Christina Vandermeulen, Vale da Telha resident and Amovate member is now today (Monday) completing the 10th day of her 250-mile charity walk from Cape St Vincent to Fatima.

Christina has now left Lisbon and is well on her way to Fatima to complete her 250–mile journey which began at Cape St Vincent on April 18^th.

She crossed the River Tagus yesterday—by ferry, not walking on water, although we wouldn’t put it past her!—and spent the night at an Ibis hotel before leaving the capital from The Parque das Nacoes (The Nations Park), site of the Expo’98 World Exhibition, to continue north.

EARLIER:

Excerpts from Christina’s en-route diary:

Day 5 Vila Nova da Milfontes to Porto Covo (20km) then onto Sines (another 10).
The day started well but then we found a farmer had planted thousands of olive trees all over the track. The track was gone, so I crossed over the land for more than an hour, but then on the other side everything was blocked so I had to climb over various obstacles. Quite an adventure—Hi! Hi! Then I had a surprise when Vicky and George and friends arrived to walk with me for a while. And for dinner Fran and Peter joined us. Thanks, everybody. So, tomorrow a day off!

Day 7, after a day’s rest, we started in Vila Nova, cloudy but OK. A woodpecker followed me for a little time and a koekoek. There were lots of pine trees, a lot, a lot. We stopped at 16.00 after 26 km, in a nice place on the Costa Azul; Brejos Da Carregueira de Cima. I had a shower and a good meal, 7.50€ all included, even the chocolate mousse! Then a nice foot massage from Leo. And tomorrow I walk 22km then we are in Troia, ready to take ferry boat. Night, night.

April 25 Day 8 Another beautiful day, we left the ferry boat in Setubal and found a hotel in Azeitona, for only 50€ breakfast included. Day 8 was long, long, long! Nothing exciting happened, but it must be done.

Day 9 we had a good night in a beautiful hotel, and it was raining the whole night. But I was happy, and there was nice cloudy weather for walking, the smell of the countryside was so nice. It was a long day all on the same N10, from Setubal to Cacilhas and then we arrived in Lisbon looking for a hotel for a good night’s rest before I resumed the walk at Parque das Nacoes

*           *           *           *

Christina has opened an account in the name of the Charity at the BPI bank in Aljezur and you can make your donations to the following Account Number:

BIC : BBPIPTPL
IBAN : PT50 0010 0000 3948 2281 5023 3

She has also placed collection boxes at various businesses in and around Vale Da Telha, so please give generously…

*           *           *           *

Remember, this is the route Christina has planned:

Christina Vandermeulen—Walking From Cabo de São Vicente to Fatima.

(9am start each day)

Day Lunch Overnight Distance (km)

1: Cabo de São Vicente Vila Do Bispo Carrapateira 24.7

2: Carrapateira Chabouco Vale Da Telha 18.8

3: Vale Da Telha Rogil Odeceixe 21.6

4: Odeceixe Sao Teotonio Odemeira 25.1

5: Odemeira V-Nova Da Milfontes 29.6

6: V-N Milfontes Santiago do Cacém 37.4

7: Santiago do Cacém Melides 22.6

8: Melides Troia 39.0

(Ferry boat to Setubal)

9: Setubal Cacilhas 35.5

(Ferry boat to Caiso do Sodré, Lisbon)

10: Caiso do Sodré (via Parque das Nações) Alverca Do Ribatejo 31.6

11: Alverca Do Ribatejo Azambuja 26.1

12: Azambuja Santarém 26.5

13: Santarém Pernes 21.5

14: Pernes Minde 24.1

15: Minde Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima 13.5

TOTAL Km: 397.6

ENDS

 

 

 

 

(Photograph Gallery below———-don’t forget to click on an individual photo, and it will present itself in a larger format).  Thanks to Alan Smith for the use of his photographs, taken on behalf of AEZA.

 

 

DIGBY IS TOP DOG

More than 150 people—and 54 dogs!—attended the first-ever Costa Vicentina Fun Dog Show held at Vales, Aljezur on the Algarve’s West Coast last weekend.

And the event, held in aid of local animal charity AEZA, was such a success the organisers pledged to repeat it next spring.

People came from as far away as Albufeira to enter their dogs into the show, competing in 15 classes, with local entrant, Digby, a Goldens De Santo Quintino (Golden Retriever), winning the prestigious “Best In Show” award.

It completed a hat-trick of triumphs for Digby and owners Jan and Ken Cragg, after he won the won the cherished “Best in Show” award at the 2013 International Algarve Fair in Lagoa, when he was just 11 months old.

Two weeks ago at a National Dog Show in Montijo he walked away with first prize in the Open Class.

And in Saturday’s Costa Vicentina show he first won the Best Movement (Trotting) class, then the Pedigree Dog class before scooping the show’s top award.

So, even though Digby isn’t exactly “The Biggest Dog In The World” after his movie namesake, he’s certainly making big headlines in this part of the world!

The show was designated as a “Fun” dog show and Regina Zimmermann entered into the spirit of things by having some imaginative face paint applied to win the “Dog Most Like Its Owner Class” with her pet Angelina.

Show organiser Wendy Smith said afterwards: “The whole aim of the event organised by ‘Friends Of AEZA’ was to raise awareness for the local animal shelter in Aljezur, which is run by our local animal charity AEZA, (Associação Ecologista e Zoófila de Aljezur or Association for Environment and Animal Protection of Aljezur) and to help raise some much needed money which we managed to do in what was a very successful day.

“The 54 dogs entered in various classes were all winners in my eyes. It was wonderful to see people coming from as far as Albufeira to enter their dogs, and there was also a great mix of nationalities.

“All the volunteers helping to make it run like clockwork deserve a massive thank you—a pat on the back to everyone.

“We also owe a huge thank-you to people who donated cakes, sausage rolls and lots more, and to Bob and Sue for manning the BBQ all day.

“Lots of pennies were raised to help Kerry Gross and all the volunteers to make life better for the dogs and cats at Aeza Canil in Aljezur.

“WELL DONE EVERYONE…and we’re now looking forward to next spring!

“We were asked by so many people if we were going to repeat it next year and as it went so well the answer is a resounding ‘yes’!”

*           *           *           *

Classes and first place results

• BEST AEZA RESCUE ~ DOG: RIO OWNED BY MARGARET GRAY
• BEST AEZA RESCUE ~ BITCH CARA OWNED BY PAUL BECKWITH
• VETERAN DOG OR BITCH ~ 8+ YEARS OLD ~ JOHN OWNED BY SILVIA DOMINGOS
• WAGGIEST TAIL ~ SUATI OWNED BY JAN & KEN CRAGG
• MOST PRETTY BITCH ~ HOLLY OWNED BY JACKIE HONE
• MOST HANDSOME DOG ~ SCRUFF OWNED BY JACKIE HONE
• BEST CONDITION COAT ~ AIKA OWNED BY CATHERINE & ALAN SMITH
• BEST TRICK ~ SAM OWNED BY M. GOBBY
• BEST MOVEMENT (TROTTING) ~ DIGBY OWNED BY JAN CRAGG
• ONE MINUTE SIT AND STAY ~ RUBY OWNED BY BRENDA DOWNIE
• DOG MOST LIKE OWNER ~ ANGELINA OWNED BY REGINA
• PEDIGREE DOG ~ DIGBY OWNED BY JAN CRAGG
• PEDIGREE BITCH ~ DOCA OWNED BY PHILL DREW
• PUPPY UNDER 1 YEAR ~ DOG OR BITCH ~ AMBER OWNED BY JACQUIE FIALHO
• AGILITY COMPETITION ~ FIG OWNED BY GAIL SKINNER BURGESS

The Portugal branch of the Royal British Legion has been holding regular lunches and dinners across the Algarve for a number of years.

And now, thanks to their recent expansion onto the Algarve’s west coast there is to be a lunch held for the first time in Aljezur later this month.

A spokesman said: “We are pleased to announce that we will be holding the very first Royal British Legion, Western Algarve Branch Luncheon on Wednesday, 29^th April, at the Pont’a Pe Restaurant in Aljezur/

“The price is €17 and it will start 12:30 pm for 1 pm. You can see the menu attached and could you please give your main course choice on booking.

“Also we would ask if everyone could please try to bring a raffle prize, if you can. It doesn’t have to be anything expensive, just recycle something you no long want/need! For example we will be bringing Homemade Jams/Marmalades.”

Several Vale da Telha residents who are ex-military personnel have formed the nucleus of the branch up here with Leni and Phil Eves among the leading lights.

But the RBL (Portugal) say the lunch is open to everybody who appreciates the work of the British Legion and Britain’s armed forces, not just to retired military personnel, a significant number of whom live on the Algarve.

If you would like to attend, please contact James Howe or Sue Salisbury-Howe on 969324117 or email casahobo@sapo.pt. Closing date for bookings is on the 20^th April, to enable us to inform the restaurant of numbers.

We look forward to you joining us—James & Sue

MENU
Starter:
Bread, Butter and Olives & Fish Soup or Mixed Salad

Main Course
Stewed Pigs’ Cheeks or Grilled Swordfish
(Garnishing of your choice)

Dessert
Regional Cake or Fruit Salad
Served with coffee or tea

Price 17 € per person, with the 1^st drink included.

And, should you be interested The RBL (Portugal), following a busy 2014 marking the 100^th anniversary of the outbreak of the Great War, is now gearing up to celebrate the 70^th anniversary of VE Day.

Algarve Branch President Jacquie Collins says: “We have had a traditional period of quiet post the Poppy Appeal and are now turning our attention to the year’s events in the Algarve.

“We believe the most significant milestone coming up shortly is VE Day, the anniversary of the Victory In Europe.

“I think it is important that we mark VE Day on the 70th anniversary (and later VJ day in August).  We have lots of dates to mark but VE is particularly important as it helped shape the Europe we now live in.”

The VE Day dinner is to be held at Lazy Jacks Bar & Grill on the Marina in Lagos on Saturday May 9^th at 7pm, and is open to everyone, not just to retired or serving members of the Armed Forces.

The cost is €15 per person, with the first drink included and early booking is vital as numbers are limited. Menu option is required on booking, and the closing date for reserving your place is May 3^rd.

If you are interested in attending please contact:

James Howe at 969324117/969324117

or email casahobo@sapo.pt

 

See the posters below for full details of classes and Dog Show Rules.

• 18th April – At Churrasqueira Mendes, Vales – in aid of AEZA.
• Admission: €2, Dog Handlers & Children Under 10 Free
• Food served all day – burgers, hotdogs, veggie, cakes & goodies
• Best in Show Parade
• **Special Guest Jorge & his amazing dog Mali**