WAGS 07.03.2018 Carrapateira: Chris's (mini) walk.

        Having missed a week because of hydrophobia, we just had to go ahead even with a marginal weather report, predicting the onset of rain in the afternoon. So we arrived at Carrapateira on a partially sunny 10C morning, with the cafe open, and all well except those walkers carrying injuries and ailments.
   Eight hardy WAGS turned up, Chris leading, heavily supervised by Antje, Rod with a strained fetlock, which only affected him when going up or downhill, so OK for a WAGS walk, Myriam coughing like a sailor on 40 Blue Liners a day, Frank , rather chipper and enjoying the (temporary) bachelor life, a couple of moles from the AWW, Ingrid and Yves, and myself wondering how to pad out the blog. Four Tilleys out of 8 wasn't bad, but Myriam and Chris could have helped the stats. Sasha and Shelly made up the walkers.

Before Chris' comprehensive report, a couple of matters arising.

'Bill Evans, a professor of human nutrition at the University of California, Berkeley who first described sarcopenia, said studies suggest that consuming protein and some carbohydrates within 30 to 40 minutes after a workout may have a greater effect stimulating muscle protein.'

       It was not just happenstance that I have insisted that WAGS walks culminate with a tosta mista or bifana specifically to stimulate our muscle protein after our exertions!  To save you the trouble of 'looking that up in your Funk and Wagnell's', sarcopenia is age-related muscle loss.

   The Internet now is full of click bait, thousands of lists, but apart from the self publicising young trendies, the bulk is made up of miracle diets for achieving some purpose or other.

Most include the phrase 'Research suggests' or 'Research shows' and they rarely  get round to elucidating or citing that 'Research'. An example that does (click on 'Research suggests':-

'Research suggests that older adults may benefit from protein levels that are higher than the current federal dietary guidelines' recommended daily allowance.' 

Now this is one I want to believe! It goes on:-

'Animal proteins including dairy, chicken, fish, eggs and lean red meat are complete proteins that contain all of the essential amino acids required for muscle growth.'

I should be virtually muscle-bound by now, rather than slightly portly and ashamed to look at my BMI.

'What else can you do? Regular cardiovascular exercise such as walking, jogging or biking  (check) is also important for preventing weight gain, improving your body's response to insulin and reducing the kind of fat that builds up deep inside your abdomen and leads to inflammation, which can contribute to numerous diseases including heart disease, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

Simply reducing sedentary behaviour by engaging in more active leisure time can also help.(check). Getting adequate sleep and managing stress is also helpful, as this optimises the hormones in your body associated with building muscle. (Maybe this is where I am going wrong)

What you eat, in addition to adequate amounts of high-quality lean protein, is very important. Besides reducing sugar and highly processed refined carbohydrates, our diets should be rich in colourful fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, and moderate amounts of healthy fats including olive oil, nuts, seeds and avocado.(check) All of these foods help reduce inflammation and provide high-quality antioxidants to optimise muscle protein synthesis and maintain the health of existing muscle fibre.'

And then the final clincher:-

Finally, make sure to have your vitamin D levels checked by your doctor. Vitamin D levels decrease with age due to decreased production by the skin in response to sunlight, (plenty of that here) decreased sun exposure due to more time spent indoors and weight gain, which can lower vitamin D levels. (Oh no!) Low vitamin D levels have been associated with sarcopenia, so taking a daily supplement if you are low is important.

All these interventions are not only important for building and maintaining muscle, they are important for optimal health as you age. The sooner you build them into your life, the better your chances of not just living longer but living better.

Sounds sensible and allowing for occasional hedonistic lapses this is what I will do. Will you?

Back to the walk, and the only track we have this week provided by Rod, owing to battery failure and software glitches in the CB's equipment. (ignore the spelling - you know where we went and it was entered on a phone with big fingers while on the move).

Chris wrote a short summary, which I received before the weekend was totally ruined in Paris, over which we shall draw a veil.

Previously known as Chris's Carrapateira (mini ) Walk this variant was first undertaken to popular acclaim in October 2006. Needless to say that over the years it became ever extended to cater for the fit and healthy seeking a challenge, but was always considered to be a pleasant day out on the West Coast whatever the weather.
Dodging wind , heavy rain and hail storms eight WAGs, Paul & Myriam, Rod, Frank, Ingrid, Yves, Antje and myself plus respective dogs assembled at Cafe Bravo in the hope that there would be a window of fine weather before the forecast rainstorms blew in.
Taking the more level route, avoiding trig points and by only climbing one steepish hill we completed the inland loop without any drama and with the clouds building up but no sign of rain. Reaching the main road and with the prospect of a quick sprint to Praia do Amado the consensus was to return to Cafe Bravo by the shortest route with the prospect of rain coming in from the West. A wise decision which meant that we all arrived dry and were able to enjoy the excellent snacks on offer at the Cafe.
Plenty of time to complete the other half of the walk some other time.

Yes we were carrying a lot of walking wounded as I mentioned and the walk was adapted to current WAGS needs and despite being a little short in both time and distance, was ultimately considered satisfactory as an outing and well justified the protein we packed in at the end. There was a half-hearted suggestion from Antje to complete the other half in the afternoon, but this was largely and wisely ignored because as the last stragglers left Cafe Bravo, large drops of rain began falling and continued for some time!!

We set off towards the green fields behind Carrapateira

At the first stop, and just before the 'steepish' (brutal?) hill, Myriam handed out her signature hard liquorice energy tablets. Rod made the expensive mistake of trying to grind his with his molars, and  the molar crown lost. he actually looked quite happy at the prospect of another visit to Annie Schwarzkopf to repair the damage! Can't think why!

He was still talking quite aimably to Myriam some time later with no sign of pending litigation!!

The Mimosas were coming out well to replace the almond blossom washed away in the previous rains.

Antje contributed this shot, of a fine example of this variant.

Before long  ( and before the rain) we were back at Cafe Bravo....

where most went for the high protein bifanas to build muscle.

Rod's Galaxy powered ViewRanger provided some minimal stats.

But a little delving into the depths of the app produced a better summary:-

Well there we are. We overcame the sedentary - ate the protein, but alas the sun didn't give us our dose of Vitamin D, so keep taking the tablets!!

Saved for a rainy day

      The AWW had already expressed doubt that their walk would go ahead when they announced it the Saturday before, when weather reports were predicting a 90% chance of rain on the following Wednesday. The walk was definitely cancelled the evening before when the weather report was the same.
       The optimistic WAGS leaders for the week, Chris and Antje finally conceded defeat at 0727 on Wednesday morning when the forecasters appeared to have been vindicated, although there was a dry enough spell for them to take Sasha for a walk to Ponte da Piedade between 9 and 10. The decision was correct as we had a hailstorm shortly after midday. At least we weren't contending with 'The Beast from the East' as our countrymen had nicknamed the weather 'event' currently affecting the East of England and Scotland. In fact with the cloud cover we had temperatures of 15 or 16C in Lagos.
      But it was a Wednesday and something had to be done, even if it was only brain exercise in front of the computer.

    A little research uncovered a video attachment sent by a friend, from whom I normally receive cartoons and pictures of oversized mammary glands.  I stuck with it (you may not!) expecting a punch line or something witty, but alas (spoiler) it never happened! It turned out to be what the anonymous author considered to be a 25 bullet point recipe for a long healthy and worthwhile life. 
      I dislike these lists at the best of times, but this was unbelievably trite and led me to wonder what sort of person dreams these up, and turns them into a presentation which is sent all over the world.  Perhaps someone like myself with time on his or her (PC) hands on a rainy walkless day, but with higher ideals, morals and a comfortable existence.

  Here it is: 

    As I have repeatedly said, I wasn't going anywhere,  so I analysed it.   This is the result:-

#1  Agreed
#2  Possible - but not just before bedtime!
#3  I am not sure that a King has a TM for breakfast. Also the beggars staple of a fag and a bottle of desperately cheap plonk doesn't really meet my evening dining habits.
#4  Hmmm - I havent found a good TM or Bifana tree yet. Chips are good though.
#5  ..... and Easygoing, Ecstatic and Elegant.
#6  I try to avoid reflection - particularly mirrors.
#7  Pilates OK, unsalted crisps NO, who needs soda?
#8  Why? What's wrong with reading your Pad or your phone?
#9  Yes. Usually when M isn't talking to me!
#10  If only.........
#11  Walk yes - inane fixed grin no. I look unhinged enough already.
#12  It's all about ME.
#13  A few Doctors might dispute that!
#14  They should! I might have a gun!
#15  Note this one, Ladies!
#16  But I really need a new Porsche!!
#17  And it's getting shorter. I hate that!
#18  If only I could remember it........
#19  Speak to Her Indoors - she's in charge of everything!
#20  Plus ca change.......
#21  I don't remember getting Blessed.
#22  Call them what?
#23  The benefit of my advice.
#24  Unless they tell you...
#25  A matter of opinion. Some lives are fairer than others.

Now if you skipped or couldn't view the link, then I hope you are intrigued by the 25 responses. If not, you need to read the original advice and live by it!


     Further on through the day, while the reservoirs were visibly replenishing, I came across an article which made me think.   I like many of you have back pain from time to time, and I try to avoid it by refusing to do anything that requires me to 'put my back into it' as is commonly heard from those with good strong backs.  This, when I tried it made sense, so I will adopt it for a trial period. Unfortunately Katya, my Pilates instructor is young enough not to suffer from the effect of gravity and aging on a back that was designed before we stood on two legs.  She insists on some exercises at odds with this hip folding method. For those that haven't seen it, here is the article.

 SPARE YOUR BACK

   I sent the article to selected athletes and within an hour or so, it prompted this learned rumination from John H.

If ever I find myself having to bend down to pick up a feather in the future (instead of simply instructing a minion to pick up said pinion for me) well, now I know just how to do it.

In the same vein, I was browsing through today´s The Daily Telegraph and perused, perhaps rather more closely than I usually do -  because of the rain outside -  the Court Circular dated 27th February.

The bit in the Circular that caught my eye was this - and I quote:-

“By command of The Queen (note the capital T), Mr Alistair Harrison (Marshall of the Diplomatic Corps) received His Excellency Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan Bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin at St James´s Palace....”

After I had finished creasing myself with laughter at the twenty one words used to name this guy (who is actually known to his mates simply as Aminuddin bin Abidin and is probably without doubt the very model of a Major General), I noted the inversion of Seri and Paduka in the titles held by both the son and the father. Could that be correct, or has the DT made a typo or, even worse, has Buckingham Palace cocked things up and is a Diplomatic Incident afoot?

So, as the rain continued to pour down, I consulted Wikipedia.

Blimey, if you ever want to read up on a subject of mindblowing complexity, try reading  “Malay styles and titles”. Any way, from that article, it seems that, depending on how he feels any one day the Sultan of Brunei confer the title of Dato Seri Paduka or, if the wind is from the north-north-west, Dato Paduka Seri.

So, perhaps, both the DT and Buckingham Palace got it correct, despite the complexity.

Final thought, since paduka is an Indian form of sandal, and since Malays as Moslems find footwear dirty and haram, one wonders why they bestow it as an honorific.

         Why indeed? Perhaps the gentlemen so honoured would be barred from entering the Kowloon Cricket Club in Hong Kong, where there was a large sign at the entrance forbidding wearers of "thongs and cutoffs". 

Remember this was the 80's when thongs were not akin to those nowadays, sported on the pleasure beaches of Europe, but was merely an Australian term for what we know as 'flip-flops'. Indeed, it is doubtful if a modern thong wearer would be ejected from the Club, but probably politely applauded as she sashayed round the boundary rope. The thong in those far off Colonial days was probably a simile for a paduka.  The cut-off was a T- or Polo shirt with the sleeves cut off, surfer style. 

     It brings to mind another sign outside KCC right through the 70's which clearly stated " No Dogs nor amahs", and an apocryphal sign many years earlier:-

 But that is a story for another rainy day.

WAGS Away. May 2017

Since the WAGS activities have been curtailed recently by voluntary absences spending the kids' inheritances, various medical interventions and appointments, and many other unspecified reasons, I have found myself with nothing to publish until John H's APAPS gears up again.
    Further, while Myriam and I were gallivanting to UK and then the Baltic States, Big Brother in the form of Google Photo Assistant, was showing a keen interest in the snaps we took, selecting the representative few from many, and arranging them thoughtfully.
     What more, I thought to myself, would entertain and occupy the WAGS in these 'in between' days, than a fascinating record of our sojourn. And so without further ado, our trip in pictures:-

The Big Adventure


If any reader would like to share their own  recent activities, then please write a post to this log, or send me something to publish.

"To travel is to discover that everybody else is wrong about other countries".

                              Aldous Huxley.

The Fable of the Ducks and Hens

I was rather taken by this piece, fable/parable almost which has so many applications to the modern world. Pick your own chickens and ducks!

The Fable of the Ducks and the Hens

Be aware though that the Chinese got there earlier with their own proverb, and proved the above fable might never happen!

 

 

It's all a question of communication!

Living it large.

Much thought and concentration has been given to the Apres WAGS refreshments. I have spent many happy hours walking round Lagos in search of the perfect tosta mista,  and more recently, the most scrumptious bifana.

Gato's Bifana com tomate em pao caseiro.

     The search goes on,  but I have reached some satisfactory gourmet conclusions -  for now.
     In Lagos we have the legendary Tosta Mista Aberta  from Casa Pao d'Avo (either branch) also the fantastic hot brioche com queijo e tomate furnished by Aqui ha Gato. Gato's bifana com tomate is also leading the field presently.
      Bizarrely, once in Crantock, Cornwall, Myriam and I went for a snack at a fairly upmarket restaurant with wonderful views across Crantock Bay. On the menu was a toasted sandwich , sounding very much like the real thing. I couldn't resist, and to my surprise it was very good.

   The downside was that it cost £7!!  Slate doesn't come cheap these days

    Quite by surprise,  after landing at Faro airport,  Myriam and I were once prompted to search for the ultimate tosta on the Praia do Faro,  and found a truly amazing example at Cais 73.

Cais 73's Frango com alho tosta mista

    In Lagos I can't leave out the renowned and incredibly good value breakfast served at Cafe Odeon. Eggs Benedict, Odeon Breakfast, and the Mega Breakfast are all on offer under 5 Euros. A select party of WAGS enjoyed this on one occasion.

     A selection of gourmet diners and breakfasts captured by John H. Paul demonstrates that beans are not an Officer's vegetable

Recently our Apres WAGS snack had to be diverted to an untried cafe  in Alvor, after the one at which we met closed abruptly when we returned as there were not enough staff to cope.  Antje posed for this striking photo of a WAG eating Tosta Mista, and we concluded that they were fairly good, as can be appreciated.

Antje goes for it!!

   
Anyway, where this is leading is that I thought that other WAGS might have a favourite snack, and perhaps a photo thereof, and despite it being hard to stir response from the often non-techy, non-literary, photographically challenged members of the WAGS, there may be a chance to have some sent in and added to this post, if indeed the respondent is incapable of inserting it (no, not that!!) by him/herself.

      I came across this interesting contribution about The King, to whose demise his predilection for massive peanut butter-based sandwiches possibly contributed:-

If Elvis were alive (come at me, conspiracy theorists), I'd make him this sandwich during a late night jam session. This is how it's go down:

Cook 2 slices thick-cut bacon in a large heavy skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally, until browned and crisp, 8–10 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and spoon off all but 1 Tbsp. bacon fat. Meanwhile, place 2 slices of Our Favorite Banana Bread on a work surface. Spread each with 1 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter. Top 1 slice with 1/2 banana, sliced, 1 tsp. honey, and bacon, then close with the second slice. Heat reserved bacon fat in skillet over medium-low. Transfer sandwich to skillet, cover, and cook until bottom is golden, about 2 minutes. Flip sandwich, cover, and cook until golden, about 2 minutes more. Cut into quarters before serving.

A note on how to eat this: Elvis ate his sandwiches with a knife and fork at all hours, but with all due respect to his highness, I don't think you can do this sandwich justice that way. The Elvis sandwich is meant to be eaten with abandon, whether during a late-night munchies session or a late-morning meal to offset the night's shenanigans. So get messy with it. Don't worry—the King's not watching.

Can anyone top that?

"If all complaints had to be accompanied by the submission of a delicious sandwich then fewer people would voice them while more would be willing to listen."

• Michael Wakcher
• on
• complaints-and-complaining

•  

Value for Money: Madeleine McCann Investigation?

A friend of mine, who also blogs occasionally, decided to find out what he really wanted to know about the Madeleine McCann Saga. He asked a question under the Freedom of Information Act and then put it on his blog with a few more comments than I normally get on this very select Blog. It is all a question of perspective and whose opinions you value, but I think it is a disgrace that this one case has been singled out for a huge amount of funding, and if I were a parent whose child had gone missing in the last 8 years, and I was entirely blameless, then I would be most aggrieved that the same efforts had not been made on my child's disappearance.
   His post is here:.

Chiptheduck's Blog

Los Veteranos de las Vias Verdes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Stiff, the Lame, and the Winded

Imagine. The movie, brutal and unforgiving, by Sergio Leone. The music, haunting, echoing, guitar, whistling and trumpet, by Ennio Morricone. The scene, a suffocating afternoon in the high Sierra de Grazalema.

The camera lingers on the vultures circling over the desolate hilltop pueblo of Zahara de la Sierra, before zooming down from the ruined castello to the insalubrious village saloon where the barkeep swats flies to pass the time.
Suddenly, with a roar of powerful engines, a gang of marauders sweeps up the narrow village streets.

A startled wild cat spits from the undergrowth as they pass.  Squealing to a halt outside the saloon the cavalcade disgorges its crews who, beating the dust of the Spanish plains off their leathers, burst impatiently through the swing doors shouting raucously at the servile barkeep “Dry Oloroso, dry Oloroso, chilled. Quickly, quickly.”

(Pity that some of these desperados were laughing and could not manage  a wee bit more menace)
Their Capitán, a grizzled survivor of many campaigns who knows these mean streets of old, quells the bibulous noise with just a single glance, and speaks:
“This is what we do.”

But, of course, this was not a Spaghetti Western.



On the contrary. it is a balmy early October evening and an international cast is gradually assembling at pueblo branco Zahara´s welcoming multi-star Hotel Arco de la Villa, overlooking the limpid blue Embalse de Zahara-Gastor,  in order to take part in a production of an entirely different character.


They move their assortment of Louis Vuitton portmanteaux and RyanAir cabin bags, cool boxes and carrier bags, high-heeled Jimmy Choos and Decathalon loafers, rucksacks, ponchos and anoraks, Salomon boots, Tilley hats. shillelaghs and walking poles, cameras, lap-tops and mobile phones peaceably into the hotel where the lobby provides more evidence of camomile infusions than of dry sherries and there are more demands for the hotel´s wi-fi code than for shots of the hard stuff.  And the Leader does not even have to draw everyone´s undivided attention away from their electronics, because his instructions have already gone out by email. Obediently, all have ordered their choice of Plato Principal on arrival and all will meet in the bar before dinner at 8.30.
This was in fact the start of the shooting of
            the J Roderick Frew  extravaganza
                       a WAGS WASPS ENTERPRISE
 “El Camino de Via Verde de la Sierra”

Starring:    Andrew   Antje
                            Chris   Deirdre
                                    Hazel   Jim
                                            John     Jyll
                                                   Lyndsey    Maria
                                                               Mike   Myriam
                                                                      Paul    Rod
                                                                            Rosemary  and   Sue  
Photo Credits:  JPR Associates
2nd Unit Director:  Mike
Casting Director: J Roderick Frew
Historical Research: J Roderick Frew
Geographical Services: J Roderick Frew
Gastronomy : J Roderick Frew
Key Grip:  Sue Frew
Make-up: Ewe Kooed-Knott
Logistics Co-ordinator: J Roderick Frew
Produced and Directed by              J Roderick Frew

Reviewers have without exception been enthusiastic:-
“A triumph in the genre of British on-the-road films, a worthy stable-mate for Genevieve and Summer Holiday.” The Economist
“The debt of the auteur to Hope and Crosby´s Road to Rio is palpable.” The Financial Times
“Rivetting.” The Peterborough Platelayer
“Quixotic – hypnotic.”  Grimsby Telegraph
“A nostalgic glimpse of what once might have been.” Schweizer Eisenbahn-Revue
“Visionary.” TUST*
*= Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology journal ( I kid you not.)

But enough already. This introductory cinematographic metaphor has been beaten to death. On to the real thing.

Day 0      5th October 2015  

Dinner at 8.30 in the hotel, you will recall.                        

The Menu  

                                                                                                         

which, being translated, is Chicken, Venison, Lamb, or Hake.









Apparently, that´s a view of the Postre de la Villa………..the pudding, that is.

Day 1  6th October 2015


A somewhat damp morning and, after breakfasting and outwitting the hotel´s toasting device……………………….


……………….15 hardy souls set out to do what they had come so far to do. First, 9 easy kilometres in convoy to Algodonales; then 17 tricky kilometres over a narrow winding track to La Estación de Coripe for the official Starters photo shoot.
 
 

Mike and Jyll left to explore other locations and the Frew car led a reduced convoy over the hills westwards towards Puerto Serrano, throwing in en route a guided tour round the fascinating side streets of Montellano. If you are ever in that part, do not fail – what am I saying? – if you are ever in that part again, do not fail to seize the chance of studying the traditional, modern and post-modern wrought-iron artistry of the window grilles that mark this town out. Arriving eventually at La Estación de Puerto Serrano, we could at last start the walk but not before Maria had done some preliminary limbering up.




La Estación de Puerto Serrano
What we were walking along was a railway route with a lot of tunnels, some viaducts, and a few stations, but apparently it had never had either rails or trains.
Hills to either side but the walking was gentle, despite occasional warning signs.
.
“There may be trouble ahead”
 but there wasn´t.

An unnamed plant

At the first of many tunnels


Remains of a Moorish caravanserai, maybe ?


Antje, Lindsey and friends at El Arroyo de los Azares


where Paul inevitably had managed to locate a nearby geocache


Goats crossing Rio Guadalete




On the Viaducto de los Azares
Of course, there were lots of opportunities for tunnel photos, one very much like the other




but the Oscar has to go to Paul for this image, impressive for its atmospheric lighting and depth of field:


Winner of The Tunnel Vision Award 2015

And now    Statistics Time - Day 1  (courtesy Paul)


According to the official Vias Verdes site, on this stretch we had done 2 viaducts and 9 tunnels, the final one before Coripe being 900 metres long under the Cerro del Castillo.. And so we reached La Estación de Coripe again, where we found the café overrun by schoolkids but lacking the Peases and their car.
Undeterred, we had refreshments and then a detachment of drivers set off back to Puerto Serrano for the other cars, managing to bypass the magnetic attractions of  Montellano this time round. Somehow, thanks to the directions of the Logistics Co-ordinator, all made their various ways back to Zahara in reasonable time to prepare for dry Olorosos at the bar and dinner at 8.30, this time down-town at Bar Nuevo where Rod had arranged the menu, the choice of plato principal comprising, if I remember correctly, pigs cheeks, chicken, and dourada, preceded by colourful tapas.

There always comes the time of reckoning

Back up the hill, well satisfied

Day 3  7th October 2015
A brighter morning than before and, after the by now familiar engagements with the breakfast toaster, the convoy set off on the route over the hills to Coripe. This being a Wednesday, the café at La Estación, like the rest of Spain, was closed – so no coffee boosters were possible. The necessary logistical priorities were laid down after which the key vehicles drove via the little village of La Muela on a deserted road towards Navalagrulla, passing en route a dead oak tree ominously tenanted by a motionless group of vultures.The only thing at Navalagrulla is its Estación, a desolate ruin devoid of amenities, unlikely ever to have served coffee or indeed anything at all, not “closed”  like the rest of Spain this Wednesday: there had never been anything there to open.

At Navalagrulla, the start of the second day´s walk

But the walking group,now down to 12, remained in good spirits as it set off and it all proceeded pretty uneventfully. Gradually the large rocky Peñón de Zaframagón came into view.


The large numbers of griffon vultures circling the crags became obvious, as did an increasing number of lycra-clad bicyclists weaving their way among us. Equally noticeable were the pungent aromas coming from an extensive cattle ranch and goat-rearing establishment.
By and large, however, the cyclists were courteous, and the young kids in their enclosure seemed attractive enough and their bleating certainly made an appealing sound.
Our path was now leading us around the Peñón with our leader assuring us that we would get even better views of the vultures the further round we went. When we arrived at the long Viaducto de Zaframagón, this prospect did not at first seem to be the case, and our attention was diverted to a desultory and ultimately fruitless attempt to help Paul find another of his geocaches.

El Estrechón. What, no vultures?

El Viaducto Zaframagón.  Where´s that geocache?

But the longer we lingered on this diversion, so the vultures began to take a closer and closer interest in us.

Here they come

Buitres Leonades –Griffon Vultures
200 breeding pairs, no less! Don´t start ruminating on what all these birds and their broods find to eat in these remote areas ( dead goats? calves? sheep? Maybe the occasional desiccated cyclist? ) - or this might transmute into an Alfred Hitchcock film.

No worries
The geocache search abandoned, our group began to show signs of revivification, the vultures lost interest in us, and we moved on to a sit-down lunch, undisturbed by bird life, at the nearby Centro de Interpretación Peñon de Zaframagón. This being a Wednesday the Centro was of course, like the rest of Spain, closed.
Rosemary and Sue, deciding that lunch was for the wimps, didn´t deign to stop and sit down, but marched determinedly on towards Coripe. We did our best afterwards to catch them up but could not, and they got there first, to a warm Pease welcome.
For a description of this last part of the walk, what words better than those from the official Vias Verdes leaflet:
“Ni carreteras ni pueblos perturban la placidez y la armonia de un paisaje en el que e único sonido de fondo lo ponem las pajaros y las chicharras.”

And now  Statistics Time – Day 2 (courtesy Paul)



According to the official Vias Verdes site, on this stretch we did 2 viaducts and 10 tunnels.
Then back  to Zahara, in plenty of time for early evening drinks in the plaza before dinner at 8.30 at Mesón Los Estribos (House of the Stirrups) where our Gastronomy Advisor presented a carefully chosen a menu including :
Tapas,
Trucha Regional  (Trout lined with bacon),
Ternera al Horno ( Baked Veal/Pork? with dried figs, plums and apricots),
and Pollo al modo de mi Abuela (super-sized My Grandmother´s Country Chicken) – as Rod says “how Grandma got through all that beats me!” – we needed doggy bags.





Oh dear. Was it something someone said?

The Master Chef Moment
An evening of excellent food, good wine, and good company wound up with applause for the Chef, appropriate words from Mike thanking Rod for all he´d put in to organising the trip, and some glasses of caramelised vodka ( do I remember correctly?) on the house which sent us on our way home through the floodlit pueblo in fine form.


Final Tally
Tunnels: 19; Viaducts: 4; Kilometres: 29; Moving Time: 6hrs 23 mins; Moving Average: 4.7 kph; Dry Olorosos: unrecorded.

Postscript 1
Clicking on the smaller photos should, if you are lucky, bring up larger images.
Postscript 2
Information on the Vias Verdes of a more authoritative nature than given in this blog can be found at www.viasverdes.com

Postscript 3

Following Paul´s comment (see below) about the limitations of tablet devices, the larger photos have now been shrunk so as to fit within the exigeant boundaries of his blog space; but, if you wish to experience the full Todd AO Cinemascopic effects intended for your computer, clicking on those pictures should bring up the originals.

 

“Begin at the beginning,” the King said, very gravely, “and go on till you come to the end: then stop.”

(Lewis Carroll)