WAGS 2023.10.18: A Bensafrim Blunder

 The Leader´s Report

Those WAGS who decided not participate in this walk should thank their lucky stars for their decision. More participants and it could have been chaos. Read on.

It started well enough at Bensafrim - a leisurely coffee or two; the usual Starter photograph....

Starters:   Tanja, Hazel, JohnH, Myriam and Maria.

... and the restaurant Rota Algarviana where we planned to have lunch was already open as we passed so we were able to book a table and to hear all about the day´s menu from the proprietress, Nellia. All was looking good as we turned off the tarmac into the Sitio do Mocho lane.

The place of the Owl. please drive slowly.

This was an area where we had been before and this time we intended to look for the Roman Necropolis of Fonte Velha which was marked on Google maps, also an Iron Age site. 

The first thing we found did not look particularly Roman, nor Iron Age either for that matter.

There were no signs of any archaeological activity on the hillside and we did not find the Necropolis. But instead a rather endearing half-collie dog found us and decided to attach herself to our group for the rest of the day.

We then ascended onto a ridge running west to east and carried on relatively carefree for some distance.

We then passed a turning to the south which Hazel recognised as one down which Rod had led us some months previously. But the Leader said that he had in mind taking another such southerly route which he recalled from years gone by and which we would come to soon. Ha ! Then we came to a ruin which the Leader recognised and he led the group off to the left. Big mistake - we should have gone sharp right and then back

We trudged on, past an extensive area of land under clearance. 

Maria´s prognostication was that it will be a solar panel farm. We shall see, if (a big if) we should ever go that way again.

Suffice to say that the other southerly route that the Leader was confident of coming to never did appear, and so we went on and on (see map - the red loop which we should not have taken) until we eventually hit a major track that in the end took us down to the main Bensafrim - Aljezur trunk road, but still miles from our lunch.

Fortuitously, as we struggled along, Hazel had the good sense to flag down a passing car and got herself a lift back to Bensafrim from a kindly Austrian lady, a detox therapist working in Bensafrim.

Hazel then came back to pick the rest of us up. See map - Pick up spot no.1. The Leader however proved obstinate, refused the lift - misplaced machismo - and said that he would complete that walk himself. Foolish pride! He probably managed to stagger another 2 kilometres or so along the main road, still accompanied by the little black dog. Mercifully, although it wouldn´t agree to being collared, it manged to avoid the traffic. 

Eventually, Myriam came back with her vehicle, and she and Maria persuaded the Leader to finally see sense and accept a lift home. See map Pick up spot no 2 - still 4 kilometres from Bensafrim. He would never have made it in time for lunch ! 

A disgruntled Leader gives in

It was, of course, very kind indeed of Myriam and Maria too look out for JohnH in this way

 but, if one is to be cynical about it, their real concern was for the safety of the little black dog. For example, they spent the next half hour coaxing the animal into the car... 

Maria and the dog can smile

...,with  Maria calming it down, and then Myriam drove it back to its home area. But at Sitio do Mocha, the dog refused to get out; it enjoyed being taxied around.

 

Eventually, she was shown the way home.

The Track and the Statistics, for what they are worth.

The Lunch

Paul was there to join the group and most people tucked in heartily to either galo enstufado or bacalhau a bras

In due course, the Leader came along to see that everyone was all right after their ordeal and to ask if he might join them

At first, they were a bit dubious, but in the end they did allow him to sit with them

Then a well-spoken English individual, claiming to be an acquaintance of Myriam´s and Paul´s, stopped for a chat and spoke enthusiastically about the Restaurante

 Rota Algarviana´s evening meals. 

Now, that´s a thought - an all day walk from Bensafrim with dinner at the end. Any takers?

My thanks to those who did participate and for their help. Photo credits to Hazel, Myriam, Paul and Tanja.