APAPS 21.3: There are Alternatives to Walking

 

It has been a bit of a struggle to hit upon a theme for this week´s blog, so I thought I would revert to an advertisement for Uruguayan Scotch Whisky (or Whiskey) which Paul posted in response to last week´s blog which, I am sure you remember, mentioned the World Stone Balancing Championships held in Dunbar in Scotland.

Now I don´t know if Paul was recommending the stuff from personal experience, nor indeed if he was even recommending it at all. But I myself would be extremely dubious about trying it, because the following is what the advertisement said about the brew.

Whisky Dunbar

The Dunbar Rare Old Whisky honours the place of his birth, on the River Spey in the town of Dunbar, Scotland.

Rare Old Whisky Dunbar was born in Uruguay in 1981 being an ambassador for the Seagram’s Distillery, founded in 1857, with the mission to promote the core values of the Scottish distillery, based on integrity, craftsmanship and tradition.

With imported malts of Scotland, and having been aged in oak for 5 years in Uruguay is a whiskey (sic)blend with optimum purity water, alcohols and a select handpicked distilled from grain to achieve the taste and character of the brand.

Expert tasters focus on determining the right time to bottle the whiskey (sic) based on the aroma, fruity flavour and unmistakable smoky characteristic. These are predefined standards that give identity and character of the brand since its inception.

Rating:

Whisky type Blended high level nationally uruguayan, but still far from its competitors Scotchs (sic).

Direct competors (sic): Whisky Blenders.

My doubts arise partly from the dodgy spellings – is it a whisky or a whiskey? -but partly about what apart from a drop of malt goes into it.

It may have some genuine Scotch Single Malt in it but how much we don´t know. And what “handpicked distilled from grain” means, I have no idea, but it doesn´t fill me with great confidence. Seagrams is of course a Canadian distillery company from Montreal in Quebec, not a Scottish one. And their or their advertising agent´s knowledge of Scottish geography is pretty poor as can be seen from this wee map. Dunbar, the town, is nowhere near the River Spey.

Happily, about 168 miles away from the Spey, the aforementioned 2021 World Stone Balancing Championships were held very successfully on the seashore of Dunbar earlier this July, as these latest pictures show.

As for the week´s walk, numbers of walkers were reduced, to 5, Rod being on manoeuvres somewhere in Spain and Hazel being prevented from walking by some mysterious lurgi.

The Starter photos were taken in the difficult light of early morning.

But, for the record, those walking were:-

JohnH, Myriam, Antje, Yves and Maria, plus Sascha

The walk itself was very pleasant; the temperature being modest and, what with the tidal estuary being full and the shade from the trees, the walk along the canal was balm for the soul. Myriam even learned how the producers of wine in a box cleverly manage to stop the wine from leaking out of the cardboard.

We went uphill at one point but that wasn´t too strenuous.

The subsequent downhill track was a little bit too prickly for some tastes but, although some blood was drawn, it didn´t flow like it did when Mike Pease and Ian Scott were leaders.

Sascha enjoyed a paddle and we all rested in the shade at Clube Nautico.....

. 

where Myriam treated us to her renowned Dragon Empress Dowager Ci-Ci impersonation

and also instructed us on the Dragon Empress´s etiquette of shoe wearing which, as far as I could gather, consisted of putting her shoes on back to front.

Normally, that would have made walking a bit difficult but, for the Empress, that wouldn´t have caused too much difficulty because, being the Empress, she would probably be carried to most places in a palanquin or some such contraption.

And, as a post-publication insert, we have this picture provided by Myriam

The technical details are  that these are shoes for a Manchu noblewoman, China, Qing Dynasty mid-1800s AD.  Silk and wood. 

Myriam says these are the Ching "flower bowl" shoes to imitate bound feet. 

(Is Qing pronounced Ching?)

(Not recommended by AWWs, WAGs or APAPs.)

Also submitted by Myriam is this picture. It shows a concubine being taken to the Emperor's chamber. Well, that´s one alternative to walking.

But we lesser mortals had to walk and, as we did so, we saw signs that the local authorities are looking after access to the area; road bridges are being widened and measures are being taken to reinforce the canal walls.

Are they expecting an increase in traffic?

And, while on the subject of repairs, Yves managed to capture an artisan at work on the interior fittings of that cottage near Mira Rio which has been under renovation these past ten years or so.

Breakfast was ordered for 10 a.m. And we got back just in time. There were four reinforcements for the meal, Chris, Hazel, Paul and Terry.

The Track and Statistics

Distance: 8.55 kms  Time: 2 hrs 45 mins.  Ascent: 133 metres.

And to close, Funiculi Funicula, for no other reason than that Myriam sang it at the breakfast table. I could have chosen a Pavarotti version but one can have too much of him; and our regular entertainer Fats Waller, so far as I can tell, did not record it. So we will have to make do with this Japanese group.

APAPS 21.2: Not As Hilly As It Appeared

 

Seven of us were there for a prompt 7 a.m. start at Herdade Bom Homem and, once Sascha had been persuaded to co-operate with the camera man, the usual Starter photo was taken.

We then immediately tackled the first hill of the day, a bit of a killer.

Maria being first to the top on this occasion.

More climbing up and then a very sharp steep downhill.

After which Yves suggested a further descent to a picnic area.

If we had taken him up on this, it would have shortened the walk by about an hour and a half, so we pressed on to a marker stone which some weeks before Yves had manouevred into position, Remarkably, this was still in situ and so he and Antje indulged in a bit of cairn building

Having successfully balanced three or four stones ,they then indulged in such an over-the-top bit of self congratulation that the shock waves of their fist bumps  collapsed the whole edifice to the ground. Clearly, they have some way still to go before they can match this guy´s skills

A picture from the World Stone Stacking Championships, Dunbar, Scotland.

Some fairly routine walking then followed, downhill and along the flat. At least we were among trees and foliage, unlike the previous week.

Since Silves Camera are engaged in serious replanting of this area with a mixture of native trees, we can be reasonably assured that this spot will be spared the attacks of the logging machines.

We then left the more usual road home and took a new route – steeper than the Leader had bargained for - up to a high ridge which provided good views of the Castle and the Windmill to the south.

Then a gentle descent towards the Rest and Be Thankful bench. Here, a photo of the four ladies was taken after Sascha had, once again, consented to join in.

But attempts to get Rod to participate in the same spirit fell a bit flat.

A couple of large funnel spiders´webs were spotted on the way back to the cars.

The family of funnel-web spiders  in the order Araneida is named for their funnel-shaped webs, which open wide at the mouth of the tube. The spider sits in the narrow funnel waiting for prey to contact the web. When this happens, the spider rushes out and captures the insect prey at the funnel’s mouth. The most important genera are Evagrus, Brachythele, and Microhexura in North America, Trechona in South America, and the very poisonous members of the Atrax genus in Australia.

As for Portugal, Macrothele calpeiana, commonly known as the Gibraltar funnel-web spider or Spanish funnel-web spider, is one of the largest spiders in Europe. Macrothele calpeiana is the only spider species protected under European Union legislation. (Isn´t the E.U. wonderful?)

The satin black colour and long, flexible spinnerets are characteristic of this spider. The carapace is low and flat and the eyes are in a compact group. The female resembles the male but has a larger abdomen. The male can grow to nearly 30 millimetres (1.2 in) long; females are typically larger. Like all funnel-web spiders, this spider's web is funnel-shaped with trip-threads around the entrance, built among stones and roots.

 Its geographical range includes Gibraltar, Spain, Portugal and north-west Africa. This species has been observed occasionally in France. The venom is not deadly to humans, so we can rest easy.

We then made our way to Para e Fica for breakfast where we were joined by Chris and Terry, Rod watching from the side lines as per usual.

The Café´s hostess seemed to be in one of her good moods and was in fact very welcoming and attentive.

For some reason, the four Ladies decided that segregation by sexes was appropriate. It was very noticeable that, whereas the conversation at the Gentlemen´s table was conducted with due decorum - when one person was speaking, the others listened - the chat at the Ladies was a free-for-all, and a noisy all-speak9ing-at-once affair.

The breakfast was certainly up to previous standards and, at Euros 6 per plate, good value. Hazel looked pleased. How would you describe the picture? "A Very Satisfying Face " ? "The Picture of Satisfaction"?

Answers, on a postcard please, to Myriam.

The Track and Statistics

Only 174 metres of ascent ! Surprising; it certainly felt a lot more.

But let´s leave the last word to Fats Waller once again.

                                    The Spider and The Fly

APAPS 21.1: On a Cold but Sunny Morning

 Half past ten in the morning at Pesacadores and it is safe to say that the Café has never, ever, seen anything like it before. Bubbly in the glasses, cheers and congratulations for the victors, and plenty of international bonhomie all round.

But I mustn´t get too far ahead of myself. Much earlier, our team photographer had taken his first shot of the day. I think it was Dorothy Parker who said "When I get up in the morning, first I brush my teeth, then I sharpen my tongue." Yves first brushes his teeth and then takes a picture.

Algoz at dawn

and by now the Lagos contingent had set off on their perilous journey towards Silves, dangerous because the rising sun shines directly and blindingly into the eyes of those driving east on the A22.

However, we all 8 walkers plus Sascha gathered safely and on time at Pescadores on what was a very chilly morning for the first APAPS outing of 2021.

Even for us, the sun was blinding

We started off with a long climb up the valley - tough going for some – but it was  Antje, who claimed not to have been doing much walking recently, who reached the summit first, by a long way.

Made it !

Even that climb had not dispelled the chill, so warm-up exercises involving clapping and hand- rubbing were required.

and some leg waving

 We then followed a fairly relaxed circuit and made our way back through some of the last few remaining trees on the Serra.

They may not be there much longer, one fears, the way things are going there.

Then it was back to base with Hazel and Antje setting such a brisk pace that three got left behind and were in danger of losing their way. Leadership at fault.

The rear-guard

Back at Pescadores, Chris and Paul were waiting for us and their breakfast which was served up pretty smartly. As usual, home grow tomatoes and home-laid eggs along with lashings of bacon and oodles of buttered toast.

Enjoyment on a plate

Rod wonders if abstinence is the best policy after all

And then it began to happen ! Dona Fernanda and her assistant Senhora Ritinha could scarcely  believe their eyes and ears. 

There they were, a bunch of people of diverse ethnic origins - Chinese Chinese, Malaysian Chinese, Portuguese, Franco-Hispanic or Hispano-French, German and Scots - Ingrid should have been there too - all united in singing the praises of the English  - the English ! - soccer (football) team who had actually won a match the previous evening. What had possessed them? The two Englishmen present had the decency to look a bit sheepish.

You win some.....

...... and you lose some.

Although the result of the match – England 2 Germany 0 – was convincing enough, one wonders exactly why the English Press have ben proclaiming it as ”England making history.” It was not the final, nor semi- final nor quarter final. All it was, was a sort of hemi-demi-semi-final.

Nor exactly on a par with the Battle of Waterloo which, incidentally, was won as much by Marshall Blücher (a Prussian) as by Wellington (an Irishman) but which is now of course a Historic English Victory.

Any way, many thanks indeed to Antje for supplying the bottle of bubbly and for leading the celebrations - an example of either great sportsmanship or of f supreme mickey-taking. Chris and Paul can now confidently start planning how the APAPS can celebrate England winning the final on Sunday 11^th July.

And the Track and the Statistics

Average speed not too bad.

My thanks to Hazel and Maria for kitchen help, Antje for the fizz, and Dina, Hazel and Yves for pictures.

Closing Music:       Cold and Frosty Morning