AWW: Walk the hinterland and coastlands of CARRAPATEIRA - 02 October 2019

The participants: Sue,Martin,David,Jim, myself and Gill, together with new season virgins, Manuella,
Marianna, Sarah and Scott, and last but not least and a big welcome back to Eve. He tells me that
his absence has been due to some corrective treatment and I am pleased to report it seems to be
working - he didn't get himself detached from the group or lost! (I am intrigued by this corrective treatment....when last seen with the AWW, he was Yves...as in Yves St Laurent, but has now metamorphosed into Eve...as in Adam and Eve....I do hope the treatment wasn't too painful for our poor little Frog...btw, I see Les Frogs are due to play Les Rosbifs tomorrow week, zut alors, ......anyway, that's enough digression from the editor, back to Jim's narrative).

When we arrived in Carrapateira it was cool, cloudy with a brisk breeze and hurricane Lorenzo was
mentioned! Everyone was looking forward to our coffee at Cafe Bravo, sometime described as
"Smilers" because of the bonhomie and warm welcome from the gregarious husband and wife
team. However they were one step ahead of us, having introduced a brilliant new customer
service initiative - stay closed all day!

By the time we set off, the weather had cleared, a breezy, sunny day with hilltop and headland gusts
that could embarrass kilt wearers although none were seen on the day! The totals for the day,
exactly 20.0kms and exactly 5.0hrs, for which the leader acknowledges credit for the precision
of his pre walk estimates. The altitude gain did not reach expectations at 497m but I have just
ran upstairs so we can call it exactly 500m! One trig point was recorded at our lunch spot but due
to a lack of leverage, there were no ascent attempt volunteers. There were no eagle sightings, nor
any other notable birds,snakes, animals or insects.

As the leader had pointed out, there would really only be two hill climbs for the day, although this
became the subject of recurring debate -in my opinion it should not just be a question of elevation
numbers, it is more a question of interpretation!

On the hike we witnessed some remarkable achievements especially from the season virgins.
Manuella set off at a cracking pace and only slowed towards the lunchtime summit of Hill 2 after
12 kms on the 3 hour mark and together with Marianna they opted for a late stage short cut to
reduce their total distance to a worthy 17kms. Well done!

Everyone else completed the walk although Eve ( or even Yves...Ed), Jim and David, without leave of absence ducked out of the final K3 headland summit!
Amado beach was stunningly beautiful and skinny dipping would have been on the agenda but for
the life guard red flag!

A great day out, enjoyed by and thanks to all!

Is this Sarah's hat that blew away or is it lucky lucky man setting up hat sale business!

A well earned refreshment

David, Eve (bears a striking resemblence to Yves....) and Jim pleased to have ducked the headland climb!

Headland beauties!

Hill 2 trig point.

Hill 2 trig point, with to the right an MI5 agent trying to hide behind AWW sleepers!

 

A warm welcome from the husband and wife team at Cafe Bravo!

---

Wednesday 25th September 2019...Fonte Filipe.

Wednesday 25th September 2019...Fonte Filipe.

Apologies for the lateness,shortness and non technical report on the above walk.

I,as walk leader am not in the pic as the timer on my camera was not working,no tekkie

me!!

9 of us met in plenty time,some were even early and had time for a coffee and bun.

Ken,Miriam,David,Martin,Jim.L,Jim,Gill and Iain.

We headed out of the valley towards Quarença and arrived in time for coffee in the

square.

We arrived at the Fonte after 11kms and bang on 1200 in time for lunch.

Ken and Miriam decided to bail out after lunch as they had a busy schedule before

heading to America,however Bica was not going without a biccy from Jim!

The next part was an easy 7 plus klms on the other side.

There was time for some scrumping,Gill was on the hunt for figs and medronha!.

There were few hills on this walk despite Jim.l frequently asking "Is this the last hill?"

Total distance...18.42 which I think was enough as it was getting hot and we needed that cold drink.

Sue.M

---

AWW 18th September 2019 Portela do Barranco

It was a marvellous morning in the middle of September: the skies were blue and it was a little cooler than the last few weeks, and the walk leader has decided to feel marvellous for the whole of this walking season. He has ditched being miserable.

We met for the first walk of the season at Portela do Barranco to the north of Salir. Most arrived at the café with a feeling of trepidation as the route from Salir has some great hills: but they are for another day.

We had 10 at the start.

David, Kim, Jim H, Gill, Kirsten, Miriam, Sue M, Ken, Jim L and Bica: The marvellous Frank M took photo

The walk leader is not into any of these technically sophisticated cameras. You get what you get. He just tells lies with the captions.: despite the well known phrase that the "camera" never lies. Also he does not know how to work timers.

After telling everyone that the walk had been downgraded to a category "easy" instead of the moderate minus in the advanced notice, we immediately set off up the hill. It was the only "hill" of the day and the total length was to be a meagre 14.6km: the walk not the only hill.

Collecting the cork without which our wine would be corked.

At the top of the hill, we paused in the limited shade for breath and a drink. As it had been warm when we set off, the stop was shorter than normal. No-one had extra layers to divest.

All you need to get them in a good line for the photo is a single tree to provide shade

We meandered along the ridge for a few kilometres with views over to Malhao and the Buddhist stupa, but then it was down the hill to California.

You can see who is the "California girl"

And who wants to get off the Freeway into the country.

it was surprisingly green and colourful

There were lots of cork trees.

After leaving California we wandered through a series of valleys, until we came to a shady spot where we stopped for lunch

It must have been hot: David sat down.

Who is in the doghouse tonight - Bica?

Who is not in the doghouse?

Is Hazel  missing out?

A Fashion Statement: Will Blue be the colour this season starting November?

 After lunch it was a stroll along the paths back towards the start.

The giant tree of Alganduro

We came down the slope to Alganduro and stopped for a drink in the shade of this tree.

As we reached the road there was a "fall from Grace" and we had a number of the AWW filching fruit from the trees: the fig and olive trees were laden.

The Details

Distance: 14.6km
Elevation change: 279m
Calories (Gill): 715
Calories (Jim H): 3200
Time: 4hrs 5mins
Pace: 4.2km/hr (removing lunch stop)
Hills: only ONE that I walked up, but I heard regularly from some that they had hallucinated others
You can see below that from km 3 to km 10 that it is essentially a straight line on the elevation graph

 Frank M

Lynne remembered

LYNNE   REMEMBERED

Lynne unfortunately died  in the early hours of Monday 5 August 2019. She used to be a regular AWW walker as well as a regular Hasher ( Midnight Cruiser). I never knew her well, but  was always impressed by her immaculate turn out, infectious enthusiasm and laughter.

I attach some photos from my collection, so join with me in this trip down Memory Lane.

Please feel free to add your own photos or comments .....send them to me if you can't  post them directly yourself.

Geoff

Comment from John D alias Cycling John:

"Very sad, I remember many AWW walks with Lynne entertaining us with her bright outlook  on life."

and from Pam and Nick :

" .....such a bubbly character"

Trilho  Historico, November 2014

AWW  12 November 2014

AWW 26  November 2014

AWW  13 May 2015

AWW 3 Feb 2016

Sparrowfart Walk July 17th 2019

Sparrowfart Walk July 17th 2019

A small group of walkers, set off from Ken and Miriam’s house in Vale do Garrao bright and early.

David, Sue, Pat, Lorna, Frank, Ken and Miriam plus Bica

At 7.15 in the morning it was a beautiful temperature and there were few people about. 
After a short walk through the woods, we found ourselves on the Rio Formosa surrounded by
water and birds.

   

We left Lorna with her book to watch some of the birds at Sao Lorenza, while the rest of the group
walked around the salt flats.

The salt mountains had evaporated, so we just watched the flamingoes and the myriad of other birds,
which no one knew the names of (except David and he wasn’t 100%)

(Note to leader to take binoculars and a bird book another time!) Bica was obviously feeling the heat
by this time and was lagging behind.

     

As the tide was out, the cocklers were too.  The older generation in wellies and wading trousers,
the younger generation in bright shorts and flip flops!

 

Frank and Ken deep in conversation.

A pause for a photo shoot. No prizes for “spot the difference” competition!!

 

And so back to Vale do Garrao for a welcome breakfast.  Miriam decided not to charge for breakfast
but to ask for a donation for the Bombeiros as she was so grateful to them when she broke her ankle
in Tores Vedras on the away AWW. Sue will give the Bombeiros 75 euros.

Walk stats: 

Distance: 12.77 km (although I think it was nearer 13.7 because I was using my fitbit to measure)

Time: 3 hours 6mins

Elevation:  About 10M!!

Thanks to everyone for making it such a lovely morning.

Miriam