WAGS 2023 11 29: And Four Do Ilha Do Rosário

The previous week there had only been four walkers; it was the same story this week, although a different four. The apologies for absence (or, in plain English, excuses) were varied - credible, coincidental, inventive,  unusual, perfunctory, or non-existent -  never mind. 

The Four that did walk: Hazel, Geraldine, Tanja and JohnH.

When we arrived at Mira Rio, its car park was already quite full with a milling crowd of other walkers, .none of whom we recognised. So, as soon as we could, we set off so as to avoid being swamped by numbers, and we made our way off along the nearly totally dry canal. 

We then made the gentle ascent into the little village of Vale de Lama where we stopped to check on the small ruined property in which Yves has so often expressed an interest. One trusts that it is not a financial interest because the electricity meter is still ticking merrily over - quite why a ruin needs electricity is a mystery.

When revisited, these small villages appear to be the same as last time but there are always subtle little changes to be noticed. For example, half way up the hill into the village there is a magnificent old alfarroba tree, obviously dear to the family on whose land it grows.

And this time we could see that they have now reinforced its supporting rocks with a large dollop of cement.

Hazel was then able to indulge in her hobby of floral photography

Later, there came a bit of cross-country trail-finding

and up on top of the hill, which the map informs us is called Cerro da Rocha Branca, we had the view towards Silves on one side and.........

 .......on the other, the view towards Portimão.

We now headed down the hill towards Clube Nautico where we expected to rest for a while but, as we drew near to it , we could hear loud human conversation and laughter, unexpected because the Clube is usually closed on Wednesdays. It turned out that that large group of other walkers we had seen back at the Mira Rio café had been sitting in the Clube. So we held back for a few minutes until we could  watch them leave going back along the canal whence they had come. Sticking to the flat; obviously not hill walkers.

Off they go

With them out of the way, we were then able to rest leisurely and undisturbed in the Clube, which is a site always good for some pictures.

Duly rested we in turn made our way back to base along the still very dry canal.

Hazel spotted some colourful fungus.

The Track and the Statistics

Not unexpectedly, Restaurante Mira Rio was very busy, with that large walking group - twenty or more strong - making a lot of noise as well as a large number of other tables occupied and the restaurant staff looking run off their feet. We did momentarily contemplate moving into Silves for our lunch but, just in time, the proprietress, in one of her more friendly moods, came over to take our orders. There was frango and dourado on the menu but, as those would all take time to produce as the kitchen was very busy, she strongly recommended in the interests of "serviço rápido" that we should all order the feijoado, which we did. Almost immediately a more than ample huge bowl of it was placed in front of us and very good it was too. 

The sweet rice pudding was not bad either.

Closing bit

Last we, we had a wee bit on paragliding. Judging by the number of blog comments I have had on it (zilch), you all found it absolutely fascinating. So here is a piece on hang gliding as a follow-up:-