Rod's Out-Back walk 10th May 2006

The heat was such that most of the party required sticks for support!!

(Rod's report below)

Leader: Rod

Present; Janet, Gack, Ian S, Paul & Myriam, Terry A, Terry M, Monica, Kevin, Hazel & John, Dina & Vitor, Chris & Antje (and Jill A for the start)

Xana, Pooky, Archie, Tiggy (and Nathan for the start)

Area; Serra de Silves / R. de Odelouca

Weather: Mostly sunny, very warm...mid to upper 20’s and little wind.

Time; 5 hrs.

A 0900 start from Silves Cemetery with a 10 k drive up the S.Marcos road saw this unexpectedly large group, with a few new faces, set off from a point just below the Louro trig point. Of course we had to ascend to the trig point for the view as well as simply because it was there. Having taken that in we continued along a eucalyptus clad track heading south west. From it we had splendid views of the Odelouca valley, Picota and Foia in the background. We could still benefit from the recent fires in that much of the tree growth had been burnt allowing uninterrupted views. What was most evident however was the speed of recovery of the undergrowth and shrubs; particularly noticeable was the recovery of the arbutus which will doubtless be good news for the medronho drinkers.
After an hour or so we started descending to the valley floor. Despite a few reminders that every step down meant a step up on the return, nobody backed out! Towards the bottom, arrival at a ruined farmhouse reminded some folk that we had been around these parts before but from the opposite direction. It is a beautiful valley but soon to disappear for ever beneath the waters of the Odelouca Barragem construction of which is apparently about to recommence.
We had a few apprehensive moments teetering along a few tree trunks to cross the Odelouca but nobody got more than a wet foot. We wandered further along the banks of the river until we came to a verdant, shady patch where we opted for an early lunch. Better make the most of this lovely spot for in a year or two it will be under 30 m of water!

At this point it was decision time! Either to continue SW along a very long contour path to the new dam and then scramble up the west side back up to the ridge; or continue north on the east of the river and up that side before descending, crossing the river again and ascending back up again towards the start point; or , rather unimaginatively retracing our steps…..the easiest way back. A look round a few red and perspiring faces and considering it was a hot afternoon and we were on the lee side of the hill, we opted for the easiest choice, or some might say the wimpiest! …..in the event probably the right one!

Bridgebuilder Brunel Scott set off early from lunch, announcing that in the public interest he was going to improve the log bridge. Nobody even got their feet wet this time so he must have achieved something!

So we slowly plodded back up to the ridge, with one has to say quite a few recovery stops! ….. those with any energy left skipped up to the trig point again for a final look at the view, others took the less demanding contour route round the hill….and back to the cars. We repaired to the bar on the road back to Silves for a fairly welcome drink.

Comment: The hottest walk of the season so far - even the mild zephyrs along the ridges failed to alleviate the mid twenties heat. We had the pleasure, for the first time, of the company of John and Hazel, friends of Ian's who had recently immigrated full time from Dubai (no problem with the heat then!), Terry M's wife Monica, and Kevin who was over from UK to assist with painting Terry's house - and this was his reward on his day off! I measured the walk at 11 miles/17.5 km, and it seemed it, but it was probably less. Rod's decision to turn back and retrace our footsteps was applauded by most, and only partly because of a rare show of compassion for those less match-hardened, but also because he had attracted a larger number of walkers by advertising it as "gentle undulations 4-5 hours!" I think the original intention had been to cross over to the new Odelouca Reservoir, and link up with a previous walk. That we will have to leave for a cooler day.