Expedition from the Ex-Bar, 27th April 2011

Expedition from the Ex-Bar.

Participants:- Tina, Dina, Lindsey, Nan (visitor), Frank, John O’, David.

Also - Rans:- Shellie, Rosie.

The Track (Car routes in yellow)

With a significant number of core members tippling the tinto ‘oop north’, the turn-out was liable to be small, and thus it transpired. The lack of numbers also led to a lack of other facilities that we have become accustomed to in recent times. No GPS, ergo, no statistics; only a mobile phone and a visitor’s camera for pics – the mobile only recorded a video, and the visitor’s camera has returned with the owner to the UK, so no illustrations for the moment. One or two may be available eventually.

Frank could possibly be grateful for the lack of cameras, or he might have been recorded asking a group of young Portuguese where the ‘Ex-Bar’ was located. Fortunately, he did this outside the active bar where David and Nan were already enjoying their pre-walk caffeine shot, so all was well. (I knew that name would cause problems for somebody, but it wouldn’t be a WW without a little trouble at the start, now would it?)

All the other walkers were gathered at the appointed spot in Amorosa, so after a quick car shuffle the group moved off in two vehicles to the start-point at Pedreiras. (I had decided to omit the ridge where poor Maddie was poisoned, so a new start-point was required). The weather was sunny and warm, and thus it stayed throughout the day.

Coming within sight of the Barragem do Funcho after a few minutes, it was clear that the rains of the winter have almost filled it – only about a metre of scrub-free land was visible above the water-line. Indeed, had not someone created a barrier of brushwood at one point, paddling would have been necessary – something not seen since the Algarve Way was marked six years ago. Moving on, it was noted that the isolated house on the right above the Barragem appears to have been abandoned, with one of the solar panels clearly damaged, although a very dusty-looking car still stood under a makeshift cover at the back.

Early in the walk, work was observed on a new major power-line that crosses the eastern end of the barragem. One of the cables was being winched into place. Further evidence of the project was seen later in the day near Vale Fuzeiros, but the line now steers well clear of the valley itself, no doubt as a result of the successful local campaign of two or three years ago.

The climb to the saddle below the Panasco trig point was achieved without difficulty, but there were no takers for the leader’s suggestion of a detour up the steep slope to the trig itself, the group ganging up on that unfortunate to remind him of his previous aversion to trig-bagging. So it was downhill to the Vale Bravo road, past small barragems full of frogs (and briefly two small dogs), and the beginning of the winding track alongside the Funcho. The spring flowers were here almost at their best, and for once this stretch of walking was no hardship at all.

Such was the spanking pace being set by Frank and Nan that the leader began to fear a premature end to the day (I do have a reputation to maintain, after all), so a slightly extended lunch-stop was called on the saddle following the climb out of the barragem valley. Here was perfect peace and quiet, with the call of the cuckoo for company.

After lunch the walk continued down into Vale Fuzeiros, where a bar was passed without a single wayward step, showing considerable self-discipline from the group, given the rising temperature at this point in the day. The valley was crossed, our path joining forces for a while with the marked trail around the menhirs. Then the route of Maurice’s old Gralheira walk was joined for the walk into Amorosa. About two kilometres from the end, the leader’ phone spoke, and the voice on the other end turned out to be Paul, just arrived after the journey from the UK, speaking from Tavira and clearly in the terminal stages of AWW deprivation. Sadly his idea of joining us for a drink was impractical, as the timescale was all wrong. We all hope he survives to make it to Ourique.

The walk terminated and the cars recovered, it was decided to go to the bar on the 124 where we have previously imbibed. John O’ was the first away, with clear instructions as to location. Unfortunately, one had forgotten to say that it was English left, rather than the Hibernian version, so by the time the rest reached the main road, he was already installed in a different bar. This place is so small and insignificant that no-one else had ever realised it exists. Interesting, though. It houses an owner who appears to have excellent English and a hi-tech dart-board, but no outside seating, being smack on the Amorosa junction.

In a further display of restraint, almost all drank only mini-beers – what is going on? – before a fairly rapid departure. No idea how far, how high, how fast or how long it took, but it was very pleasant nevertheless. Next, please!