WAGs 2024 03 20: Five Is Better Than Four, or White Socks But No Champagne

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 Last week there were only four walkers; this week, although we had hopes of a big increase, in the end is was only a 25 per cent increase. But still five is an improvement on four. Dorothy and Dennis were apparently in or near Biarritz, Maria couldn´t make the start, and Yves was too busy having a shower. However, there is still some very evident eagerness to walk. The Leader was there at Mira Rio at twenty minutes to the hour, only to find himself pipped to the post by Rod no less.

There had been  a certain amount of incidental WhatsApp chatter beforehand with Antje exhorting Maria not to forget to bring the glasses, and somebody else chipping in with a reminder to bring a bottle or two as well. So the Leader was expecting a celebratory champagne. Why not? But it was not to be. Probably the only ones having champagne were the aforesaid Dorothy and Dennis in Biarritz because, from my recollections of the place, there is nothing else to do in Biarritz except to have champagne.

Mira Rio is clearly flourishing, having newly invested in a smart outdoor table admired by Hazel and Myriam.


Maybe smart new chairs next?


Starter photo duly taken , we were off almost exactly at 10.00 hours. "Drove my Chevy to the levy, but the levy was dry" in the words of the song. The levy was indeed dry, very dry.


Indeed, in conversation later with the proprietress of Mira Rio, she said it has been nearly 4 months since they have been able to irrigate their horta from the canal. Luckily there have been reasonable rains during that time but things don´t look good for the summer.

Meanwhile the weeds have been thriving in the rain and we found that one of our regular tracks beside the canal was totally overgrown,


and we were forced, horror of horrors, to use the tarmac instead.

The track became more passable later on and we saw some bird life on the river:


It was an odd sensation walking by the dry canal, the concrete pit by one´s side seeming a lot more threatening when empty


 than when it´s full of water. How illogical.

We paused briefly at Quinta do Rosário where fruits and other stuff were on offer.

The sky was blue



and the more horticulturally minded of us took masses of flower pictures.

Hazel is keen to learn the name of these little blue flowers, if anyone knows.



When we got near Clube Nautico, whence came the sound of music - unusual for a Wednesday -  there was an excellent sight of Silves in the distance

The reason for there being  music was explained when we met our friend Ivan who was busy cleaning the place up after the winter break and getting ready for the re-opening. (Friday 5th April should you be interested.) 

Among Ivan´s  preparations  for the summer season is the making a safety barrier out of a large hawser to prevent the more inebriated or the suicidal-minded of his customers from throwing themselves from the Clube into the Arade. It interrupts his cooking to have to fish them out.



The Leader was laden with three picture-taking devices, one of which worked quite well when Hazel admired Myriam´s T-shirt and the World Cup participants were revisited.


( Incidentally, a date for your Rugby Diary, Scotland v. Portugal Saturday 16th November 2024, Murrayfield.)

 Then away from Clube Nautico and an ascent over the hill.


And more flower pictures:




By now the clouds were gathering and, as there was some rain forecast, the Leader had to urge people to PUTP (Pick Up The Pace) in case it hit us before we were home.


which they did. 

We soon passed through the little settlement of Vale de Lama where, once again, generous householders had put out offerings of fruits


and so back to Mira Rio after exactly 3 hours, home and still dry.

The Track and the Statistics





Pace, or Speed, -take your pick - 3.7 kph about our average these days.

The Lunch

Time for leisurely drinks before lunch, and Chris, Paul and Maria joined us for the lunch promptly at the arranged time of 1.30 p.m.

There was no champagne, the glasses (which Maria did not forget to bring) being of the reading, not the drinking, variety. Apparently, Antje had left her spectacles in Edinburgh a few weeks ago and Maria went to UK to fetch them for her. Excellent Parcel Post service.

We had the lunch at the smart new outdoor table. There was fish done with lemon

 grilled chicken

 
favas com carne

 and fried fish, served with beans by special request



The beans were delicious, so we all had extra beans, having been reassured by Myriam that it was safe for us to do so because none of us had Arabic blood. She has the information about this..




 Then, it being the first day of Spring, as well as World Sparrow Day, it now began to rain so we abandoned the outside table and went indoors for puddings and coffees.




Paul poured red wine over his cake and then, for reasons which totally escape me, produced a pair of white socks, even while claiming (if I am right) that they were not his white socks.


 Then a pair of grey socks appeared, ownership also uncertain



and a considerable amount of confusing banter ensued.


All seemed well at the end, although I cannot say who went home with which socks.


Closing Music

One more in our series of Walking numbers. lots still to come, and I have one or two pending requests on my list. 

Willie Dixon and Walking The Blues








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