PSP Algarve Ride 2001

Daily Tails - DAY 7 - Friday 12th - In which, sadly, we say goodbye to Henrietta, and I join the support crew for a while.

Breakfast is somewhat disorganised but the orange juice is sharp and wakes me up! Bad news for a lot of us today. Duchess and Cork are out, but Becky and the Vet have supplied some more horses and we are joined by Ben Walden, Beckys' husband's uncle and his friend Jeremy who are over for a ride/golf holiday. Also we are joined by Nancy, who is the wife of Andy Burridge of the Parque de Florestra. The ride has grown to quite a big crowd. Bev's rider is Jan who seems to be enjoying herself as they set out.

Sadly, after getting everything really well organised, shorter girth etc, nasties lurk under Henrietta's rug and she is not going anywhere. Hope it's not due to me - that would be really sad. (Probably is though.) So - make the best of it - and join the support crew to pack up the site after the horses have gone on their parade through Monchique on their way up to Foia.

Also assist in loading the non-going horses that set off back to QPA & wave bye to Henrietta - great little horse! We also do manage to get a coffee at last, (except for Shirley and Lucy who are forgotten about!) and then off to the top of Foia to meet the riders who are due to take coffee with Friends of Rod who live in the highest house in the Algarve and have the most fantastic views.

Turns out to be a good day with a view over to the Barragem just up from QPA! Shoot off back down again to pick up horsebox , and load all the luggage into the minibus (as we werent convinced it would make it up to Foia with all the luggage on board! On the way up and down we pass various people filling lots of water bottles from a hose by the side of the road and cramming them into little old cars. Apparently Monchique spring water is considered the best in the Algarve, but wonder at the little cars ability to brake on the steep down slope carrying some ½ tonne of water!

Then off to Marmelete for the lunch break, and met up with the cyclists who indicate that the riders are somewhat behind schedule so we have a chance to refresh ourselves again.

Shirley's Comment:- Despite popular opinion this was the only time the support crew got into a bar! My additional comment:- entirely due to my superior management and logistic skills, dear. Ouch!!

Then finally the riders appear down a track after apparently having had yet another contretemps with the curse of the Donkey Man, and Mike's horse having lost a shoe.

Brief stop for water and fruit and a quick changeover of riders and of they go again, leaving Mike & Lady to await the Farrier, and giving Judy time to purchase an interesting set of rude postcards!