WAGS 08.03.2023: The Flowers That Bloom In The Spring

 Have you noticed how very polite the WAGS are these days ? In the old days, when walk notices were sent out, it was expected that only those who intended to walk would let the Leader know;  those not intending to walk said nowt. But now, a Leader gets letters of regret from non-participants, often detailing their reasoning for non-attendance. Perhaps it is because the walk invitation also includes a lunch alert. So we have had in the recent past Paul´s body building and/or massage excuses, or Janet´s very honest confession that she does just not like walking through mud. Anyway, long may this outburst of good manners continue.

This week, we were woken up early by Myriam´s WhatsApp reminder that today was International Womens´ Day. This gives us another excuse to publish this inspirational picture:-

 Once a year is probably enough.

And there will probably be no Leader´s report for this walk because the Leader, Rod, is travelling; we shall see, but meanwhile here goes, just some pictures and accompanying commentary.

We assembled at Bensafrim Market and had some coffee. Then we did not feel up to standing for the Starters´ photograph; too much effort. So we stayed seated.

When we did make an effort to start, Maria delayed matters for a few minutes while she bought some cockles for her evening meal; actually they were the only foodstuffs available there, the market itself  seemingly being in abeyance.

Not sure who the lady walker in the greeny-blue outfit was; she just pushed her way in front of me into the queue. Anyway, she didn´t try to join us.

Then, when we did get going, our route led us past one of Bensafrim´s more spectacular chimneys

and then past the café that used to be called Barbera´s  but which has remained firmly closed for the past year or so. But now there are signs of life again. A new sign board proclaiming it to be Café Via Algarveana has appeared

So we stopped to see if they would be open that afternoon, but the people standing around were only workmen who said "not open yet."

Then, by fortunate chance, the new owner turned up who happened to be well known to Myriam.

They both exchanged restaurant gossip (the Portuguese think that all Chinese run restaurants,  and vice versa) and Nelia (I think that´s her name) assured us she would be opening on 17th March and would always be open on Wednesdays. But she is going to have to get another new signboard because Via Algarviana won´t let her use their name; Café Rota Algarviana perhaps.

Then we walked on, past a spanking new board at the bus stop publicising the delights of said Via Algarviana: Rod has a better route.

Then at last we could get into our stride. We skirted a budding equestrian centre where somebody had been refining his gate building techniques. The first effort a bit squint.

Could still do better.

Then we examined a shipping container for evidence of country manufacture

Chinese, of course. But why dump it there?

The road led on and on until Rod, just on a whim, decided to explore a path leading off to the left. Ingrid would not have like this impromptu deviation.

This exploration terminated at the top of a hill with, admittedly, a fine view but with nothing much else to be said in its favour.

Hazel produced some jelly sweets called Haribos which satisfied the troops

and then we back-tracked.

But another diversion soon came along  and we wandered down a track towards some extensive ruins

which benefit, as estate agents would say, from a view over its own private lake.

The surrounding fields were alive with flowers which encouraged Maria to dance among them.

and Hazel and Myriam to take photographs

(Your editor will resist the temptation to insert a certain song from The Sound Of Music at this stage.)

The walking then became a bit more serious, what with a series of hills, one after another, and extensive patches of mud which fully justified Janet´s decision to stay away.

We were in the middle of some quite densely wooded countryside ,but sadly there were a lot of cork oaks which seemed to be dying from some sort of infection. And as we made our way back towards Bensafrim, there were still more hills...

and there was still more mud...

We passed  a tented "school " establishment which we had seen a year or two earlier and had wondered if it could last. Seemingly, it has.

Called Nautilus Hub. When you look it up on Google, you get this: ..

The Nautiluz Hub is a growing, bilingual (Portuguese and English), learning environment for kids aged 4-15, based in nature near Lagos in the Western Algarve, run by a passionate and purpose driven, qualified team. Focusing on project based learning, we empower the next generations to access their unique brilliance and learning potential by cultivating connection to their inner truth, and stoking their curiosity and innate ability to learn, through our passionate, skilled and dedicated community of educators, masters and subject specialists. 

Well, I´ll  leave it up to you to figure that out.

Then back in to Bensafrim, still with its traditional buildings..

but sadly now also with a modern eyesore in its centre

The Track and the Statistics

Average speed of 3.5 km/h seems to be the new normal.

Then the decision had to be made  "where to have lunch?" Judging by its menu, there is an enticing Pasta Café beside the market place but that is only open in the evenings. Gloria´s is the only other reasonable eatery in Bensafrim but that is usually overcrowded, So in the end it was decided that we would head to Odiaxere once again to the ever-reliable Café Lopo where Paul was due to join us, so off we went.

But when we got there, the ever-reliable was for some reason closed, as it had been the day after Carnival, so once again we had to depend on the next door Café Rosa. 

 IN the sunshine, we talked about how tough the walk had been, with blood drawn, like in the old days.

 We talked about Tilley hats and admired the old models, as in the old days

We didn´t talk about Paul´s taste in foot wear.

No wonder he doesn´t join us. 

Now, Café Rosa does not aspire to be a restaurant but, to be fair, they did us very well. 

The owners were serving themselves polvo com couve which Maria quite fancied. Indeed she fancied it so much that she tried to rely on the Portuguese law that grants priority to pregnant women in matters of food supplies so as to get a serving . Her act as a pregnant woman drew considerable applause from the assembled onlookers

 but, alas, "no cigar" as they say. The owners were unmoved and scoffed the whole lot themselves.

However, to be fair, Café Rosa did us very well indeed with their selection of tostas and bifanas. As always, Rod could not wait to sink his teeth into them.

CRUNCH !

and why not?

Pão caseiro, papo seco...take your pick... great stuff.

But, next time at Bensafrim, let´s hope Nelia´s restaurant is up and running.

And to close, no, nothing from The Sound of Music but a touch more satire, on the well-known British lack of prejudice and sense of fair play all round.

and, saved by the bell, posted in at 19.28 hrs, here is the Leader´s Report

A faithful few, namely John & Hazel, Myriam, Maria and Rod gathered at Bensafrim  Market Square Cafe and set of in a westerly direction along the Barao S. Joao road.. We took the first main track off to the  right..one taken many times before.  We took a short diversion off to the left which in the event led to nowhere  other than a flat hilltop with a rather splendid  view. Then back to the main track for a further k or so. At the next crossroads we took another main track to the left past an old ruin now calling out for a sympathetic  new owner. Another short diversion led to nowhere special unless you were prepared to struggle through a rather sick looking and untended  cork forest and thick scrub.

The principal track carried on in a northerly  direction for a further k or two, broadly  following an undulating ridgetop  firecut. This eventually joined joined the main track running east-west from  Bensafrim towards the west coast .   On a previous walk we had noted a sort of woodland open air School. At the time we hadn't given it much chance of survival let alone legalisation, but two or three years on and it still appear to be functioning even if with modest numbers.

And so, after a rather slow but decent 81/2k,  back to Bensafrim. We stopped to check on the state of the old Barbero restaurant now in the hands of new owners and rather curiously called The Via Algarviana. The new lady of the house to be turned out to be an old acquaintance of Myriam's...but of course!  She explained that the name had run foul of Almargem's copyrights and it was to be renamed Rota Algarviana. She confirmed moreover that they were scheduled to open on March 17th.    It will be useful to have a Bensafrim lunch spot again but as it was we had to repair once again to Odeaxere, where Paul had been awaiting us for a while, and enjoy the delights of Rosa's cafe.  Indeed her Tostas are of the highest order, ranking amongst the very best indeed.

Am away in Spain next Wed but happy to do walk from Rota Algarviana, Bensafrim on 22/3.