WAGS 2026 04 01: A Full Odelouca Dam, or Not A Fool To Be Seen

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 The Leader´s Report



An unusually large crowd of WAGS: namely John & Hazel, Myriam, Maria, Lesley, the rarely seen Dina, Yves and Rod, assembled somewhere between the Bar Pareirinha and Rest. Oriq.  Neither were open, so coffee was there none.  This meant we set off rather more punctually than usual..necessary indeed since we were driving up to the Odelouca Dam. 




At this point I feel I should refer you to Hazel´s description of the walk in her diary of the following day which amongst other matters covered the salient points eminently well.  Indeed the dam was full and indeed the track we followed was blocked, although not impassibly, by frequent rockfalls caused by the heavy rains earlier in the year. 



There are only a couple of points I could possibly add: first, a considerable amount of time was spent  searching for Cistus flowers with  up to the rare and elusive 10 red blobbed petals and the almost as rare virgin white petals....



....doubtless there will be ample photographic evidence: 

secondly, at the furthest point of our route at a multiple crossroads, the party split...some opting to return back along the same track and others continuing along a slightly longer loop.  This latter passed an area in the process of extensive deforestation and terrace bulldozing.



 Upon enquiring  from a member of heavily motoserra armed teams  as to what their mission was, we were informed that their job was clearance – to do what they were told to do - and quite for what purpose was beyond their remit.


Contrasting Views: this one 1 04 2026


this 4 11 2022



The best seat in the house

  Both parties arrived back at the cars at about the same time and headed back to the Rest.Oriq where we had a table booked.  This establishment, under the same ownership, has been extensively revamped in style, substance and inevitably price since we were last there some years ago.  Only open for lunch, it seems very popular however...all the terrace tables being full.  And as for the WAGSAL reaction...well, over to the WAGSAL gourmet review.

The Track and the Statistics




The Lunch

Ridiculously expensive small servings of couvert.





















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