WAGS 2024 1211: Lagos Romance Long Gone, Or Lost In The Past

Just in case you are wondering what this week´s headline is all about. let me explain. When Myriam issued the walk instructions for one of those rare occasions where she was to be the Leader, the appointed rendezvous was the Restaurante HongYun. The HongYun is, externally, a rather tired looking Chinese restaurant,  whose Welcome Lanterns are distinctly faded and where there is little other enticing decoration to be seen. The car park, devoid of shelter, is overshadowed on one side by a motorway access route under which runs a utilitarian road tunnel leading to a Cash and Carry outlet with the inevitable and ceaseless attendant white van traffic. A few meters away on the other side is a depressing looking petrol station. 

Yet the street address is Vale da Amor. A Lover´s Lane once upon a time ! Where has the Romance gone and how long ago! 

Myriam will no doubt find the history behind the name. 

 The Leader´s Report

Three brave souls turned up at the start to accept the challenge of getting lost with the leader. Antje had confirmed her attendance by phone the night before. But in the morning, she chickened out with the following message:
*"Sorry Myriam I shan’t be walking as I came back from Scotland with a bug. Possibly from my grandson?*"
Though the early morning was very cold, 6°C on my terrace, the sun warmed the air quickly. It was a perfect day for walking. (In the Algarve, we have many perfect days!!)
After the obligatory start photo, we crossed the tunnel under EN125 and came to the Portuguese Water-dog breeding establishment. But today those lovely dogs were not seen running towards the fence. It was all so quiet on the inside. Further down this dirt track we came to a private garden with water falls and fowls. Previously there were peacocks running freely and their calls could be heard from afar. But we didn't see any of them on Wednesday.
Was it possible that Covid killed the Cães de Água and the Pavões?? 

If you need fencing, he´s your man.

We followed the path, passing some nice houses in a small settlement and turned left onto the abandoned farmlands. We had to tread carefully in case we walked into ditches hidden by tall weeds. Some surfaces were full of loose stones. But we all crossed the obstacles with dainty gaits, just like ballet dancers!

At every turning, the leader, who always doubts her "infamous" sense of direction, took out a printed map to confer with Sr. João Esperança.

The route was a figure of eight. Half way at the junction of 8, we crossed a drain tunnel under a lead road near a roundabout to A22.

In he goes

and out he comes.

Luckily it was bone dry, otherwise we would have to skirt round, thus stretching the distance and missed the lunch target time of 12.30!?

Then we headed in the direction of "Continente", on a large piece of rich farmland, parts of which are still used as pasture for cattle. It's called "Fonte Coberta". There are underground streams. Two wells are still filled with fresh water. But we didn't head over there to look into them.
The Câmera de Lagos has a plan to acquire this area for a project of Social Housing for 400 "fogos". Allegedly, they are in the process of purchasing the land. Well........
We shall see....
There, John received an urgent call from Antje asking our time of arrival!! She wanted lunch!!
And we had all thought she was not well enough to leave the house!! ?

Soon after, we skirted round the wall of the Cemetery and passed the Municipal Kennel where the strayed dogs are kept, waiting to be adopted. There are volunteers who take the dogs out for walks

The Senior Resident

Then, back in the Vale da Amor, instead of peacocks, we saw pigs and piglets

How romantic.

. Another 30 minutes, we got back to our cars which were parked just outside the restaurant.
What a relief!! The leader hadn't led the small flock astray!!
This was our first visit to this "Buffet- all-that-you-can-
eat" establishment since Covid. We were not sure if the service and quality would be the same.
It turned out to be satisfactory.
I will leave the food critics to report on the lunch.
Thank you all for coming for the walk and lunch and for those who sent apologies with valid excuses!!

The Track and the Statistics

Well,we had thought that the previous week´s walk had set all time minimum records but this set some even lower: distance of  4.6 kms v. 4.8 kms previously. Standing around talking time: 60 minutes v. 49 minutes. Average speed 2.8 kph v. 3.6 kph.

JohnH caught a virus: Myriam´s remedy was hot tea.

The Lunch

A good variety of food in the self-service buffet and also a good selection of raw meats and seafoods available to be taken to the hot plate and cooked on the spot.

 

Interesting sweets

All in all, a good lunch spot. variety of food, hot or cold, and a wine list; good value being all you can eat for €10.50 excluding drinks. 

Thanks to Myriam for the outing. Photo credits -JohnH, Lesley and Myriam.