WAGS 22 12 2021 : Swinging in the Rain, or Kayaks and Tin Baths

 

What with holiday absences, persistent injuries, and imperative birthday party attendances, the WAGS turn-out this week was always going to be on the low side, whatever the weather. I thought that we might be six. But then, on the morning of the walk, a double disappointment – first Maria and then Ingrid cried off.

Thus deprived of two sources of sparkling, witty and informative conversation, the remaining four nevertheless put a bold face on it, took it on the chin, and sat down to contemplate what lay ahead.

The Starters: Hazel. Geraldine, Yves and JohnH

While making our way down to the canal, we saw the two Mira Rio owners in their horta loading absolutely massive cabbages into a wheel barrow - would they be for our lunch ?

At the canal crossing, somebody had installed an office chair on the elaborate wooden sidewalk, one wonders why? Somewhere to sit and contemplate the passing wild life perhaps?

Hazel discouraged anybody from sitting on it – the cushion was very wet – wisely so because, even worse than a Scotch Pie with a soggy bottom, is a soggy bottom of one´s own. Geraldine sat on it very briefly. ( Talking of Scotch Pies, as this blogger does from time to time, contain your excitement – there are only 27 days to go until the winner of the Scotch Pie World Championship 2022 is declared. But rest assured, I will keep you fully briefed.)

Not that there was much wild life in the canal. Someone in authority had turned the water off and all that could be seen was its muddy bottom. Not a snake to be seen, nor any phrogs either...well, none of the amphibious sort anyway.

At one stage, there were sounds of strenuous human activity emanating from  our right on the river, and there were some kayakers to be seen, paddling furiously away.

We did not wish to expend our energies quite so fast and paused when we wanted. To admire the view....

or to photograph nature.....

                  You have heard of SparrowFart. This is a SparrowBath, according to Yves.....

or to wonder what exactly it was that Archimedes discovered while sitting in his bath.

Archimedes' principle states that the upward buoyant force that is exerted on a body immersed in a fluid, whether fully or partially, is equal to the weight of the fluid that the body displaces. Archimedes' principle is a law of physics fundamental to fluid mechanics. It was formulated by Archimedes of Syracuse.

Apparently, he was trying to work out how to detect if something allegedly made of gold was in fact genuine or false. Archimedes reportedly exclaimed "Eureka" after he realized that how to detect whether or not a crown is made of impure gold is to balance the crown and some pure gold on a scale in the air and then lower the balanced scale into water. According to Archimedes' principle, if the density of the crown differs from the density of pure gold, the scale will get out of balance when under water.

Thoroughly interesting stuff, which serves very well to fill up a blog when there is not much to say.

From a hillside, and in a break in the rain, we had the usual good views of Silves. Yves recommended patience as he waited for the sun to break through the clouds but the clouds didn´t obey him and that perfect image remained elusive.

Maybe this is a better angle.

Then, half way through the walk, we stopped at Clube Nautico which provided us its usual warm welcome.

Then it was a relatively easy stroll back to the starting point. On the way, we saw some disgruntled looking cows.

What did you expect in this weather 

                                           You must be joking.

A final hill, much to Hazel´s displeasure,  and then home.

The Track and the Statistics

The good hostess at Mira Rio was in one of her good moods and we were soon ushered to a table for four. Unanimously, we went for chicken and chips.

Do I drink this through a straw ?

The food was so good that we scoffed it down before anyone could remember that we are meant to photograph it before eating. So here´s the evidence of the left-over bones to vouch for the eating.

On the way out, we resisted the temptation to buy one of their huge cabbages. And we forgot to take a photo of them but, take my word for it, they were truly ginormous.

And it didn´t rain too much.

May we all have a Happy Christmas and an Excellent New Year.