Terry's Via Algarviana Walk

Wednesday 15th February 2006
Walk: Salir to Alte 15 km 3 hours

Leader: Terry
Walkers:
David;Paul;Myriam;Gack;Hedley;Stan; Elaine.+ Peter and Nan (visitors) (10)
Nathan; Archie (2)

Comment: A lateral walk in support of Terry on the Via Algarviana

David and Terry's long project to establish and mark a definitive version of Via Algarviana reached a point in February 2006 when Terry felt that he would like to attempt the whole route solo. Back up would be provided by Jill, Dinah and David in the main, and our hero set off on Sunday 12th February, accompanied by Peter and Nan, friends over from UK for a week.
Great progress was made, and a rendezvous was arranged with the regular WW's on Day 4, Wednesday 15th, for a section from Salir to Alte. It was a pleasant cool sunny day, and I had decided to use the opportunity to attempt to log the route using Bamboo Diagrams in real time.
Apart from a blip when my Kilometer pedometer refused to record anything except random strides, and I had to switch to the good old faithful mile pedometer, I largely managed to keep up, although I haven't yet attempted to translate my scrawled shorthand into a legible booklet. We all admired the stencilled cistus flower Waymarks, which taken in conjunction with David's written description, should enable anyone to follow the route with ease.
Maurice, whose original concept had been to lay out the path across the Algarve from Alcoutim to Cape St Vincent, was very excited about Terry's attempt, and had cajoled Esme into bringing him to Alte to meet us at lunchtime. The walk was shorter than usual because of the need to inform walkers and the logistics of a lateral walk, and we accomplished it in just over 3 hours despite a 20 minute break in the garden near the 'nora' in Benafim. This section is not typical of the Via Algarviana, as there are longish stretches of tarmac, but David and Terry, with an eye to the future decided that there was merit in the occasional tour through the pretty villages of Penina and Benafim.
Maurice and Esme duly arrived at our picnic site near the Fonte in Alte, which has much improved, to the extent of having slate topped tables and benches for public use, a small stage area with banked seating on the other side of the path, and not least, excellent toilet facilities, including a very hi-tech disabled toilet which won Maurice's hearty approval, not having to contain his lunchtime beer until Esme could get him home!!
After lunch, Terry, Nan and Peter continued on in the direction of Messines, while the rest of us availed ourselves of a ride in Jill's Big Blue Van back to the start and called it a day.

Update: Terry has made good progress and is taking Friday (today) and Saturday off. He will start again on Sunday, and hopes to reach Cape St. Vincent by Wednesday evening.