WW 8th March 2006 - Go East!

Regrettably, Myriam and I were embroiled with our ongoing building saga, and missed this walk, But David has very kindly submitted the following notes which have passed the Censor!


WW Weblog. Wednesday Walk, 8th March 2006.
Walkers:-
Twolegs:- Terry A, Rod, Stan, Elaine, Hedley, Mike, David L.
Fourlegs:- Pookie, Oscar, Nathan.
Walk:- Mainly Tavira Camara Route PR4, with additions and subtractions to avoid tarmac. About 14k, taking in the villages of Feiteira, Castelao and Parizes, to the east and north-east of Barranco do Velho. The general feeling seemed to be that this is a very attractive circular, well worth repeating. There is a case for a working party to clear a lane at the end of the walk, avoiding the need for a clamber up a ploughed field. The walk is available in a leaflet published by C.M. Tavira. Terry, Rod and David L have copies. It involves two testing ascents and two stream crossings plus a 30m stream-bed plodge, but is otherwise free of obstacles other than the aforementioned blocked lane . There are two bars at Parizes, but the one actually on the route does not seem to open very often.
The Day
The small but perfectly formed band gathered at the Tia Bia for a 9.30 rendezvous, and went on to Feiteira in two vehicles. We walked out along the Castelao road, which was the first error, since the walk proper starts some 200m further into Feiteira, and joins the road a little further on. The day began under cloud, but cleared steadily to leave us walking very warmly under blue skies for the bulk of the time. At Castelao we left the prescribed route to avoid more road-walking, and ventured onto a section of the Via Algarviana from there to Parizes. Here the two walks coincide for the descent to the Odeleite, and then divide once more as the PR4 turns steeply back towards the N124. At the road, the bold decision was taken to rely on the OS map for a couple of k in order to cut off more blacktop - and it worked! In fact the valley we discovered was one of the highlights of the day, with a very attractive ‘green road’ running through it and back up to Feiteira. It was here, on the last 300m, that we met the blocked lane. Back at Feiteira we saw, but did not go up to, the old school which is now one of the three bunkhouses in the area, on the route of the 45k GR23. The group returned to the Tia Bia and sat for a rather longer than usual apres-walk in the sunshine - partly, it has to be said, because the detour had shortened the route somewhat.
Highlights:-
The leader’s suggestion that lunch be taken ‘because we’ve cracked this hill’, when, true to form, we were only halfway up it.
Rod’s innocent question - ‘ Whose stick is that?’ (pointing back the way we had come) just as we were all safely across the second stream and had donned our boots. Had the energy been available, harm could have been done.
Sadly, no photos this week, as no cameras were carried.
Our best wishes to those walkers unavoidably absent through irrness, summit confelences and tiring ellols. DR.