PSP Algarve Ride 2001

Daily Tails - DAY 5 - Wednesday 10th - In which John discovers the true value of a shortcut, and we get the idea that Portugal really, really loves riders lunching in the rain.

Awoke to the sound of slightly panicky voices outside the room discovering that the main stairs were locked and a departure via the fire escape was necessary. Slightly puzzled as I'm assuming that we are all on a joint bill and early escape will achieve no financial benefit. Then realise it's Jinny off very early to make sure all horses are all well and happy and ready for the next (long) day. Meanwhile we are wearing new T-shirts supplied by the sponsors, BUPA International - hope we don't need their services!

Jolly breakfast - what no Medronho? But good coffee, ham, cheese, rolls etc gets us ready for the day. Off to find that the horses had decided to re-arrange the electric fencing in the night and had also had attempted to have a good sort-out as to pecking order, but on-site attention had minimised the effects.

Wait for John and Alex and Mike as they stayed at Quinta Da Coracao last night. And wait. And wait - quick call - "where are you?" - "we don't know!" So much for the owners "short-cut". John & Alex explain that all the tracks, hills, windmills etc pointed out as markers look exactly the same to them. How anyone can mistake a windmill for a tree I don't know!

Tack up and walk for first half-mile or so to ease horses legs and backs and get ours going too. Met up with Karen who was to cycle for the day - seemed jolly sane for someone about to cover 40 kilometres! John leaped aboard his trusty bike for a day's riding and set off into the hills.

Shirley's Comment:- The support crew were still packing up when he returned, cast the bike away with what might have been a curse or three, and collapsed in a heap! It appeared that the chain came off every 100 metres or so, and the saddle had decided to act like a bucking bronco machine nearly throwing him into the prickly stuff! He'd lost touch with the horses after a few valleys and realised he had to get back to the support crew or he'd have been more than somewhat lost! Application of water and sympathy soothed the situation and off went the support crew again!

Mounted and off we go to a windmill for a photo opportunity. Henrietta and I hide behind the windmill as much as possible as the photo opportunity also looks like a good long drop! Off we went again down a steep rocky drop under some trees, then walk the horses down a 2km or so shale track slipping and sliding. I'm glad to have Henrietta to hold me up as my smooth soled jodhpur boots are not really good at this sort of thing.

I'm also looking lovingly at Judy's new pair of Spanish riding boots, supplied last night by Zoe. Brilliant design, nice leather, side zip and good rubber tread on the soles. No use mugging her for them as they wouldn't go anywhere near my fat calves! Finally we pass out into lovely fertile land through orange groves and orchards, with pomegranates and figs and what-not growing in profusion all around. Passing though one village we find that the road is very steep and somewhat smooth and Lisette gains much kudos for helping Paloma avoid worse when she nearly falls over on the road.

More fertile land is passed through and then we come to a great big tank of water right by the track - aha! In dive the horses heads for a good long drink! Where's the Film Crew? In a cloud of rubber smoke they arrive just in time to get some good shots (we hope!). Suddenly from above there is some cheering - aha - it's the walkers high up above us on a cliff - we were supposed to meet for lunch at Alte Fonte, but missed each other.