WAGS 2026 02 18: Dam Water

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 After an unusual four week break occasioned by outbreaks of flu and rain storms, the WAGS started to walk again when Rod decided that we should go and inspect the water levels at Bravura. The result of this expedition was a plethora of spectacular photos and videos, with contributions by Rod, Myriam, Maria,  Antje and Anon and also, if I am not mistaken, two or three very good shots taken by Janet Summerfield the previous day. All this making the selection process of which ones to include in the blog very challenging.

To set the scene, this shows the Bravura barragem in February 2025:-


and this is what Rod and his group saw before them in February 2026:-


Here is Rod´s report.

WAGS 18/2

On an overcast but pleasant enough day a modest assembly....Maria, Myriam, Antje, Christl and Rod...gathered at the Odeaxere square coffee shop. The plan was to go to the Bravura Dam to see the results of all the rains to water levels, so we piled into one car and set off for the dam.







  From the walk down towards the Dam one could see immediately that it was full and that water was pouring over the top sluices.. 











There were a few chaps fiddling around with spanners on the walkway and they informed us they were measuring movement in the dams structure, movement being necessary, apparently, to allow expansion and contraction in the concrete. 


These chaps informed us that the dam had not been this full since 2015.   We were relieved to be assured that all was normal however and it was not about to collapse. The dam height is around 30 metres so the weight of water is obviously considerable.

Rod checks to see that it is safe
Over the dam the narrow path to the left has suffered a bit from minor rock falls but still quite passable. Along the perimeter track the water had come right up to and, in places, over the path.

 We decided to go up to the ridge track partly to get some exercise and partly to get a wider view of the whole lake.


 Time was, as usual, of an essence and we descended  down the first track back down to water-level again. And so back again over the dam to be greeted  with the most welcome surprise of being met by John and Hazel...




Hazel looking amazing after everything she had been through. And so to lunch.

Lunch was back at Odiaxiere in the Fogo De Lenha Café and Grill.

Antje and Cristl ate early and then rushed off to some medical appointment or other. The rest of us were then treated to a slap-up lunch by Rod since it was his birthday, which was very kind of him.

Omelette was the favoured dish of the day

although Myriam went for the lulas







Among the puddings, I thought that the toasted almond mousse was especially good.

After lunch, calamity struck:


Maria´s boots collapsed. Luckily, she had a chauffeur to drive her home.


Comments

  1. Myriam24 February 2026 at 06:30

    It was really good to walk again after so many cancellations due to the weather and health. The day was made more memorable as our leader turned one year wiser. He was wise enough not to lead us further on and miss our lunch!!
    The lunch was especially delicious because it was kindly paid for by the birthday boy!
    Thank you very much!
    The most recent calculation of the total amount of water released from all the barragens in Portugal would be enough for the consumption of the whole national population for half a century!! Only if it could be stored!!

    ReplyDelete

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