AWW 01.12.2010:Chuva da Pedra, or The Walk of the Flail of the Lashing Hail!

Rod billed this walk as something of gentle aspirations. Well, as the Philosopher put it, “Happiness is the absence of pain and anxiety, and once you are no longer burdened by aspiration, you´ve no idea how enjoyable day-to-day life can be.” We certainly agreed with that sentiment once the walk was over. Let´s go straight into the Leader´s Report, poetry and all:
The Leader´s Report

“I wield the flail of the lashing hail,
And whiten the green plains under,
And then again I dissolve it in rain ,
And laugh as I pass in thunder.”

Shelley: ‘The Cloud’...(of course!)

Present:  Chris and Antje, Myriam and Peter, Dina, John and Hazel, Janet, Celianne.
Dogs:       Misty, Tiggy, Harry.
Leader:    Rod
 


“Blistered heals, stiff legs, bronchitis, exhaustion......such was the string of post RTC excuses for absence, but nevertheless a hard core of survivors set off from José’s Cafe Retiro dos Pescadores into the Serra de Silves on a gloomy morning.  Puddles everywhere as we squelched up a valley floor until we reached high ground. This gave us slightly drier ground and great views of the vast tracts of land cleared for replanting....sadly it seems this is all eucalyptus. We could also see the new route for the power line where pylons had been relocated by helicopters.....if you shout loud enough it seems EDP do listen sometimes.   Then, in brilliant sunshine, down  to the Aguas Belas valley where, much to everyone`s surprise, the numerous stream crossings were still readily fordable.  Leaving there on a new track just past the defunct medronho distillery we wound up to a ridge, now looking more like an open cast copper mine as a result of massive land clearance. By now the sun had given way to ominous black clouds and rumbling thunder and just as we reached the top, in quite the most exposed position, the heavens opened and hailstones driven horizontally battered us almost into submission and forced everyone into virtually non existent shelter.  Such is the stuff that WW’s are made of however, this was made light of and we were soon on our way again. That was really the last of the challenges and we gradually made our way back to José’s café...a bit damp but still smiling.  There to welcome us, basking in a sunny corner, wrapped round the inevitable Bohemia and proudly showing off his RTC blister, was none other than the Chief Blogger Rtd.    For the rest of us Sagres mostly gave way to meias de leite.. some even with a dash of Maçieira... and equilibrium was fast restored.”
 

The Track    (click to enlarge.)




The Statistics
14.29 km
The day in pictures

Early morning arco-iris proved deceptive



“Jumpin´at the Woodside” (Count Basie)

Antje tried to plant a tree but was dissuaded




Janet explains how she expects us to behave while she is away over the next few weeks




“I wish I could shimmy like my sister Kate.” (Armand J. Piron)
Between looking at the camera and trying to control Harry, Celianne executed a perfect shimmy on a wobbly rock but with a little help from Myriam managed to retain her balance, thus depriving the hovering paparazzo of a splashing picture.



Disappointed, outside the defunct medronho distillery



The sculptured hillsides


Hazel is delighted to come across some dióspiros











Antje has a restorative


“What bloody man is that?” (Macbeth, 1.ii.)
“Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.” (King Henry V, 1V.iii.)



“These Boots are Made for Walkin´ –[not]” (Lee Hazlewood – Nancy Sinatra)

STOP PRESS  LATE FINAL

 

Myriam´s pics

 

Straight down the middle

 

I am NOT going down there to get my feet wet!

 

… well, if I have no choice………..

 

It looks like hail

 

It was hail.