A tale of two bridges and a river…

I had to go to Olhão this week, to take some documents to my accountant. As a result, I decided to walk there.

I haven’t done any walking for weeks now, having been to see my father back in the UK for a while and then having headed off to Australia for a couple of weeks. Yes, I had walked, obviously, but nothing rigorous, and I was beginning to feel it. My girth seemed to be spreading, my jowls seemed to be slightly heavier, my lower back was spasming every now and again. Even worse, my usual guide for how I was doing (my bathroom scales) had given up the ghost. Probably all that was needed was a battery change, but I’m a busy man (I make myself laugh, sometimes), so don’t seem to be getting around to it.

Yes, I needed to get back into the swing of things – to walk each day and swim, too, weather permitting. I felt that I probably needed to do some exercises or stretching as well, but I didn’t want to go too mad. A walk to Olhão would do for now.

I put on some suitable clothing, including my walking boots, and picked up my bag to put the documents in. I pulled on the zip to open it and nothing happened. It wouldn’t budge. Mmmm….

I tried again. Nothing. I pulled harder. Nothing. I went and got some WD40 and applied it and tugged again. Once again, nothing. Bloody hell. I tugged and tugged and tugged until a bead of sweat appeared on my forehead (well, not quite, but you get the idea) and then threw the bag to the ground. Bollocks. I must have put it away damp last time I used it. Now the zip was locked solid.

I picked up my documents and decided to purchase a cheap bag at the Indian shop near to Juan the barber as I went on my way.

As a last action before leaving, I checked my phone – not for the time, but for the weather. It was good news. The chances of rain ranged between zero and three per cent over the next few hours. That was good enough for me. I wouldn’t be getting wet. At least something was going my way.

I headed out, nipped into the Indian shop, where I found a very cheap bag – it’s a ghastly red, but I really feel the need to reduce my spending at the moment – and went on my way, my documents happily ensconced in my new bag.

Ten minutes later, I was striding through the salinas, wondering once more at the abundance of wildlife and the lack of humankind – a wonderful combination as far as I’m concerned. Then the sun disappeared, the clouds rolled in and I felt it… the first drops of rain. Bloody hell… I hate technology! It’s meant to improve your life, but it rarely does.

Anyway, I persevered, and to be honest, the rain didn’t come to much, although I could no longer see through my sunglasses. There were so many drops of rain on them that I would have needed windscreen wipers. I therefore pushed them back up onto my head. I thought there and then that my Australian friend wouldn’t be happy with this. She’s very insistent that I take the sun seriously and wear sunglasses whenever I’m out. She also insists that I wear a hat, and actually bought me a couple when I was away. I’d forgotten to put one of those on as well. Ooh, naughty.

An hour later, I found myself approaching the one true obstacle that you have to face when taking this route – a small river. It’s overlooked by a railway bridge, as well as a post with a stork’s nest on top. The post has little relevance here, obviously, except to help paint the scene. I do like to paint a scene.

At high tide, the river is impassable, which is why I’d timed my walk so that I would arrive a couple of hours before high tide. When I got there, I realised that I hadn’t given myself enough leeway. The stepping stones that I’d been hoping to use were submerged. Bollocks.

One option was the railway bridge, now barricaded with warnings not to walk across it. Back in February a couple of people had died crossing that bridge, when they were hit by a train. Not a pretty thought.

A second option was one that I’d heard about, but not seen. A team of men was rebuilding the boardwalk that used to run for a hundred metres on the other side of the river. This time they were actually including a bridge to go with it. Woohoo! Why the bridge had never been completed before, and why the previous boardwalk had been removed (and only a matter of months ago, too) I’m really not sure. But this is Portugal, so I’m not going to worry my pretty little head trying to work it out.

Suffice to say, it was happening. Unfortunately, however, the new bridge was not yet complete. They had maybe ten yards to go to finish it. So, what was I to do?

I looked at the incomplete bridge, I looked at the submerged stepping stones, I looked at the path behind me, I looked at the railway bridge… Mmmm… definitely, what to do?

I looked at my phone.

The last train (for an hour or so, anyway) had been due to pass here ten minutes ago, but I hadn’t seen it. The bridge was too risky, surely. Then I remembered that I’d seen something about an addition to the ‘Comboios de Portugal’ app. Apparently, it would now tell me about any delays on the trains.

I hadn’t checked before, but now was obviously the right occasion. I found the new element, and it told me that the train was running twenty minutes late. If this was correct, I only had a few minutes to wait, and it would be safe to cross the railway bridge.

I waited. The team working on the new bridge gave me a few funny looks, but so be it. I wasn’t worried. I was too busy wondering whether technology would actually work here and now.

At exactly twenty minutes after the train was supposed to pass, I saw it come around the corner. Blimey, will wonders never cease. As it came closer, the driver hit three loud blasts on the horn. The team working on the new bridge all stood and waved and the driver waved back.

It’s a very friendly place here.

As soon as the train passed, I made my decision. Rather than turn around, I would cross the railway bridge, which is what I did, rather surprised that technology had come to the rescue.

Having made it across, I noticed a sign concerning the works that were taking place. It had been defaced, but with the best of intentions. In Portuguese, it said that two people had died here, and queried when a bridge was going to be built. The defacers claimed to be cyclists and had even signed their work.

Now it seemed that they are getting their wish, and it’s about time, too.

I continued on my way, and soon enough, was handing my documents over to my accountant’s assistant. Then, I was off to the railway station to catch the train home.

As I stood on the platform, I checked my phone again. The train was going to be four minutes late. I could live with that. I could also live with the fact that technology had, today, done me a favour. As I said, will wonders never cease?

The only downside to my day out (not including the rain, obviously) was that my back was once more giving me gyp. I really need to get it sorted.

One day, eh?