WAGS 29.12. 2021: An Alte Leg Stretcher

 

I knew, immediately on arrival at the start in Alte, that we were in for something special that morning. Team Ames was there in force, very business-like. Terry the Legs tightening his boot laces; Claire the Marathon Runner going through her warming-up routines; and Becky the Greyhound doing the stretches.

Even Hazel joined in the loosening-up exercises.

I was right about the something special; we put in something like double the previous week´s mileage. (That should keep a certain distant "critic" of the WAGS quiet, or at least quieter) !

It was a good day for walking, even if there were melancholy moments as we remembered AWWs Mark Harmon and Vitor Peres, who have walked ahead of us.

Here is Terry A´s report. Unfortunately, Blogger can´t reproduce the emoticons which coloured his original message.

Well, I’m sitting outside in the late afternoon sun, glass of white wine in hand, thinking of what to write about, I chose to walk from Alte as that ticked all the boxes for coffee, toilet etc. Walking today were JohnH, Hazel, Geraldine, Ingrid, my daughter Claire, Becky, and lastly myself. 

The Starters. Baltazar the Donkey did not join us.

The walk was going to be on tracks we had walked before but it was at least three years since I had last walked them and I knew there was a new bit which the Camera and Almargem had been rerouting the VA, a new track that zigzag up the hill it looked easy but it was anything but.

The hill up to Julia was steep enough

It had us all puffing and panting must have been on the limit of WAG’s criteria, we were walking tall but that was all the mud on our boots.  

Checking the route

At Rocha Amarela, after the muddy bit

A bit of road soon got rid of that, we passed through Benafim Pequeno,

Sharon fruit, diospiros, persimmons, whatever

and down the back lane to reach the Fontes and back into Alte, I won´t say we were walking slow but the distance was just a tad over 15km. 

The signs, they are a-changing

The O Fouklour Restaurant was doing a roaring trade, after a short wait for a table there was still some food left as long as it was pork or chicken. Grub was OK, the service was quick, the drinks cold. We raised a toast to absent friends and quiet remembrance. The meal was excellent, plates cleaned up. It was a perfect day for walking, we pushed ourselves a bit, but glad we could still do it.

The Track and the Statistics

(Two excellent versions of the track from Terry´s AllTrails gizmo.)

So that’s it another year gone, let’s see what 2022 will bring; good things I hope. good health is the one thing that matters to us all as we get older, not wealth. Someone asked me the other day if I was happy! I thought what is happy? I say no more.

I will take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy New Year. Terry & Jill + Becky.