Before the walk started, Maria and Peter showed off their Christmas presents
Her pair of sticks were entirely appropriate, but one´s not sure what sort of weather conditions he was expecting
The Leader: Ian Wilson
The Walkers: Dina, TerryM, Ingrid, David, Chris and Antje, Alex, Tina, Paul, Maria, Myriam, Rod, Val, TerryA, Peter, JohnH, and a camera-shy Hilke.
The Dogs: Tiggie, Rusty, Misty and Brontes.
17 of the Starters
The Track
Statistics:
Total distance: 16.05 km.
Total Time: 4 hrs 35 min.
Moving Time: 3 hrs 39 min.
Moving Avg.: 4.4 km/hr
Overall Avg.: 3.5 km/hr
Total Ascent: 602 m.
Max Elevation: 321 m.
The Leader´s Report
“On the day before Chinese New Year we met at the Foz in blazing
sunshine and a stiff north wind. 18 hardy souls and 4 dogs set up for
the obligatory photo, which the CB got right in a oner. We did nearly
lose Myriam down the hole in the grinding stone just before the photo,
but managed to rescue her in time. We climbed up the hill past
Longevity, everybody wondering how long it will last. Hardly a person
to be seen.
“The pace quickened as we hit the wind coming over Picota
and there was no stop to take a layer off. The 2 km of tarmac road was
devoured in double quick time and with the passage of only one car
just as we started. Only Paul remarked on the fact that we passed the
highest point in the walk without stopping.
Along the Fornalha road
“We meandered down the hill from the Fornalha road admiring the mimosa in full bloom stopping only
to admire the view at the top of an undulation.
Hilke admires the mimosa
David tries to admire the view despite Paul´s gesticulations
Further down the hill there was a pit stop and long discussion on whether it was a one or
two banana walk.
Ingrid bemoans her lack of bananas to Tina, while TerryM and Peter – and Brontes -
tuck unsympathetically into theirs
“At one point everybody thought we were heading back
up to Monchique but it was merely a pause for thought by the leader
before we turned south again. Next we came to the two rivers which
were actually one, the Barranco, and had shrunk since doing the recce
and were crossed without having to resort to bags or wet feet.
“We reached the Monchique road and managed to avoid losing anybody as the
cars sped by at over 100kph and then reached the killer hills after
crossing the Ribeira de Boina at the Val de Boi ponte. Everybody knew
the climb was good for them, but strangely all conversation stopped,
(except Myriam, of course) as we huffed and puffed our way up these
hills.
From a distance the Killer Hills look benign
but on closer acquaintance they bare their teeth
“At the top of the ridge we had lunch with a panoramic view of
Foya and Picota on one side and the coast on the other. As usual Maria
was kindly sharing her lunch with all the walkers.
Rumour has it that she also shared some jokes
“Further on we were by now warm and over-garments had been stowed as we watched Paul
picking mint for his daily cuppa. Just after two o'clock we reached
the Foz and were rewarded with our favourite beverage, which seems at
this time of year to be hot chocolate.
Sheltering from the wind on the Foz balcony “A final thought: The walk was on Candlemas day and it is written that
if the sun shines on that day then there will be 6 more weeks of
winter. A bit like Groundhog Day. Is it true?”
A walk very much as advertised by the Leader, just what the doctor ordered. Apparently, there was a certain amount of adult ribaldry in the course of the meander. Unfortunately, your scribe had forgotten to switch on his tape recorder, so cannot pass on any gems. I am sure, however, that the Gang of Three will remember the best ones.
A One Banana Walk? Very nearly a Two.
Maybe Audrey Hepburn can cheer Ingrid up. One famous Belgian to another, after all.
TerryA had heard the Library joke before.
It seems to become a custom to find a song for our walks. I must say I appreciate it very much, although I dannot really imagine how you find these gems.
ReplyDeleteHilke
CB Apologies - stats now added.
ReplyDeleteA lovely walk and a splendid panoramic and musical blog - He is really getting the hang of it now - can't wait for the interactive technicolour edition for iPad!
Ian W is onto something with his query about Candlemas Day. and Groundhog Day, this being a USA thing. In Germany,they watch badgers, instead of groundhogs. Nut Ian is probably recalling his Scottish heritage and the traditional Scots rhyme:
ReplyDelete"If Candlemas Day be dry and fair,
The half o´winter´s to come and mair;
If Candlemas Day be wet and foul
The half o´winter´s gane at Yule."
Not nice - hiding behind 'Anonymous' and then accusing Ian of both being a 'Nut' and Scottish! After the 6 Nations match this afternoon he may well prefer to be a 'Nut' tho'. Let's hope not.
ReplyDeleteMore Candlemas folklore in English this time which supports the Scottish theory:
ReplyDelete"When the cat lies in the sun in February,
She will creep behind the stove in March.
"Of all the months of the year
Curse a fair February"
"If it thunders in February, it will frost in April"
"If February give much snow,
A fine summer it doth foreshow"
Looks like we will be in for it then!