AWW 15.06.2011: Rosario Revisited, or Levada Levity

 

In 1971 Don McLean sang “Drove my chevvy to the levée /But the levée was dry”; but, in contrast, our levada on Wednesday 15th was full and fast flowing –presumably with water released from the Arade barragem – much to the dogs´ delight..

Cybele                                                                                                                                             (IBI)

Whisky and water                                                                                                                     (YFP)

The 20 starters
Leader: JohnH
Leadees: Lindsey, Dina, Tina, Ingrid, Alex, Hazel, Hilke, Rod, Terry and Jill, Ian S, Ian W, Bob,
Yves, Peter, JohnO, and visitors EoghanO, Richard and Val.
Doggies: Alfie, Maddie, Cybele, Rusty, Misty, and visitor Whisky.
Apologies: Paul and Myriam, Antje and Chris.

The Track (click to enlarge)
Statistics:
Distance (advertised) “a gentle 9 kms”:  (actual) 8.78 kms.
Total Time: (advertised) “about 3 hrs”: (actual) 3 hrs 6 mins.
Moving Time: oh, about 2hrs 10 mins.
Report
A good turn-out of 20 for the last stroll of the season with Restaurante Mira-Rio open for us before 8.30 am. The 9 am start was slightly delayed because of the senior paparazzo´s inability to stabilise his camera but once under way we swung west about and then down behind the Restaurante complex to join the levada.


Tilleys, the old                           (YFP)          …and the new                    (YFP)     
Pleasant temperatures, fresh breezes and plenty of shade as we moved smartly along.


                                                                                                                         (IBI)
Group indiscipline at Rosario Point stymied the efforts of Trainee Paparazzo No.1 to take the photo customarily taken at this spot but he did his best.

TP No.1 claims the higher visual ground.                     (Pic by TP no.2  - IBI)

                                                   (YFP)                                                                                                                                                            (IBI)
By 10 am we had reached the Clube Nautico where a 15 minute coffee break enabled Peter and JohnH to talk about that rarely heard  musical instrument, the glass harmonica, and  the recent reports that there is a reclusive practitioner of it somewhere in a double basement garage in Lagos. These need to be investigated further.

Do we really have the time for a game of darts?                                                                             (YFP)

Gian Feroti on location at at Clube Nautico                                                                                (IBI)
Leaving the Clube, most of the group began a very gentle ascent of the central massif but here Ian S, who had made a long-awaited return to active AWW-ing, decided to go off on his own low road home with Maddie. It´s not clear whether he suffers from chronic altitude sickness (although an ascent from 29 metres above sea level to maximum 75 metres seems unlikely to trigger an acute attack) or whether as a member of the Flat Earth Society (Lagos chapter) he is simply just not allowed to do hills.
Panoramic views up top, from Silves to Portimao to Foia.

TP No.2                                                                                                                   (pic by TP No.1 – YFP)
Then we left visitors Richard, Val and Whisky to stay on the main track while we took a slightly skiddy and prickly route off-piste, down past a fallen tree to the side of the the Centro de Traimento, and then back round by road to meet up again with R, V and W at Opt-Out point no.1. Nobody took up the chance of this opt-out, but dogs were watered and Hilke took notes for the end-of-term report.


Will it be a pass or fail?

Opt-Out point 1
It was only 11 am at this stage with us already heading for home, and the Leader realised that something in the way of a retardative diversion would be required if the walk was to run its full advertised course. So we headed back up the hill that Richard and Val had just come down – they were very polite about this – and then we drifted along a modest path to reach a bit of tarmac where Opt-Out 2 was offered, rather in the old-fashioned, tentative way of cricket umpires offering the batsmen “the light” when dark clouds gather overhead, with hints from the Leader that a wee bit of a scramble was to come. However, this offer was stoutly brushed aside by Rod, and so we all plunged into a trackless maze of orange plots and formidable terracing. Scrambling, nay jungle-bashing, indeed there was, as we persevered with the traverse and refused to have recourse to the tarred road just a few yards away at the top of the ridge.

Don´t look down                                                                                                                                   (YFP)

Jill of the Jungle leads the way
But the general sense of direction was maintained, half-an-hour passed by, retardation achieved, and not much blood was lost.

That´s not Guinness                                                (IBI)
By the time we had climbed upwards and neared the pylon before beginning the descent back to the levada, the Leader feared that he had lost one more follower in the bush because the headcount was now down to 18, in other words dangerously near the maximum permissible 10 per cent loss rate; but this time the Odd one out was Rod who had obviously said to himself “Sod this for a lark” and had taken a short cut down the terracing and was there waiting. Experience tells.
Cool drinks shortly afterwards at the Mira-Rio, Dina showing maps of walks to be done in northern Portugal,  Ian W resisting suggestions that he needs a replacement Tilley, and farewells for the summer.



                                                                                                                                                          (IBI)
And now, two contributions from Lindsey.
Number One:
Dear John, When you write next week's blog could you include this recipe as quite a few AWW´s have Kumquats!! I haven't made it yet but looks good!
“Fiery Kumquat Chutney     Prep. time 20 mins Cooking time 30 mins Serves 1 x 500g jar

Ingredients
1tbsp sunflower oil  1 red onion finely chopped
1/2 tsp dried red chilli flakes (or you could use the real chillies)
1/2 tsp black mustard seed  1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp turmeric  4 cm cinnamon stick, snapped in half
500g kumquats, sliced in half lengthways
65g light brown sugar  120g sherry vinegar
Method
1. Place a heavy-based saucepan on a moderate heat, and add the sunflower oil, followed by the red onion. Fry for 2-3 minutes until the onion has softened. 2. Add the chillies, mustard seeds, cumin, turmeric and cinnamon to the pan. Continue frying for a further 2 minutes. 3. Tip in the Kumquats and cook for 3-4 minutes until just beginning to soften.
4. Add the brown sugar and pour over the vinegar, while still on the heat. Cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes, until the kumquats have completely softened and lost their shape. 5. Remove the lid and continue boiling for a further 6-8 minutes until the juices have cooked down and thickened. 6. Remove the pan from the heat and leave to cool.
Serve this chutney at room temperature with cold cuts and Asian flatbreads.”
You won´t know what you´ll have to write about next!! Best wishes, Lindsey.
 And Number Two: 
Dear John, Yet another request please!!
Several ladies on your walk yesterday, Hazel included, asked what the pink flowering plant was called that is out in flower now and lasts for ages. I bought a new book in Fnac this morning - Flores da Arrábida, guia do campo - and the name is Centaurium erythracea grandiflorum or in Portuguese ´fel-da-terra´. It can be used medicinally as ´´aperitiva, tonificante e vulnerária´´. !
Please could you include this information with your blog. Thank you for a lovely walk yesterday. Best wishes, Lindsey.
Well, that´s it for another season. The future of the blog seems reasonably assured. It might feature food as well as flowers next year. I think that you will agree that the two trainee paparazzi have earned their spurs or whatever it is that qualifies them for the job, very well, so they can be confirmed in their posts. Photo-credits this week to Yves Ferrer Pictorials SA (YFP) and to Ingrid Bonte Images SA (IBI). It also looks as if we may have another Assistant Chief Blogger to share the load, and, if some editions are written in Franglais, so be it. We are, after all, Les Baladeurs du Mercredi en Algarve. But before we sign off, I hear that searches through public records have come up with a newspaper picture of that mysterious Glass Harmonica Player of Lagos.
 
 
I´m sure we will hear more of him.
Fim.

AWW 8.06.2011: From Bensafrim Around Scotch Corner

When the cats are away, the mice will play. And so it was that, in the absence of Paul and Myriam, it fell to JohnH to display the latest sartorial gear and to Ingrid to take over as Paparazza-in-Charge. John´s Italian designer wear, a bright orange Gian Feroti trekking vest no less, would (according to Ian W) have made Paul scarlet with jealousy; while Ingrid´s artistic talents with the camera can rival Myriam´s as will become apparent (credits given to Ingrid Bonte Images SA or IBI). Our usual paparazzo had forgotten to fully recharge his batteries so we are much indebted to her for stepping in to get him out of trouble, and with such success. 

Standing Starters and Standing Stone

The Track  (click to enlarge)

Some Statistics

Distance: 15.21 km

Total Time: 4 hr 21 m

 

8.31 am precisely (IBI)

 Leader: Rod

Present: Ingrid, Tina, Ian W, Alex, Hilke, John & Hazel, Chris, John O' , Frank.

Dogs: Misty, Tiggy, Shelly.

The Leader´s Report

“A hot weather early...well 8.30 anyway....start; early rising seems popular indeed as everyone turned up by 8.20!

“The day was relatively cool when we set off and indeed it remained thus most of the time, so walking was not so arduous as had been expected.

“We set off from Bensafrim market and headed straight up to the windmill ridge. From there we wound our way back down to the river..still with plenty of water for dogs but not enough to worry those who fret about wet feet.

One wet foot  (IBI)

“At that point we were about to take cover from a car which looked as though it was going to plunge through the waters and inundate us with its bow wave but it halted and an Irish (of course!) brogue from within enquired of the whereabouts of the QPA Riding Centre (Jinny Harman's establishment). Lucky for him we were around because he had overshot by a couple of kilometres and was heading towards the unknown quarter.

Irish Tourist: “What´s your best way to Lisbon?”

Local Gendarme: “Well, I wouldn't be starting from here.”  (IBI)

“We followed the riverside track for only a short while before heading up towards the far side ridge. There we (well some of us ...since others were so busy yacking that they failed to notice) came across what looked suspiciously like a Taliban IED (Improvised Explosive Device for those not up to date with modern warfare terminology). In fact it turned out to be the latest design of partridge feeder.

IEDs (by IBI, of course)

“On we went along the ridge above the sprawling Corte do Bispo (that of footballing fame Sven Ericsson who was apparently at one stage going to locate a football academy there..but didn't). Then further along a little used narrow path still on the ridge before descending along an even less used and narrower path through scrub back down to the river and further refreshment for the dogs in the pool.

(IBI)

Hi and Dry (IBI)

We then ascended past the well known to WW's of old, Quinta de Escoçia...now perhaps in new hands since there seemed much activity and even people around.

 

The Scottish Trio  (IBI)

“At the top we paused at the quinta whose fortress fencing in the past had caused even us some problems penetrating, and then veered off along an undulating ridge path which we had not used before. This was a last minute route change since it was still cool and it seemed from chat levels that further exertion was necessary!

Fortress Fencing  (IBI)

“Along the way we stopped for lunch...well really 'elevenses' in view of the hour....so fairly brief. Then a sharp descent back down to river level once again.

(IBI)

“Elevenses”

Homeward bound along the Yellow Brick Road

“That left us only one more hill to climb before the easy track back to Bensafrim and arrival (bang on time of course... well 8 minutes early actually!) back at the bar.”

There we were met by Ian S bringing library books, and by the Oldest Member whose advice not to walk much later than mid-June we quickly adopted.

Ingrid does a Myriam watched with evident delight by the Oldest Member

(IBI)

Artistique, nést-ce-pas? (IBI)

 

“For many of us the perfect walk may simply be the one that we come back from in one piece.”

(Geoff Nicholson)

AWW 1.06.2011: A Paddle in Paderne or “Ee, Mam, it were ´ot !”

Your blogger had scarcely returned home from this relatively short summer´s day walk and hadn´t even got down to dealing with the photos and the GPS track when the Leader´s Report landed plonk in his email intray. Time of despatch 15.18 hrs. Now there is dedication for you. Not only that, but probably a record.

The starters leaning against Dina´s car.
Those perspiring:- David (leader), Tina, Dina, Alex, Hazel, John, John O’, Chris, Frank, Ian W.
Those panting:- Rosie, Tiggy, Bella.

The Track  (click to enlarge)
Stats:
Distance:- 13.73 kms
Time:- approx 4 hours moving. (Leader´s guesstimate)
And now the Report:
“Percurso Perte de Paderne
Or ‘Ee Mam, it Were ‘Ot!’
“Given that rain had persisted until the very end of May (and is still not done, according to the forecasts), I suppose we were fortunate in having a cloudless sky for this little adventure. Indeed temperatures were supposed to reach the high twenties, so it was appropriate that a shorter walk was planned.
“The recce was carried out on the previous Saturday, and was accompanied by a most sinister development. The leader had completed his task, and was sitting in the café in Paderne minding his own business, when a troop of scouts marched in, and proceeded to sit at tables surrounding him. He thought no more of it until he noticed the shoulder badge stating ‘Ferragudo’ in startling red. Now, one is not sure whether we passed an amendment to the rules giving the Hon.Sec. the authority to check up on leaders as they go about their legitimate business, but if so, this leader considers it a most retrograde step, and one that should be rescinded asap. The fact that the lady in question did not deny any spookery simply lends weight to my paranoia. I suppose it could have been worse – they could have been in plain clothes.
“All bar one of those booked in arrived at the football ground car park in Paderne well ahead of time, even though the start had been set at 08.30 in deference to the season. Sadly, Ingrid was not able to be there as her husband had been taken ill, but happily at the time of writing he seems to be recovering well.
“The route chosen was mainly along a trail marked by Albufeira Câmara, with a short loop added by the leader. It describes a figure of eight to the west and north of Paderne, taking in the high point of the Cerro de São Vicente – now there’s another bit of research for you, Rod. The official start-point is the small chapel of Nossa Senhora ao Pé da Cruz, opposite the sports centre, and from there the group tramped the road through Purgatório (no lost souls apparent) before turning up the valley between the Cerro and the opposite height containing the small settlement of Aldeia dos Matos.

The escape tunnel from Purgatório
Near here, we paused after the climb for some moments while Alex adjusted her outerwear.


“From here, the added loop was taken in, first following a short stretch of the Tunes road and then leaving it on the right to describe an arc over the hill and down to Aldeia dos Matos itself. From the map, it should have been possible to descend from there straight to Matos de Cima, but the recce had failed to find this track, so the route had to be straight through the village and back down the main road to locate the narrow road and track leading down to the valley floor below Cerro de São Vicente. At the crossing here a quaint ‘Swiss chalet’ wooden house was noted on the right. (Not by your paparazzo – sorry.)

A local bemused by our passage
“The climb to the ridge was undertaken in increasing heat, but in very pleasant surroundings, and a light but very welcome breeze helped the traverse of the opposite side and the footpath walk to the high point of the Cerro, overlooking the Paderne valley.   

We sought the shade at every opportunity
“A steep descent to an extensive vineyard west of the A2 motorway followed, and the first loop of the ‘8’ was closed shortly afterwards.

Descent towards Paderne

“At this point, Frank called it a day, as Bella was suffering from the heat.

Frank says “It´s a day.” 
“The rest then walked on alongside the motorway and under it, turning left shortly to climb the unnamed and isolated ridge running north above Monchina. Descending from the most northerly point, the route then led close to the motorway before turning to head for the Silves road out of Paderne. This road was followed back towards Paderne for a short distance until the turn to Alcaria, and a very welcome dip in the Ribeira de Alte for the two remaining hounds.

Shady tree, again
Cries of ‘where is this river?’ were beginning to be heard as yet another stretch of tarmac had to be negotiated before the footpath leading down to the Rio Algibre was attained. Thence to the river was a matter of a few minutes, and the crossing could begin.

Some came fully prepared
In spite of clear warnings, two members of the party (I’ll be kind and not name them), had failed to come equipped, so one walked barefoot and the other in his walking shoes as the rest donned appropriate gear and flipped and flopped upstream to rejoin the interrupted path. The heavy rain of two days before had thankfully not raised the river level very much, and the cool water was very gratefully accepted by all.

Paddling perfect

Cool waters

“Footwear reapplied, the walk back to Paderne was completed with a very pleasant riverside stroll, and the Café-Restaurante Moiras Encantadas was then invaded. Beer, tostas and pizzas were the order of the day, together with the usual after-walk chat, and the group dispersed apparently well-pleased with the morning’s perambulation.

It pays to do a thorough recce of the facilities 
“A highlight of the day was the continuation of the spring flowers so late in the season – fields of poppies and swathes of other unknown species, together with bramble flowers and actual blackberry fruit forming on the bushes – something I had not seen before in the Algarve.
 Some flora 


“This was the leader’s last walk of the season, as he will depart for northern latitudes shortly, so,
Byeeee! See y’all, in the Fall!”
Best wishes for safe journeys to David and Dinah. And while we are in horticultural mode, here´s something from our English Gardening Correspondent:-
“Hi John
Grateful if you could circulate the attached picture to the Group
with the following message ;
"To all cistophiles
Forget your counting of the blobs on the cistus flowers. The
picture (from my garden in Marlow ) must be the ultimate in varietals.
Beat that if you can."
Best regards to all
Hedley”

Well, I thought that “varietals” referred to grapes and I didn´t know that cistuses grew in England. Comments, Lindsey, please.