WAGS 2024.04.24 : Antje steps in - (and so do I)

 

Instantly recognisable - but why is it there? I would ask for answers on a postcard but I think apathy would preclude that , so I will elucidate.

      Sandwiched neatly between St George's Day and the 50th Anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, April 24th does not immediately strike one as a special day for anything, apart from this year being a Wednesday and a good day for a WAGS walk.

 

      HOWEVER, a small consult of the Oracle (Google) reveals that it is (among many diverse other things) World Scream Day!  This day is a day for relieving stress, particularly out in the open by letting it all out.

"Scream Day was created to bring awareness to the benefits of screaming. Screaming on its own is proven to be very beneficial, you can scream in your pillow, in your car, or in your bathroom.

To participate find a place where you feel comfortable screaming. Take a deep breath and let out your best scream

Feel better?? "

They have even created a site where you can record your own scream and post it so that others may play it back for your edification. I hope the Mental Health Police are monitoring it for early signs!!

If only we had known before we set out on today's walk so that we could have  let it all out in unison on the cliff tops.

(Note to Leaders:  Check before you walk  to see if there is anything of interest that we may observe  - if only to add material for the blogger!)

Anyway, Rod had excused himslf and John was unwell so it befell Antje to step into the breach and lead a well known and scenic route from Porto de Mos to the Luz Obelisk and back, I had anticipated that John might not be up to blogging and had a cast iron excuse, so I made a huge effort, despite the blister on the ball of my foot not being fully healed, and joined them for at least part of the route.

As Antje noted without the current professionals in charge, there were minor lapses in the conduct of the walk ie no starter photo at the start, no one recorded any stats worth mentioning, but we did have a pleasant walk, a nice lunch and good craich.

Here is her summary report!

Belated Starter pic
Lesley, Antje Maria, George, Myriam Paul, Hazel.

Antje's report

Starters. Myriam, Paul, Hazel and guest Lesley
Maria and guest George
Leader Antje
With John not there to chivvy us to line up we all forgot to take the starter photo.

After the usual caffein refuel, we left Porto do Mos beach, a little later than 10 o clock, to start the steep climb up. Paul wisely opted to start a little higher up. It was his first WAGS walk after his knee operation 18 Weeks ago.

We have done this walk many times but the views always enchant. With a calm sea the seabed from the cliff top looked particularly stunning.

The trig point, newly painted, looked very smart, no more graffiti.

Overlooking Luz. Helped to take these by a French couple.

It was Johns custom to pull out a bar of chocolate to share at that point, Hazel had bought chocolate instead. Sadly it had melted.
We continued now returning in direction Lagos on the road along the Boa Vista golf course. Many new construction along the way confused Antje and she missed the usual turn off towards the
coastal path. The later turning off point proved to be a better path though.
We returned to the start in good time for lunch which had been booked for one at Atalaya. Chris was waiting there for us.
My phone gave the distance walked at 6 km. It is usually correct. (except on this occasion, as it involved Antje estimating how far she had already done on her phone before the walk. I started my track at the Trig Point and walked back 3.5 km to my car above the beach! Nearer 7 Km I would say)

Not much to report. We have walked the route so many times.

I managed to resist the temptation to plough back through former walks here to get a more accurate estimation, but it follows basically ny Geocache trail, Cachewalker Porto de Mos, which was always just over 7km, even back in 2008 when this trail was set.

Back then this was as good as I could do for a proper  mapped route using the old military map.

And so we repaired to Atalaia for a less crowded than normal lunch inside .

Jawali stew

Rabbit stew

Feijoada?

Carapau

dessert 1

dessert 2

dessert 3

dessert 4

With soup (spinach)  Plus the usual coffee and medronha!! All for €12,50!

Thanks for the walk and lunch Antje,

Plus a few extra unattributed pics

And finally, rather than continue with John's walking songs, a diversion. Clint Eastwood will be 94 at the end of next month, Ennio Morricone who wrote the remarkable music to many of Clint's films died at the age of 91 in 2020.

   I was reminiscing recently with his music when I came across some recordings with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. I had never realised the amazing instruments that were used to produce someof these pieces. Worth watching and enlarging on your TV if you can watch You Tube on it. Here is a fine video.

And there are others in the series.