WAGS 2023 12 20: Year´s Finale at Cotifo

 

We walked on 20th December and Rod submitted his report on 21st December - a record rapid response on his part  but, he says, not one to be taken as setting a precedent.

Here it is.

Twas a chilly, almost rainy morning when John. Hazel, Maria, Myriam and Rod gathered in Odeaxere for a coffee before setting off by car for a start point near Colinas Verdes. 

We wandered down to the river to see how much water we were going to have to navigate. There we roused some itinerant teuton musician  aus Leipzig from his campervan slumbers who was keen to chat and share his local knowledge.  He kindly took our picture

and then we let him return to his van.

There wasn't that much water in the river and we crossed dry footed at a cattle crossing.  

Cattle Crossing

 At that point we were on the Via Algarviana trail up the Bensafrim River valley. Unfortunately...well depending on your point of view...the valley was being ravaged  by a vast shredder chewing up mountains of pine trees slaughtered in the name of Biomass renewable energy production.

Huge vehicles stacked with wood chips

Myriam gave us an impromptu lecture on tree rings and weather conditions.

Two mountains of felled pine trees waiting to be shredded

Unconvinced, we negotiated a large puddle .....

and continued on our way up to Palm Tree Farm.. Nothing much has changed here..as derelict as it has been since the last century...the fleeting dreams of a football academy long gone. 

Palm Tree Farm

Cork oaks old ...

.... and young

From there we returned along the ridge to the east of the river valley...the only possible advantage of also denuding that area of pines, being that it afforded us  great views towards the sea. 

And so, down again to the valley and a final gentle climb back to the cars. Paul was of course already chomping at the bit back in the restaurant ...deploring, as usual, our late arrival...about 5 minutes!  In fact the walk in time and distance was indeed at the upper end of the WAGS scale and about the same as last week.

The Track and the Statistics

The Lunch

A reasonable choice, prompt service, and as starters some excellent bread and a nice cheese from north Alentejo. 

Rod, abstemious as usual, stuck to the soup.

The rest of us had, variously...

febras e porco bitoque

salmão

 frango assado - Paul had already eaten half of it by the time the photographer got round to him

dourada

and entremeada.

Since very few were likely to be around to walk on 27th December, we decided to call it quits for the year.

To close, first an Algarve Christmas carol, apparently from the mid-XV1 century, 

"Linda Noite de Natal".

and then another old favourite, "Noite Feliz.".

A Very Merry Christmas to One and All.

Recd 21/12