APAPS 22.7: Antje Does The APAPS Proud.

 

Before we go on to sing Antje´s praises, let´s first pick up where we left off last blog, that is, talking about evening sunsets and moonshine and listening to a song by Billie Holiday. Yves came up trumps with a photograph of Algoz in the moonlight – who would have imagined that modest little Algoz could get photographed so often? - 

and of course, there is the perfect Billie Holiday song to go with it too.

And now on to the APAPS walk on 27^th July for which Antje had kindly agreed to be Leader; not only that, but she was Chief Cook as well (and probably Chief Bottle Washer to boot.)

We took the first Starter photo at Lagos Railway Station. Not very many to start with; Rod, Terry and Yves all absent on unfinished business of one sort or the other.

and then made our way to the beach and its freshly ploughed sand.

Removal and securing of shoes then took up some time.

And we strolled pleasantly along in the direction of Bar Quim, joining up with Chris and Paul along the way. There we took the second and more complete Starter photo, after which Antje very considerately allowed us to pause for a coffee break.

A fine pair

She and Chris then went off to prepare breakfast, leaving us in the tender care of Paul who led us all the way to the Alvor breakwater.

Hazel took pictures of footprints.

If either of these are yours, please own up to her. Paul found evidence of the existence of the Meia Praia Bigfoot and compared it with his own size 11/46 pedal extremity.

This rather more elegant foot belongs to Maria.

The anklet, by the way, had just been found lying in the sand by Hazel.

(The “J H “ initials on it are nothing to do with me, Your Honour Sir. And the other initials on the anklet“ B W”? No idea, Your Honour Sir. I´ve never met Brenda Whatsername in my life.”)

We passed the spot where a few days earlier Paul and Myriam had seen the rusted mortar bomb which was subsequently detonated by the GNR bomb disposal squad.

Then an uneventful return to Bar Qim via the lagoon and the golf course where a strange spraying machine was seen, dropping a trail of little white balls on the putting surface. Any ideas?

Myriam and Maria were excited to find a French sports car outside the Bar.

From Nord Department, near Belgium. But no sign of an exciting Frenchman to go with it.

 The Track and the Statistics

Then it was post-haste for drinks at the Whittles´ spacious new apartment in the Fabrica with its unmissable landmark chimney,

There was a better display of T-shirt slogans compared to the previous week.

And then the truly excellent breakfast. 

A delicious Khao Tom Kai, a Thai-style rice porridge with prawns, etc., etc. (full recipe from Antje if you ask her nicely) served with ginger and Nam Prik, and accompanied by hot rolls and toast.

(Lexicon:  Khao = rice. Tom = soup.  Kai or Gai? = chicken or egg? 

Nam = water. Prik = chili.)

Proof, if proof is needed, that there is indeed more to life than the Full English Breakfast. The Whittles´ hospitality greatly appreciated.

And now: A Content Warning

Readers of a gentle disposition may now want to leave this page because, to complete the record of this walk, I regret that I now have to relate and illustrate an incident which probably only those with strong stomachs can take. You see, during the first part of our stroll along the beach, Hazel was concentrating on finding shells. Head down, she did not notice an approaching apparition until the very last moment when its shadow fell on her and shocked her considerably.. Who or what was it? 

It was Paul in all his glory. , Were his briefs pink or were they skin-coloured.? I will leave it to you to judge.

Surrounded by his "admirers"

Luckily, Myriam came to the rescue and persuaded him to don some rather more modest boxer shorts.

And it was later that he confided in us that the breakwater where we were heading for was his own private sunbathing area, with a photo to prove it.

Do you think he is suggesting we join him?

Sorry about all that, but it had to be put on record.

Let´s now return to normality and have some closing music, rather different from the usual, recommended by Myriam. Something called Horse, I think.

APAPS 22.6: The Theme Continues

 “What theme is that?” I hear you ask. The answer is The Sunrise; Yves takes the photo; the Blogger tries to find appropriate music. Last week, the music was “The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise.”

This week, the music is “Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise,” which is a pretty daft title, when you come to think about it. What other kind of sunrise is there, apart from a morning one? But daftness didn´t deter the songwriter, because several verses further on in his lyrics, he comes up with “an evening sunset” - see what I mean. And the song first featured in an American operetta of 1928 called "The New Moon", which leads one to the conclusion that the songwriter was more than a trifle confused about the workings of the cosmos.

That puts me in mind of another song “I Didn´t Know What Time It Was” which, if you are lucky, I might be able to find for the end of this blog.

Meanwhile, here is Yves´ latest sunrise photograph......

... and here is a version of “Softly, as in etc. etc.” by Helen Merrill, a rather underrated jazz singer.

And so to the walk. A familiar setting at Mira Rio, seven in attendance. First of all, the technical adjustments.

Then, Flash, Bang,Wallop...the Starters

Reading the Electricity Meter.

Has somebody dropped something?

Yves spotted some Reed Warblers in the bushes and asked JohnH if his zoom lens could catch them

Almost.

Some friendly donkeys were easier to photo.

The canal was still functioning. How much longer, during this drought, we don´t know.

Then the customary rest at Clube Nautico.

Hazel had picked some brambles which were washed before being distributed and eaten.

Then, it was up over the hill, down to the canal, and round the back of the Mira Rio complex to get full value for the morning´s walk, and back just in time for the 10 o´clock breakfast service.

Distance: 8.6 kms. Moving time: 2 hrs 11 mins. Ascent: 145 metres. Moving speed; not too bad at 3.9 kph.

At 10 am, the camp followers were already tucking in.

and after the previous week´s near disaster, Yves was holding on to his beer for dear life.

Although she had some reservations about the bacon, Hazel seemed to enjoy her breakfast.

There were only a few T-shirt slogans on display.

But we were lucky enough to be treated to a fashion display of the latest men´s kit.

First of all, Paul´s elevator sandals, Salomons SpeedCross apparently:-

and then Rod´s colour co-ordinated titfer, shorts, stockings and trainers:-

although I am not sure if British Army Officers Brooke-Popham and Lord Wavell (of Other Men´s Flowers fame) would have fully approved.

And now to close, that song I promised. By the way, Myriam has indicated that she would prefer Chinese folk or European classical to jazz or swing. Maybe Yves can take a photograph of the moon sometime and we can come up with some moonshine.