Year End at Casinhas (+Salir/Montinhas write again!)

                                      THIS BLOG CARRYS A HEALTH WARNING

In this last blog for the WAGS activities of year 2020, what will we bring you? 

Well, apart from Hazel´s Leader´s report on a walk that turned out to be considerably longer than she had thought it would be, there will be some thoughts about the inexactitude of computers, a brief demonstration of pictorial fraud, some nature photography courtesy of the Lagos Bubble, and some more publicity on behalf of the Edinburgh Tourist Board.

Here is Hazel´s report, interspersed with editorial commentary, in blue script, in order to provide some continuity for the pictures

Dina, Maria , Yves, John and I met at Casinhas promptly for a 10 am start. Rod was absent having joined the ranks of the non-walking wounded, temporarily we hope.

The morning was crisp and cold, about 9 degrees C and I was eager to start walking to keep warm. So, after the required starter photo routine, we set off towards the path running up to Quinta Figueirinha at quite a fast pace.

We paused at the water wheel for some moments while we debated the difference between a nora and a poço. What conclusions were reached, your blogger cannot recall.

It was truly an uphill, downhill, then uphill, downhill type of walk all the way. I had thought that a 7 km distance would be sufficient to give us all an appetite for lunch. To my surprise, by the end we had clocked 9.7 kms by John´s ViewRanger and as much as 11 kms by Dina´s monitor. So I decided to compromise and record the official distance as being 10.25 kms.

Google Earth records the distance as being 10.09 kms. How Mankind managed to get to the moon and back with less computer power than is now on one of our mobiles, Heaven alone knows.

There were indeed hills. 

There´s a hill over there. We will do that one

                                                    Which hill?

That one

Strewth. I see what you mean !

Near the top, they paused to strip and revealed their true colours.

During the walk, Yves admired some typical Algarvian rooftops but desisted from capturing them with his camera because of intrusive telegraph poles and wiring. That didn´t deter JohnH.

Before

Of course, M-H.C.B would never have stooped so low as to alter his pictures but this is what less than a couple of minutes on Photoshop can do.

At Café Dominga´s, we stopped to chat to the proprietress and to smell the roses,

During the walk and the lunch, Maria managed to meet up with 4 or 5 long-lost friends and neighbours – it seems she can´t get away unnoticed any where around here.

She also did a kind deed for one of them. What happened was that we were walking past one house when the owner came out, got into her car, and started reversing blindly straight into a very large earthenware pot which would have caused considerable damage to her vehicle if Maria hadn´t rushed forward to stop her. The good lady then found she was stuck in the brita and couldn´t move forward or back. Maria then took over her place in the driver´s seat and manoeuvred the car safely onto the road for her. Just a former neighbour from Silves.

The offending earthenware pot on the right

We finally returned to Casinhas at about 10 minutes to 1 pm. The place was packed but I managed to secure a table for the 5 of us. A simple but adequate menu: olives and bread starters: main course of grilled chicken breast, or grilled pork chops, salad and chips. None of us tried the other choices of fish soup with pasta or meat loaf. Wine, beers, dessert and coffees, of course: all in Euros 8 per head. Excellent value for our money!

With that surprisingly long walk, delicious lunch and friendly company, I think that was a good way to end the WAGS year, Good bye, 2020; thanks to all WAGS for all the adventurous walks, for all the fun and laughter and friendship, snacks and meals enjoyed and the blogs.

“ I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year

`Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.`

And he replied

`Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.`

So I went forth and, finding the hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of the day in the lone East.”

And so may we continue to walk together and may 2021 be a safer and better year for all.

Hazel.

The Track and Statistics

Meanwhile, what of the Lagos Bubble? This has temporarily splintered, with the Whittles being away in Scotland. In Lagos, Myriam, walking solo, indulged in some nature photography....HEALTH WARNING....be prepared to look away now.

Theq uestion is : Should she be allowed out on her own?

The Whittles photography is far more suitable for a family rated publication such as this.

A frozen Blackford Hill pond

Toboggans on the Braid Hills

In this video of Blackford Hill pond and it surroundings, you will also catch a distant view of Arthur´s Seat and the Salisbury Crags where the Whittles were walking last week. Edinburgh is almost as good a spot as Lagos for walking: could be even better if it had more tostas mistas outlets.

And to conclude, Hazel´s choice of music, My Love is like a Red Red Rose, the words saved from cloying sentimentality by the apocalyptic imagery in the third verse:

                Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,

                   And the rocks melt wi’ the sun;

                                     A Guid New Year tae yin an´ aw.>

    John is absolutely right that the Lagos Bubble has suffered lately, and indeed this week we sundered even more with Myriam`s solo effort in Lagos, and Chris and Antje in the bracing air of Scotland. Yes Myriam should absolutely be given carte blanche to roam the environs of Lagos by herself, if not just for my own mental health reasons! I pin a name and address to her cardy and she is always returned quite hastily for some reason!

             I owe a debt of gratitude to John and Hazel for compiling almost* the whole of this blog post, as indeed I had no walk to describe, and pretty little of interest to  bring to the attention of WAGS worthies. I am sure none of you are interested in the plethora of packages that arrived from China for me around Christmas, being mainly neat gadgets that at the time I was seduced into sending for, and most of whose contents I could not remember ordering!

         Sadly, I spent a good part of Wednesday at HPA, pretending I was an astronaut in their magnificent MRI machine. All part of a routine afterthought by the good Dr Pinto, who is well known to 90% of the WAGS, in case arthritis had invaded my lower back. He hadn`t been able to account for my symptoms by  finding  anything wrong with my hips or knees, (his speciality) so he could not wield his scalpel in my direction.  I think we are all troubled to a greater or lesser extent by this affliction, and it was when my copy of the `Quote - Unquote` Newsletter arrived in my email, that i saw what was a pretty slick piece of wordy old-style advertising that applied precisely to my symptoms!

 

     I haven`t had the results of the scan yet, but it is a straw at which to clutch!!  I know, - a depressing way to enter the New Year, but many are worse off than we are!

         Meanwhile, I am embarking on a project to compile an Audio Blog for next year, with a professional voice-over, for those with failing eyesight who still have the use of their ears. There are a few stumbling blocks to overcome, not least of which is the inability of blogger itself to handle MP3 files, but I am still hopeful. 

*In a late development, I overlooked a missive from the Leader of the Salir/Momtinhas Massif, which though unexpected was very welcome. This is what happens when Bubbles communicate internally and the other WAGS and leaders don`t know if or what they are doing.

   Anyway Terry, Jill Ingrid and Beccy set out on a walk on this very day and reported it even before John had written his post above. Unfortunately, and entirely my fault, I had messed Terry`s illustrated report which arrived at lunchtime-ish. Here it it is:-

Jill, Ingrid & Terry & Becky met in Messines to explore new area’s and new tracks, as the first pic shows a touch of frost was to be found,

 We made our way through very pretty countryside to get to Santa Ana Church.........

......... in need of a bit of care.

This is a tile story board of a battle in 1834. 

 As we walked on we came to this green valley and we followed it just to see where it went. when we gained the ridge we had a good view of the Arade........ 

........with water right up-to  the bridge, we followed the ridge back in the direction of Messines for a well earned cup of coffee, bugged my stats up but it was just on 8 km with a bit more work on the route I can do more.

Good weather wind a bit cold but no problems. Terry

Thanks Terry, looks one for the future WAGS group walk, . It is worth noting that the Salir/Montinhas Bubble has space for more walkers if anyone fancies a change. Just ask Terry beforehand.

As was said the last Blog of the Year, and at the time of writing we are well into January 2021. This will be the final post in this Blog and as I intimated in the Christmas edition - that is enough of 2020 and I will open a new Blog from next week. Watch that Space!!