Even the occasional reader of these pages will have noticed that during the year gone by, although email reports of walks together with photographs have been regular enough, few have made it into blog format because the old blog hands ran out of energy and/or inspiration. Is it wishful thinking that, among the new blood in the group, there is an embryonic blogger ready to take things to a higher level?
May be so. But we can start the New Year with a new blog site – aww2015-16.blogspot.com – and look back on some of last year´s walks while some tracks and photo files are still to hand.
We ended 2014 with Terry Ames leading us around Messines, bringing back memories of Maurice to the older hands, and giving us newer ones a hint of how it all started. This special walk has been blogged separately. Coincidentally, 2014 had also started with a walk around Messines led by (who else) Terry Ames.
2014 01 08 Messines
2014 03 19 Alferce – Cansino
This one is a bit of a mystery, because the track was recorded by your your scribe on that Wednesday, but the computer details for the Starter photograph (not taken by your scribe) assert that it was taken on 21st March 2014, which was a Friday. Is that group actually in Alferce? Does anyone remember?
At any rate, the walk was one of Ian Wilson´s killer walks near Alferce – just look at the hill from “Ford 2” up to “Hilltop3” and the total ascent of 1176 metres. No extant leader´s report, of course, because Ian just does not do those.
2014 04 23 Torre e Cercas
A maiden Leadership Walk for Hazel if I remember correctly, and with Rod arriving late for the beer.
2014 04 30 Reguengos
A walk in the shade, past film studios fallen on hard times, through still waters, and then onto the heights.
2014 06 11 Carrapateira
A Whittle speciality, which had JohnO stretching, while the ladies lunched.
This then followed by a JohnO speciality for the last walk of the season
2014 06 18 Fatacil to Rocha and back
Cakes and coffees at the beach followed by lunch back at the start.
Sparrowfart 2014, hosted by the Whittles, took place on 16th July – it has already been fully blogged. Then the 2014-15 season started with a David L leg-stretcher:-
2014 09 10 Barranco da Velho
He included a little bit of cross-country stuff to get the muscles working.
2014 10 13 São Marcos da Serra
One of David´s gentler ones with, if I recall correctly, a suggestion that we should start at 9.15 am; but JohnO, staunch traditionalist that he is, arrived at 9.30 am precisely.
There, there, all is forgiven, John
“ Oh no, an ´erdsman´s lot is not an ´appy one”.
2014 10 22 In the Silves Hills
Yves has a new car to show off…. why isn´t everyone looking?
Led by JohnH, on a day when the unseasonable heat took us all by surprise, we were all very thankful to get to the cafe with the most comfortable chairs this side of the Tejo.
2014 11 12 Aguas Belas
This one was led by Geoff Hill who, fortuitously, had allowed a drop-out point for early leavers. He started with 14 walkers and finished with 7, I think. Some genuinely had to leave early but the 3 dogs went serious walk-about round lunch time and others including the camera man went away after them. So, all being out of his control. no minus points for Geoff, despite the 50% attrition rate.
2014 11 26 Moina da Rocha
Undeterred, Geoff led again and didn´t lose any one, despite Phillipe´s best endeavours. In deceptively tricky country, Hedley´s experience came in useful.
2014 12 10 Barrosas
Another maiden Leader´s Walk, this one by Lynne. After an hour and a half, I made the mistake of complimenting her on a nice gentle walk through the valleys. That´s when the climb started and went on and on. Seldom has a refreshment stop, at the top, been more appreciated. Fantastic views over the Algarve.
Let´s see what new territories 2015 brings.
This doesn´t claim to be a complete record of the year; it is only using files which happen to still be on your scribe´s PC. If you have any particular favourite memories of the year which you want recorded, send them in: triumph and disaster will be treated just the same.
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