Walk 1 June 2014 Restabal

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We set a new record this week, both for the distance we walked and the height we climbed.   
The weather forecast had been predicting storms for the weekend, and I had said that I would decide on Sunday morning whether or not the walk was on.
At 7 am on Sunday the weather, while not brilliant, did not look too bad, OK we might get a few spots of rain but that is why we all carry waterproofs.
The walk was setting off from Restabal, it was not a long one and we were never going to be more than 1 hour away from the village, so even if it started to rain we could get back before we got wet. So I issued “The walk is on” email.
I was most surprised to see 19 including 3 new walkers all eager for a walk.
At 9 am it started to thunder, there was a request from Cees that we go to the bar for a coffee and wait to see what happens to the weather. He always wants to go to the bar for a coffee, so as usual we ignored his request, preferring to get on with the walk and then go to the bar.
We picked up the GR7 path as it headed towards Saleres and had only gone 1km when it started to rain. Well, rain is not really an apt description, it was more like standing under a waterfall. By the time we had stopped to put on our waterproofs we were soaked, and any open rucksack soon filled up with water. An executive decision was made to abandon the walk, there was no need to take a vote on it, no sooner had I announced a change of plan than they were off, heading back to Restabal and the bar.
Rapid progress was made for a few minutes and then came to a halt. What had been an easy going path on the way out had turned into a sea of mud and we had a steep descent to make.
There was no way were we all going to get down, someone had to slip, Cees volunteered to be the fall guy. Now Cees is a big fellow and he was able to soak up a lot of mud, making it much easier for the rest of us. He was next seen standing under a fountain washing himself down.
By the time we got back to the cars there was only 18 of us, we had lost Dr Mike. We sent search parties in all directions, imagining that he had been washed away down a flooded barranco. Just as we were preparing to launch the lifeboat to search the dam Rene remembered that he had told her  he was going to walk back to Chite. Rene is excused remembering duties for the next 3 months.
Regrouping we headed off, soaking wet and mud splattered to bar Jovi to dry out and warm drinks.
This was the first walk we have ever had to abandon, but it was a wise decision as heavy rain continued all day.
In the afternoon everyone came around to our house for tapas. I was expecting to be taken outside and stoned, but I think it was too wet for anybody to be bothered.  
Did anyone take home a white dish they don’t recognise, we have acquired one with a wavy top and Antonia is missing hers.We also have a brown, rectangular casserole, and a white bowl which was left at Mike and Sheila´s.
    

We walked 2.3 km and climbed 68 metres.

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