WAGS 29.03.2023: Little Sympathy At Alvor

 Two of those present already crippled by lurgi and then one of those two cripples himself even more with a fall - one would have expected just a little bit more sympathy from the others - but it was hard to see much of it at the time. But then the Leader´s report does make up for it by at least acknowledging that John and Paul did play their part in ensuring the walk had a quorum and could go ahead. Over now to Rod.

Well this was a walk that nearly wasn´t.  Until the last minute only the redoubtable Myriam had signed up. Honour and bravery prevailed however and John dragged himself from his sick bed and Paul also barely recovered from some (non-Covid) lurgi and was prepared to forego his daily wander amongst his naked admirers on Meia Praia. 

The Starters, sitting down as they mostly do these days.

So in the event 3 joined Rod at Alvor on a warm, almost summery, day, and off we set along the dunes boardwalk. 

Less than 5 minutes into the walk and JohnH already needed to sit down again

Mystery No.1: Why is this bit of the walk cordoned off?

Mystery No.2: What ancient civilisation left these lithographs to tell us what?

The tide was well on the ebb and we opted to fork off and take the inland beach route. At this point Paul, who had been nimbly traipsing along the walkway in his non-shoe shoes, made a questionable decision to walk along the raised wooden boarding at the edge of the final few metres of the boardwalk. Whether it was an abortive attempt to emulate Icarus or simply a focus failure through his new spectacles was unclear but within seconds he was flat on his back, or perhaps it was his front.

That´s where it happened.

 Whatever, unlike football players these days rolling around and clutching an imaginary injured knee, he was quickly on his feet proclaiming he was undamaged except for a grazed shin. 

"Grazed shin !" Rod has seen worse and marches off.

This was quickly sorted, of course, by the contents of an instantly produced, AWW approved, first aid kit. This potentially serious incident may well have been witnessed, though, by some alert and thoughtful bystander thinking a life needed saving, for within minutes a rescue helicopter appeared and circled the area for a while before evidently satisfying itself that no one seemed to require its services and flew off. 

 Injury assessment concluded, we continued peacefully (peacefully that is except for Myriam´s mobile phone which went out of control talking to her non-stop in technicalese and refusing to take photos which is of course what mobile phones are put on this planet to do), we continued peacefully, as I was saying, along the inland beach, surprisingly devoid, unlike the main beach or the walkways, of absolutely anyone else. And on to the end breakwater.  

Sorry, Paul was not ready for that shot. So I´ll take it again.

That´s better - the Beach Body in full display.

 From there we set off back along the soft sand of the main beach before turning off back to the boardwalk. At this point the boardwalk had more of an observation point rather than steps so 4 WAGS  provided the rather unedifying spectacle of a most undignified ascent up and over the railings....unobserved fortunately otherwise the helicopter might well have been recalled!

A bit of a struggle

More than a bit of a struggle

Myriam has no difficulty

Mystery No. 1 was then solved: the safety tapes were there to provide activities for school kids

And the school monitors allowed Myriam to join in

Paul´s accident happened near the Ponta do Medo Grande which could be translated as the Cape of Great Fear. He should have been warned.

Fortunately the rest of the journey passed reasonably uneventfully and after a modest 5k we returned to the swimming pool café.

The restaurant barely merits a Michelin star for quality or innovation but always top marks for personal service and friendly consistency. 

To end, a speedy recovery to those that deserve and need it!

Roderick Frew

+351 935587382

Well, some sympathy expressed in that rather enigmatic conclusion, or perhaps not.

It was a comparatively benign stroll and it is not that often that Rod does a board walk without some sting in the tail. But beware...don´t let that fool you. Those of you who remember his recent expedition to  Alferce - vide WAGS 1 02 2023: I Say, Old Man, That´s A Bit Steep, or Castro de Alferce - will be aware that he was eying the hillside boardwalk at that time newly under construction there. Thanks to the Portugal News, this is how it is currently shaping up:-

You have been warned. That will be a challenge.