AWW 2015-24

AWW Walk April 29th 2026 -

Paderne: To Be Wet or Not To Be Wet: That is the Question

The Tale of the Paderne Pilgrims

A Comedy in Three Acts

Dramatis Personae:

The Noble Leader: Martin
The Hardy Seekers: Jim, Maura, Marian, Gillian, Steve, Karen, John, Linda, and Tom
The Four-Legged Esquires: Rafa and Toby, hounds of great renown

Act I: The Ascent from Purgatorio

Hark! On this Wednesday, the twenty-ninth of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand and six and twenty, a robust company of Algarve Walkers gathered in the fair lands of Paderne. The sun did shine with a gentle mercy, for it was late Spring, and the air was sweet with the scent of the countryside.

Jim, Maura, Marian, Gill, Steve, Karen, John, Linda and Tim with Rafa and Toby in front.

After a brief draught of the black bean—which men call coffee—the company set their faces toward the west, bound for the hamlet known as Purgatorio. They didst cross a river of some familiarity and paused upon a bridge to capture their likenesses for posterity. Their first quest: to conquer the Cerro do Sao Vicente. But soft! A great iron path (the A2 highway) lay in their wake, requiring them to descend into a dark and gloomy tunnel, like heroes of old entering the underworld.

Act II: The Fertile Valley and the Hound’s Tribute

Having ascended the mountain and breathed deep of the heavens, they wound their way down once more, passing through yet another cavernous tunnel beneath the highway. They entered a valley of great fertility, where the earth was rich and the river flowed.

Alas! The hound Rafa, perhaps overcome by the beauty of the tilth, decided to "decorate" the path with many a stop of... natural business. Upon an ancient bridge, the weary travelers didst break bread, perching upon a low wall as the sun’s heat began to stir.

Act III: The Trial of the Stream

Then came the great tribulation: The Crossing of the Waters. Three factions did emerge from the company, each with a different philosophy of the foot:

The Drowned Devout: These souls didst walk straight through the current, welcoming the wetness as a penance for their sins.
The Barefoot Warriors: A braver lot, who didst strip their heels and hold their hosen high, treading the stones with naked soles.
The Sorcerers of Rubber: A select few, wise in the ways of gear, who donned special waterproof boots and crossed with dry feet, mocking the river’s power.

The Grand Finale

Once the company was "rebooted," they climbed the hills to the north-east, beholding views so spectacular they might have moved a stone to tears. Descending at last back into Paderne, they found sanctuary at the Moiras Encantadas—the Enchanted Mooring. There, upon a shaded terrace, they toasted their victory with cold nectars.

Our deepest thanks to Steve and Gil for the magical captures of light, and to all for the merry chatter that made the miles seem but a league.