WAGS 06.05.2020: Quarantine Diaries Week 8

        

            Well here we are 2 months of lockdown under our belts (mostly expanding belts) and most of us have been scrupulously following the rules.

Sadly this Wednesday I had occasion to visit Dr Pinto over some knee trouble which has increased over the past few weeks, despite not overdoing the walking.

The verdict was I needed to cut down on my walking, unless I wanted to join those of our number who require operations. So it will unfortunately be shopping, walks round the terrace, and revving up the Tunturi F300 Stationary cycle for a while at least. The good news is that I have been proposed and accepted as a Breakfast member of APAPS, an exclusive group of Gourmet Strollers.

     Nevertheless, this blog is necessarily, intended as an account of WAGS activities on Wednesdays while on lockdown, so I will press on with a brief account of our activities on the 6th of May.  It is not compulsory to retell a walk, but as old habits die hard, most of the Quarantine Diaries to date have been of this format.

      The pool at Casa Linda is still undergoing remedial work, so we headed out at about 0900 to see what had been achieved since yesterday.  Not a lot but both young Brazilian tilers had been there since 0630 am as they preferred to work before it got too hot.

   

   

Pool Maintenance Supervisor (PMS) at Casa Linda

    As I said, an appointment with Dr Pinto was the next event of the day but as it wasn't until 1030 am we took a neighbourhood walk round the Vila do Infante. We covered about 1.2 km in 25 minutes. My, how it has grown! What used to be bare cistus and fennel fields, grazed by the local shepherd and his flock, are now about 35 large villas in rather small plots with mature gardens, and impossible to access basement garages, having been remoulded as spare rooms.

Getting in to reception at the HPA is not as easy as formerly.  First you are grilled and then your temperature is taken by a device that could just as easily be a stun gun. If your grilling didn't make you too hot, if you answered correctly (and politely), you are given a squirt of hand sanitizer and once you have covered your hands with it, you are permitted access. 
   Inside, everything is distanced.

     I will gloss over the Pinto appointment on the grounds of confidentiality. Suffice to say that for my €12.50 we had a lot of ancillary device and discussion on how to improve our lives by entering the 21C Motoring World and upgrading to an electric car!
I remain steadfast in my opinion that for local trips a small capacity petrol engine, and for long trips a powerful economic diesel give the best options. A Nissan Leaf for €35, 000 . Why?

Bank Robber?

This lady had a very fashionable mask that perfectly matched her skirt. Unfortunately she turned away as Myriam took the photo. I did check to see where she had cut the piece from, but couldn't see it!

From HPA we called Terry to RV at Algarve Direct Transport, to hand over a copy of my new photobook which I advertised a few weeks ago.

 I had to pick up a parcel from my daughter which had been transported by their very efficient weekly service from UK.

When we arrived we met Charles, who had also gone to collect a package, and since his dad was next on the list for delivery of the book, I thought I would save myself the drive to Monte Alisios, but Myriam vetoed it as she had arranged to pick up some Kumquats from Susan.

Terry arrived in his #3 Mercedes, and a socially distanced handover was accomplished.

In theory, the next stop was Rod's and I was not sure of the quickest way there from Porches. I asked Charles to program the short-cut route into my GPS, and he seemed confident as he did. He then went off for a 10km run, muttering something about the WAGS being too slow for him.

Unfortunately, Garmin took us up past Maurice's old Casa da Lua, and then down towards the turning to the Esperanca Residence. As I had a copy to drop there too, we diverted.

Well mascara'd, we heard voices round the back, and came on a clandestine gathering. 

We didn't even have to "Knock three times and Whisper 'LO'" - which prompts a musical interlude:-

Hope's Hideaway!

It is lucky that Torre e Cercas does not yet have a 'Snitch on your Neighbour' Policy - yet, - as there was a raucous party in full swing, and there were participants who were not only not in the same family, but not even in the same Camara, getting stuck in to the beer and peanuts!!.........

..... although by the time I got my camera out they had resumed a degree of social distancing!

John belatedly applying protective goggles and mascara!


Anyway we took the opportunity to catch up - Yves apparently received a tip off by phone and made a run for it - and after a short while we left clutching a bag of Hazel's broad beans for dinner, and a small bag of peanuts for immediate  sustenance!  I am sure you will read the official version later!

       Onward to Rod's place, where we were greeted by Susan, working alone in the garden. Rod and Antony were still apparently out walking but as it was getting towards 2 pm, I did have the uncharitable thought that perhaps they were enjoying a little liberty away from domestic chores.  Again, their official version will come later.

Handover accomplished.

Soon we were om our way to our next goal - the Overseas Supermarket in Portimao, to gather supplies of pork pies, bangers, bacon, mature cheddar and decent biscuits.

    As we were leaving, we recognised an old WAG struggling with his mask, which he had apparently just purchased for the purpose of entering stores - It was none other than Tony Webster, who claimed to be well and in good spirits, but couldn't be doing with all this mask and distancing nonsense! We were so amazed to meet him there that we clean forgot to record the occasion.

   Cold box loaded, we headed back to Lagos for a late lunch of sausage sandwiches, smothered in HP Sauce. Well me anyway!

Of course this outing wasn't enough for Myriam, so she decided to go for a walk herself, later on. I loaded ViewRanger into her Phone to prevent any cheating and off she went, also to deliver some of Susan's kumquats to Jyll and Antje. The ViewRanger dropped out a few times, but she made her own photo record of the walk.

Sasha is ready to go!

Antje has the kumquats

      Next to deliver to Jyll where she and Mike re-enacted the Balcony Scene from Romeo and Juliet, but artistically reversed roles.

 I don't have any stats for the total distances we drove/walked between us. However I have a list of acquaintances renewed at a distance, in one day which alone is fairly impressive.

Paul, Myriam, Charles, Terry, Jill, John, Hazel, Maria, Yves, Susan, Tony W., Antje , Jyll and Mike.  A good days WAGSing.

    Oh yes and the parcel I had to collect from Porches was from my daughter Tanya, and contained a gift ( she is good like that) of a new model Tilley Hat, among other things.

The model is the TWC09 Three Season Dakota hat, made of waxed 100% cotton and it will be immensely useful should we get any more rain this year. 

The colour was given as 'Olive' but to me it looks more like Camouflage Tartan, unspottable by drones from above in scrub terrain.

   And while we are on the subject of Tilleys, (Janet - stop reading here!) I thought it would be appropriate to review my collection, and provide the cognoscenti with some mental exercise.   

9 different models - one is a rarity and uniquely Myriam's, and I do have some duplicates and Returns. All you have to do is to identify, in sequence Top L to Bottom R, the model number and name of each of the hats shown, and first correct answer will receive a Tosta Mista and coffee of his/her choice, when we resume normal service!

     Since Alex Tilley sold the business in 2015 to a subsidiary of UK based private equity firm Hilco Capital they have tried to move away from the traditional market to a younger market by selling quality beanies, toques and baseball caps, as well as their respected hiking gear. This has involved brighter colours.

Tilley by Prisma!!

The Founder, Alex Tilley at 77

When asked what he wanted to be remembered for he replied:

'On my tombstone, I'd like to have: A good man who built a better hat.'

WAGS WALK 6th May 2019 - Frew & Filho

There is little to add from here about the best methods of plucking chickens or skinning guinea fowl for the stockpot…well,  having lost half a salmon I could suggest another way of skinning a cat …. but then maybe not.

I could also wax lyrical at this time of year when spring flowers are in abundance, about the recent 250^th. Anniversary  of the birth of William Wordsworth, particularly when some will remember some lovely walks near Aracena staying in the delightful little hotel owned by his great, great, great grandson, Charles…sadly no longer with us.  Well just momentarily perhaps!

We doubtless all remember some of the lines of  I wandered lonely as a cloud  and the immortal host of golden daffodils…but  maybe rather less, some later lines from the same poem...

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude,

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

Sadly I am not permitted oft on my couch to lie but when I do I think how fortunate we are  not to be so totally locked down, as indeed most  in Europe are, and that with only barely bending the rules  we are still able to be out and about appreciating the wonders of the spring countryside.

 

Not a daffodil but rather a nice Pyramidal Orchid

...And so to our walk.

Frew pai e filho set forth not actually knowing where we were going  until we stopped in the ample forecourt of Restaurante Mira Rio. We opted to avoid the well trodden paths of the Ilha de Rosario and set off over the bridge to the first track heading north.

This turned out to be the prelude to a walk comprised entirely of private parts…so to speak. This track had a sturdy chain and padlock and signed as a private hunting reserve. We entered. In fact it was a long and attractive valley carpeted with wild flowers. 

    Indeed it was a most fine Spring day...but still no daffodils

We were soon reminded where we were however by an ominous looking hunters hide near the track…obviously still used. 

The track continued upwards, and ever steeper until suddenly we were confronted by the Falacho Trig Point which Google Maps advised was at 112m. 

There were splendid views all round of course but particularly to the south down the Arade estuary.  North from here the scenery gave way to a really disheveled example of  bad forestry management…careless hillside bulldozing, half pulled out  burnt eucalyptus already with well established new growth. 

From there we were going to go west down a long valley, but then we saw a footpath leading east up to a cleft in the rocky north/south ridge. This turned out to be a, maybe man made, defile where there had been a substantial rockfall. It had at one stage clearly blocked the path but hunters had found a way through, which we followed with a bit of scrambling. On the other side the path led down to the lush greenery of the Falacho valley. 

Further down the river widened into a small lake sizeable enough indeed for the odd boat. 

At the end was a narrow bridge leading from the Falacho road to 2 or 3 houses. Google Maps had indicated a path beside one of the houses running parallel to the river. It was chained and clearly signed privado.  Nobody appeared to object to our entry so along this we went. 

 It was an overgrown path leading through attractive olive and citrus hortas until it reached the 124 beside a semi ruined house, almost opposite the road leading to the old drug rehabilitation centre,  but it was yet again chained signed as privado. We took a short cut through a field and joined the well known  road along the north side of Ilha de Rosario, down to the canal path and back to the Mira Rio. 

A walk of no great physical demands but interesting and different….whether any one might object to others ignoring all the chains and private signs who knows!

                              ...and yet still no daffodils

Maps & Stats

And now a short contribution from Terry and Jill in Salir where apparently the lockdown has been enforced rigorously.

Terry writes:

Good to see you & Myriam on Wednesday to pick up your masterpiece of The Early Years of Digital Photography, Well done you must have slaved over a hot computer for a long time,  the end result was worth it.

As the lockdown was ended on Sunday we were able to drive out of the confines of Loule Camera after six weeks of not being able too. To meet you.

Six weeks of only going for a walk once a day plus only essential trip for shopping and other aloud essentials. Kept busy decorating and clearing my land and garden before the end of May deadline, we had to laugh the GNR always come every day to exercise their horses 🐎 so no escaping them,  all ways found them very polite as long as Becky was with me. I’ve included a pic of the banners that were on every road out of Salir and other roads you tried!! 

I don’t think we will be walking with a group anytime soon still too risky, the cafes and bars don’t open till the 18th May anyway, probably wait till the end of the month June. 

Had to smile the Government has gone from a state of Emergency and Lockdown to a State of Calamity who thought that one up!!

Anyway enough of my ramblings.

Till we meet again 

Terry & Jill

JohnH writes:

We know that some people do read these blogs, thanks to recent email responses from Hedley, Peter and Sonia, inter alia. But few readers seem to take up the challenge of “commenting” or contributing. So readers will not be surprised that I will not return to the theme of guinea fowl this week, (even although I am still waiting to hear from Antje how she keeps her pheasants from drying in the oven.)

But I will return to another recent theme in these reports about the WAGs Irregulars, that of reptiles, if only as an excuse to publish one of Hazel´s photos which she took of a slow worm she found in one of her potting containers.

I am not sure which was the more startled, the worm or Hazel,l but since the worm did not on this occasion shed its tail (autotomy) as they are said to do when threatened, it was probably her.

Back to the WAGS Irregulars. Freed from the fear of the disapproval of the Thought Police, now that we know that groups of four are now permitted, we can disclose that we did do a walk on Wednesday 6^th May. Nothing like as adventurous as that completed by Frew père et fils the previous week. Just a stroll through the flat and seemingly nameless stretch of land between Torre e Cercas and Tinhosas.

Some of us enjoyed a second breakfast of nesporas which are in full abundance at the moment.

Not much of incident to report, other than that, at one stage, Yves was taken by surprise by a dog which came at him silently from the rear. He jumped, but all the wee puppy wanted was a tickle or two, which Hazel and Maria provided.

A lot of wild flower photography by some (although not in the class of the flowery portfolio in Frew père et fils´ blogs last week and again this week).

Hazel, who has become a bit of a snail specialist these days, was surprised to see masses of them devouring the Scotch thistles. No accounting for tastes.

Then mid-way through the walk, we perforce paused for a 15 minute diversion. A straw hat was seen in a horta under which was a woman attending to her peas. Maria hailed her, of course. Yves, in his rôle as photographic recorder of the Algarve way of life, then asked permission to take a portrait.. Permission duly granted, Maria and Yves then set of on a long hike inwards through the pea plantation so as to zero in on the subject. Conversation and photography followed for several minutes. The hike inwards was then repeated outwards, and then the walk could resume. The result? No peas, but this picture.

Making our way back to Casa Esperança, we crossed the track that leads from the N528 Tinhosas road down to the Poço Barreto N269road , a track along which WAGS and APAPS alike have often walked. But track no longer; it is now tarmac. We shall have to find more off-piste routes for our pre-breakfast APAPS expeditions from now on. Looking on the bright side, maybe Rod now has a passable shortcut to Café Sustelo.

This week´s Latin tag comes from Virgil:-

Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.

It cannot possibly have escaped your notice that Paul´s Photo-essay has now been published:-

It contains some very good photos, although I say it myself; highly recommended.

As you will have gathered from earlier in this blog, Paul wasn´t out walking that day but had said he would drop my copy of his book off at the house. As a challenge to his geocaching skills, I said I would leave the money near the front door, because of course the book was not a “gift” as such.

He never found the cash, because we were back much earlier than expected. Perhaps he didn´t even try to look. So those skills were not put to the test; maybe the cash still there.

You have read the “official” version of the raid. This is how the “offending” parties saw the invasion.

Back at the ranch, there we four were, relaxing quietly over our post-ambulatory beers, when we were unexpectedly interrupted.

In came two “visitors”, ostentatiously well-protected against malignant miasmas.

Was it a raid by the Thought Police? No, not so bad. In fact, it was a mobile Inspection Unit of the Lagos ´elf and Syfety Brigade coming by to check that we were social distancing properly and that we knew how to use our masks properly. We have all learnt a lot about that recently. Here, for example, is an archive picture from a training manual demonstrating how NOT to wear mascara. 

Detailed instructions were given by the LE&S team, e.g.how to put the thing on the right way up, how to bend the wire so as to grip the nose, etc., etc., etc.

(Incidently, what is your average British tourist – not that there are any, of course - to make of the notice outside Lidl Silves store stating that entry is prohibited unless one is wearing mascara?)

The Inspection Unit´s report is awaited. Not sure what authority if any that Lagos can exert over four residents of Silves Concelho.

To close. given the thistle pictures shown earlier, I had thought of winding down with a touch of erudition, for example, a sound track excerpt for Hugh MacDiarmid´s poem written in his so-called Lallans tongue entitled:-

“A Drunk Man Looks at a Thistle”

But then I wondered how many could stand reading or listening to this sort of stuff

The stars like thistle’s roses floo’er   

The sterile growth o’ Space ootour,   

That clad in bitter blasts spreids oot   

Frae me, the sustenance o’ its root.

Not many, I guess, and both MacDiarmid and Wordsworth in the same blog would be a bit too much to stomach. So, I will spare you the Lallans and instead, I will give you, if I can, the Reverend I.M. Jolly´s personal memoir of Super-Sex in Glasgow......no I cant, so this one of another of Rikki Fulton´s impersonations will have to do instead.

 Oh now I can, so this time on behalf of The Church of Jocks, Rikki Fulton again