APAPS 20.2: Caravela Caper

 

                                                          The glorious Algarve

There were only four Starters for the first APAPS Walk last week. It´s encouraging to report that this week our Starter numbers doubled to eight. Any such further increase and, who knows, we may have to apply a quota system.

The Starters.

From the right, Yves, Hazel, Maria, Dina, Jim, Myriam, Siobhan, and JohnH.

It was good to welcome Jim Brownlow to APAPS along his daughter Siobhan who deserves to be congratulated on defying the UK ´s travel ban to Portugal. In case the Brownlows or anybody else are unsure of what APAPS stands for, it is Amigos de Pequenos-Almoços Peripatéticos do Silves, the breakfasting element obviously being far more important than the walking.

It was also good to see Dina again, who bravely walked despite an injured shoulder. And pleasing to report that, on this occasion, Myriam managed to find her way to the start without outside assistance.

As for the other missing stalwarts, Ingrid and Janet will no doubt be watching us closely, and Terry A will have been enjoying watching the cricket but, since the World Champions, England, got hammered by minnows Ireland the other day and, at the time of writing, are being taught a lesson by Pakistan, I am not so sure that “enjoying” is quite the correct terminology. Anyway, maybe they will be able to join us soon.

The morning also saw the return of Yves, after his alleged dalliance the previous week. Actually, we are not quite sure what he was up to or where he went, because some believe that he has been indulging in his hobby of taking comic photographs, i.e. statues with masks. Here are some samples of his work..

                                We have avoided the full frontal so as not to offend

                                                    Is this one a self-portrait?

As for the walk itself, by and large it followed what are now becoming well-known tracks, although we threw in a little new bit as an extra towards the end.

Myriam sat on a tree trunk in lieu of a trig point.

The Track

The Statistics

Total distance: 8.30 kms. Total time: 2 hrs 11 minutes.

Moving Time: 1 hr 50 mins.

Moving average speed: an impressive 4.4 kph.

Total Ascent: only 97 metres.

Back at Café Martins, we were joined for the breakfast by the Whittles (fresh from their early morning swim on Meia Praia) and Paul, elegantly attired in his antique snake-skin sneakers.

This particular breakfast was going to be a bit of a gamble because the café had come under new management since we last ate there, and I wasn´t quite sure if they were going to know exactly what they were doing with the FEB, which was probably why four of our number had been cautious and opted for bifanas instead. 

But in the end, I think the meal was OK. None of the fried eggs were broken, which is one of the principle criteria for judging the success or failure of a FEB. Perhaps there could have been rather more tomatoes but, on the other hand, there was ample sufficiency of bacon and toast. Worth another try in a few weeks? What do you think?

Rod turned up towards the end of the meal for a chat, while Paul indulged himself in his own particular brand of comic photography by likening some of our images to famous or not-so-famous personalities. Feel free to take exception if you don´t like how he depicted you. Complaints, on a postcard please, to Paul, not to me.

                                               Clearly he fancies his chances

And the closing thought:-

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Comment by Paulo a Pe

In addition to John's closing thought a couple of other examples along the same lines that I still haven't worked out how to post in Comments below:

Keep it up John. I will monitor the progress and determine whether the knowledge I have that snarfing a FEB without walking first, may cause weight gain, or the wisdom I have in that, when you feel good, you don't put on weight!