myself had a discussion on shorter or longer. We opted for longer and harder. Of course, we’re the AWW.
Is this the new zipwire?
Everyone knows I’m not good at going down but I was proud of myself for not crying on the steep decent. I did hold on to my stick or Tony as I usually call him. Keiran, getting into the spirit of a hash AWW walk, asked if I’d like to hold something. Down to a small stream then up.
Yes it was that steep!! Superstar Jan gave me a steadying push up a steep step after I lost a bit of balance and wonderful Fiona offered me a stick for the last leg of the climb.
Back down to the valley and shade. We also noticed that there was water running We had an idea for later on the walk. Still first of all a bit more up.
A sneaky little discussion with my co-navigator led to the first wet feet of the walk.
Through the river in the undergrowth. No piranha, crocodiles or anaconda but a short, sharp uphill to the road.
Dry footwear
Wet footwear
Along the fonte filipe road then off piste on a small track to the levada. Jan said she hadn’t been that way. What a shame. I was waiting for her to say she’d never come that way.
A pleasant lunch spot in the shade. Great to have seating and tables. Very Civilized
Jan demonstrates her new aerobic exercisor
Just when you thought you had dry feet! Second water crossing. Just enjoy it. I did!!
We’re the facarwe!! Off piste before a very piste off guy said we were on private land. And after Jan had asked him for directions in perfect Portuguese!!! He was not very helpful at all.
Back onto the right track.
A welcome and well deserved drink. Not good enough for some though.....
Jan complained about her small glass of wine and the lovely cafe owner obliged with a bigger one. Jan's always after a large one.
Thanks to Steve for the navigation, Steve and Tim for photographs and everyone for coming on another hot day.
The stats:
Distance: 9.9 kms
Climb: 244 m
Moving time: 2 h 22 mins
Total time. 3 h 34 mins
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