WAGS 20.10.2021- Once more unto the Beach

 

Early at Meia Praia in October 2021
(An aircraft flies across the low sun)

   This title has probably been used before, but no-one except John would notice!

        After Rod's invigorating season opener last week, I decided on a gentle Strictly Come WAGSing stroll along my local beach, Meia Praia.. 'Half Beach' may seem an odd name for a beach that is over 5 km long, but in fact historically it refers to half of the very long strip of golden sand that stretches from Lagos to Alvor, which is now divided by the Mole and Typhoon Shelter of the Ribeira de Odiaxere.

   Not to labour the point, but it had great appeal to me, as that Wednesday was a full moon and the tides were at their lowest for a month at precisely 0905 am. This not only gave us a flat firm base for aged knees and ankles,  but also held the promise that there would be no undulations. Further Myriam, who was the nominal leader would be unable to get uncertain of position, and in fact you could walk as far as you desired up to 11km or so, simply by turning back when you felt you had done half your required exertion or even, if you have a fitness device, burnt half the calories you intend to eat for lunch!. In fact at the 3 km point is  Bar Quim the last cafe on the beach, which Myriam and I have haunted since it was a tin hut in 1997, before regulation made the owner rebuild in line with Health and Safety. A good waypoint.

Good or bad luck?  The jury is still out!

Most people have heard of the superstition regarding a black cat crossing your path. That is derived from European folklore claiming that a black cat crossing one’s path by moonlight often signified death by epidemic. More than likely, a black cat crossing your path simply means the cat is going somewhere!

However going all the way back to 3000 BC, black cats were held in the highest esteem and to harm one was considered a capital crime. Sailors throughout history have believed having a black cat on board their ship would bring good luck.  (click the blue link for an article on 7 Famous Seafaring Felines, - a free bonus!)

I prefer the latter explanation for the above cat which was disdainfully grooming its nether regions at the Cat Hotel.

We met at the New Railway Station Cafe, as Yves had expressed an intention to travel by CF Pullman coach to the walk, and conveniently the train was scheduled to arrive in Lagos at 08:58 am. However, omnibus paribus, (NB That does  not mean that the bus stopped), he was forced to drop out because of the good old benefit claimers' stand-by - a bad back! Anyway we all knew where it was. I say 'all' but that only refers to the 5 WAGS who made the effort to enjoy a day of Fun in the Sun.   I had left a car halfway along the beach at Bar Quim just in case anyone had a problem.

       In my call circular I had stressed the fact that clothes were optional and light footwear only was needed to negotiate the short paved track to the sand, However, John, still suspicious, having believed Rod's claim of an easy opener, was fully attired for an ascent of Everest with boots, socks, thornproof long trousers and an anorak! Hazel and Maria were both in long trousers and fleeces with their Monchique boots on too.

Official Stats from John's Whaddaya call it.

Look at the average speed!!

 Four of the party did the full 11km. I dropped out on the return leg at Bar Quim, (8.65km) so as not to exceed WAGS parameters, to have a coffee, pick up my car and scout a place for lunch.

Back to the Start

        So as we stood there in the 24 degree sun, with a zephyr of SW wind, I asked them to check the options. Luckily Maria had shorts with her, and although Hazel's alternate shorts reached mid calf,  the two ladies compromised by hanging their boots round their necks. John however stumped off down the beach getting full money's worth from his Decathlon boots and yomping gear.

Before.....

.....and After

Myriam has beach walked before -   resplendent in red, barefoot and stowing a pair of slippers

But I am getting ahead with the photos. We drove in our two cars to the start at the Cat Hotel and took a starter photo.

Paul, Maria, Hazel, Myriam and John in front of the Cat Hotel, recently refurbished.

Carefully choreographed so John could climb a hill and to even up the heights. My legs out on a rare exposure to the sun, shod in Birkenstock Arizona EVA ( where EVA stands for  Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate, NOT Extra Vehicular Activity such as Space Walking)

Before we even left the Cat Hotel things started, A splashing to our right revealed a pioneer who had just surfed across the Marina entrance channel. I think he was a little bit eccentric as there was a perfectly good ferry right there for 60  cents!

Saved himself 60 cents or a long walk from townside.

There was plenty of surfing at the start of the beach and there were lots of kids and instructors from surf schools.

Surf caterpillar

   

These apparently are good beginner waves!

Some of the surfers found a jellyfish.

A worry for some!, But it wasn't as big as the one the WAGettes found further down the beach!

    We also found an ex-Atlantic Sea Hare which washed up on the beach. Only one or two this time, but depending on the wind and sea we have had tens of them on Meia Praia and alive too.

Here is a short vid of a live one swimming. They can be up to about 40cm long.

 

The Atlantic Sea Hare. Harmless, but when attacked will emit a purple dye. ( The YT video can be opened to full screen if desired)

The predominant wind for the last few days had been SW, and the western end of the beach, last Sunday, had been layered with thick seaweed, of two or three types.

Maybe Sea Oak ( Halidrys siliquosa) or Cystosera
(or maybe jamon)

 If you want to know more about seaweed please ask Myriam, as she has not only been to a lecture on edible seaweeds, but more recently a presentation on undersea forests.

A lot of this had been cleared by the Camara, and sea action, by Wednesday but there was enough left for 4 of us to luxuriate on the feeling of squeezing our toes into it. Not John though. He resolutely maintained full uniform and boots and stayed out of the sea!!

He ploughs a lone furrow

John happily seized on the opportunity to get away from all the girlish chatter and set off purposefully down the beach.

Looking straight ahead he refused to be distracted from his walk.....

Even ignoring a female Yogi throwing some shapes!

Myriam too, hit her stride early on while Hazel and Maria ambled in the background discussing the slugs!

Plenty of time to chat later - stretch your legs.

By the time we got near Bar Quim the ladies decided to go off piste for a  ...    so John and I strode on together to the Eastern end of the beach. I educated him on the foibles of coffee grinders, and the science of pulling a good shot.' which he digested in a contemplative silence. 

Some of the photos I didn't witness, as Hazel took them- and no-one knows what they were talking about.!!!

Chatting up a local fisherman, but he wasn't taking the bait!

Maria goes strapless - Hazel in AWW uniform T-shirt and Tilley

Halfway: What can the matter be?  Luckily they  weren't confined in the facilities at Bar Quim like 3 other old ladies had been!!

At the end of the beach where John and I were patiently waiting, we met the bikini clad Lina, a former AWW from before John's time, who lived near us in Mariposa.

A limpet

The other side of the story!

She was hunting limpets on the rocks of the mole.

A friendly German couple helped take these two photos with Lina. How many remember her? Maria adding some decorum by fixing her straps!

I must have a word with Hazel about spoiling other people's light!!And Maria in the lower one.

We set off back after a short chat -some fast and me slowing up! As I said I dropped out at Bar Quim, had an abatonad' cheia and some banter with Louisa, and then went to see what was for lunch. 

     I decided on Quintal do Peixe a little known restaurant/bar, which even though it is not right on the beach, still has beach prices, but they do a good job, and the genial host, Louis is very convivial, and claims to speak 7 languages including 3 African ones. He was born in the French Congo.. No one was burning to get away, and even little Figaro was trusted to guard Casa Esperanca by himself. A pleasant unhurried proper lunch as befits our seniority.

Just on the sea side of the beach road.

A nice big grill. We were the first to arrive.

The grill was at a perfect temperature so we decided on little calamari for  starters, 4 portions of sardines (28 for VIPs) and  a big lump of  grilled fresh squid.

Baby lulas

One portion of sardines (approved by Maria)

And Large Squid, grilled, chopped and drowned in onions, coentro and other stuff!

   A very pleasant reward for a WAGS walk which for some went precariously over the limit, but seemed to be less deleterious to well-being than Rod's strict WAGS parameter easy walk at the barragem.

My Huawei watch's effort at recording the walk, except I forgot to turn it off at Bar Quim at the 8.96km  point where I got into my car and headed to the Quintal do Peixe!

Sidney Bechet - Moulin a Cafe (note there is no subscription or phishing trap associated with this video. Your feet might start tapping and you could even sway a little!.) 

My lecture on trying to be a barista must have struck a chord with John, as along with his photos of the walk he very kindly sent me a lively version of Moulin a Cafe by Sidney Bechet.  It seems to act like caffeine and does grow on You.

And now almost finally - an old favourite not Maria but the Caption Competition.

Answers by comment WhatsApp or email .   blah blah

I have been forbidden from entering this competition!!

Now a little more on the seeming apathy and lack of interest in reading Whatsapp or emails, Blogs, joining walks and generally the WAGS. 

      The AWW are holding their 25th Anniversary and we are some way towards our 7th, the first mention in blogging of the WAGS being in March 2015, in a post entitled Oh No! Not Another Blog!

It was intended to allow members to let off steam, unburden themselves, or to bring items of interest to other WAGS. Needless to say, in that respect it failed miserably, but I kept it open and very occasionally posted something of the walks and other matters in 2015..

          By the following season, we had more applications from Burnt-Out AWW 's to be WAGS, and after a selection process chaired by The Committee, applications were approved or black-balled as incompatible. A proper walking blog  entitled Wednesday Algarve Geriatric Strollers was opened on 12th October 2016 with a post entitled 'We've Still Got it' on a walk in Romeiras. Nine present (+ 3 dogs) in the starter photo for that walk plus Dona Aldina , owner of Casa Pacheco. The Blog address is HERE   and you have to scroll down to the very bottom to read that blog.

Since then numbers have fluctuated but often the turnout has been 10 or so.

       Now I feel there is a shift in the biosphere and less are willing to participate or walk. I sent out a couple of pleas to all 22 WAGS (20 on WhatsApp) last week, to check if anyone was still out there.

        I received 12 replies, and only 5 came to this walk. I can only assume that the group will continue with 12, until ................?

         I doubt if I will complete many full walks this season myself, but I will do my best and hope to enjoy the social side, and if there are any others (than those 12) who want to join in occasionally please let me know. If you prefer to work from home, OK  . I understand the effect that Covid, and not just the regulations but common sense, has, may make people think again about meeting , but let me know if you are up to it please. 

   

   To finish on an upbeat note , two cheerful pieces of music:

   Beautiful Morning

Lovely Day

 

Hope to see you on future walks.