WAGS 2024 12 04: Records Were Broken At Silves

 Negative records, that is, it has to be said. Probably one of the slowest and shortest WAGS walks on record. 28 minutes went by before we even started and, once under way, so many stops and pauses. Roughly 40 minutes of the total 2 hours 10 minutes journey were spent standing around and talking.

The Track and the Statistics

The Walk

There is no Leader´s report: perhaps he is too embarrassed by the event to submit one.

Obviously we stopped to look at the work being done on the Ponte Romano. Will it be in white stucco when the work is over, or in plain exposed stone? Who knows at this stage?

Then, horror of horrors, we had to walk over the main motorised traffic bridge - tarmac plus traffic.

Eventually, we did get round to the business of taking the Starter Photograph, about i hour after the advertised starting time..

We then climbed up the steep slope to the Silves pumping station, for the view over the town.

A not-too-long conversation then took place with a botanical medicine healer.who was collecting grass of some sort for his tea.

The usual heron was seen in the river.

Then a rather longer conversation took place with the events organisers of a wine tasting at the Quinta de Mata Mouros - has Rod got something up his sleeve? Watch this space.

Maria then rang the bel to the Quinta, safe in the knowledge that the staff were outside and that the door would not creak open..

and we also managed to take a group photograph before turning back towards home, after little over 2 kilometres.

Down on the river, the heron was till there.

As was the main traffic bridge.

Photographs were then taken of new monuments and graffiti in Silves.

The Lunch

Bitoques de Peru were on offer,  and very adequate if plain rations they were too. You could have them with rice....

or with chips.

Geraldine opted for a well-filled bifana

while Rod chose a more abstemious egg and tomato roll.

Myriam kept a close eye on the time.

and later submitted this post-walk meditation.

"It was the most unusual walk of any Wednesday, as far as I can remember!

I think we talked and stood still much longer than we walked. But it was most relaxing and enjoyable! I thoroughly loved it!!

I quite look forward to its being a precedent for future Wednesday "outings"! 
We definitely spent more time at the lunch table than we did walking!!
The lunch wasn't of excellent ingredients. But for €10 for a Menu do Dia, all inclusive, we mustn't ask for more. We are lucky that there are still proprietors around to offer meals at affordable prices for the locals and pensioners. We must support the local economy!!
Though the walk wasn't tiring at all, I was suddenly hit by sleepiness on A22 on the way home. I parked at the last petro/rest station and dozed off for half an hour!
Woke up fully refreshed!! Wonderful!!
Now, at 21.30, I am ready to get into bed for another good sleep!!"