The first thing to tumble was the average age record, be it WAGS or APAPS. Our Starters line-up included Reuben 10 years old and Zach, 6 years old. And with some elderly and semi-elderly walkers absent (Rod and Janet still pleading family imperatives and Yves skulking at home after France´s defeat by Scotland), it was scarcely surprising that the record fell. The new average age record, according to our learned age-statistician, is now 56.2727.
That record is likely to stand for some time. None of us is getting any younger and even the young grow older.
There we were, back at Mira Rio by popular request and, thanks to a considerate Leader, on parade 15 minutes later than normal.
The Starters: Dina, PaulaDev, Jill, Tom H, Myriam, Reuben H, John H, Ingrid, Zach H, TerryA, Nic H.
Number of men: 6. Ditto Women: 5. Ditto Hopes: 5. Ditto Tilleys:3.
We started as always along the canal; there were figs ripe for the picking. The Leader told his younger grandson (trying to make things interesting for him, you see) that sometimes one can spot snakes in the canal.
And,then, as if by magic, there one was! That´s leadership for you. Pure genius of course.
This rather familiar walk took one of its many routes over the hill, then down through the tricky and prickly stuff just to annoy the wearers of shorts – nobody yet has turned up in the eco-robot shorts designed to enhance your uphill performance by 17 per cent, they say.
The younger ones coped very well with the rougher terrain.
We paused for a few minutes at the Clube Nautico where Ingrid posed for a fashion shoot with a banana.
The result.
The bar was, as always, closed, although there is now a sign on the wall setting out opening times. Only time will tell.JohnH went to the loo and a burglar alarm went off. Cause and effect? Who can tell? What is there that needs to be protected?
We then climbed a hill, quite unnecessarily in Paul´s view, because all that track achieved was that it led us back down to the canal level again.
And it is at the canal level that things are interesting.
There are spiders that build web bridges across the water.
And there are floating islands that remind you of one of your favourite singers. Click on the link at the end of this blog. I will leave it to you to decide if the favourite is Kenny Rogers or Dolly Parton. Your vote, on a postcard please, to the usual address.
Breakfast was ordered for 10 am so, after the obligatory posing at the View Point, the really hungry raced away home, leaving one or two some way behind.
Even so, young Zach put in a sprint a the end and got there in good time.
The breakfast was served with the promptness we have come to expect from Mira Rio.
A comment on that breakfast? Well, I will leave that to The Algarve Good Life Magazine´s Fine Food Correspondent.
“A staggeringly good meal…… a real knock-out!”
Note how he carries on dictating his copy over the phone even as he takes a dive. Such dedication!
And that, of course, was the other thing that tumbled.
Click here for " Islands in the Stream"
Oh, and I nearly forgot: The Maps and The Statistics
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- Total Distance: 7.78 kms (= 4.85 miles)
- Total time: 2 hrs 40 mins
- Moving time: 1 hr 51 mins
- Average moving speed: 4.2 kph (= 2.62 mph)
- Total ascent: 278 metres
- Unbroken eggs: 22.
3 comments:
Mon ami John forgets to mention that the previous game saw France victorious over the wee laddies... age can be cruel!
Is it rude to ask what happened on the terrace of the bar? Was that a yoga demonstration?
Walking soon, hopefully...
It was a very pleasantly interesting walk with some young blood to divert our usual topics of conversation to a wider field. Have a good trip to Edinburgh, John.
I have to go with Dolly over Kenny for obvious reasons. However there is another classic version of the song, which I enjoyed!
https://youtu.be/RAE1YyDm66A
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