CBC Tour of the Algarve Oct. '26
CRICKLADE BOWLS CLUB TOUR OF THE ALGARVE PORTUGAL SEPT. 30TH TO OCT. 7TH
On Wednesday September 30th at 02:00 14 members of the bowls club headed off to Bristol Airport for a 06:15 flight to Faro on the Algarve. Despite some initial confusion over our transfer coach we all arrived in good order at the Alvor Baia Resort Hotel around midday. After something to eat we either went to the pool or had a rest in our rooms in preparation for the evening’s meal and entertainment.
Thursday Oct. 1st. Up and out by 09:00 to go to Almancil - Corgo da Zorra, which was back towards the airport between Vilamoura and Faro to visit Valverde Bowls Club.
I think it fair to say that as a group we were tired and this was why we perhaps didn’t perform quite as well as we expected! Our hosts declared the result to be an honourable draw.
After a late lunch we dispersed to either investigate the local area or lie by the pool and sample the cocktails.
Friday Oct. 2nd. - our first free day so a later start with all of us being guided by Peter Vanduesburg to a local adventure golf course themed around dinosaurs. We decided to adopt the Tea and Biscuits approach and played 9 holes then stopped for refreshments then played the last 9. Depending on your point of view this was either a good or bad idea not that the beer had any influence over the players’ skills. However it is fair to say that the last few holes were very challenging with the number of shots taken by some being in the high 20s for a par 3. This resulted in some frustration - lots of muttering about how it was all too difficult - then some significant bending of the generally accepted rules of “crazy golf”. After everyone had finished laughing, crying or cursing we walked back to the hotel for lunch.
The afternoon was spent by some just ‘chillin’ by the pool, while others went down to the beach and up into Alvor town.
Saturday Oct. 3rd. Our second match was against Alvor Bowls club, only a 10 minutes coach ride from the hotel. An hospitable crowd and an excellent green. This was the only club of the 3 we played at that had any locals, the other 2 clubs were entirely made up of Brits living in Portugal. (We were given to understand that the Portuguese don't really play bowls.)
We had a great match and our opposition were very friendly but the green didn't favour us and the score never seemed to get mentioned as thanks were given all round and we scurried back onto the coach to rush off for a late lunch at the hotel.
After our evening meal some attended the hotel’s music quiz and other entertainment and the majority visited the ‘party strip’ in the centre of Alvor old town for drinks and a singalong.
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Sunday Oct. 4th, another free day so 7 members went with Sue Williams across to Portimão marina to watch her son participate in the World Sailing Inclusion Championship. A lunch was enjoyed with Sue’s family and later taxis brought them back to the hotel. The other 6 members of the group took the shuttle bus to the beach and walked along the boardwalk to the Three Brothers Bay, a classic Algarve coastal scene with beautiful sandstone cliffs, several coves linked by natural tunnels and clean sandy beaches. We returned to the shuttle pick up to find it didn’t run during the middle of the day so we had a hot and tiring walk back along the boardwalk until we were able to turn inland and find the market and port at the foot of Alvor old town where we had our own pleasant lunch.
Monday Oct. 5th. We played our final match against Floresta Bowls Club taking a coach to their green which was located between Praia da Luz and Lagos. (Apparently pronounced La Gosh as I was pointedly told by one of their members when I got it wrong!) Floresta’s green was an outdoor carpet - deep joy - causing a significant number of bowls to end up in the gully or on another rink! Very politely our hosts acknowledged our presence but made little mention of the actual score. Our coach took us back via the pretty route through the middle of Lagos so we could have a fleeting view of the castle, the Infanta square and marina. Again our afternoon and evening were at leisure, getting together for pre- and post-meal drinks.
Tuesday Oct. 6th. The last day for 8 of the 14 of us and the majority decided to return to Lagos. Most of the sites seen the previous day were revisited but up close and personal. They were able to get a communal table for all of them for lunch before taking taxis back to the hotel. Our last evening was spent together eating and drinking before heading out to the hotel’s terrace to dance the night away.
Wednesday Oct. 7th. Up early for the return trip, all the arrangements worked well and we managed to cram the 8 of us plus luggage into a minivan. The flight was on time and we reached home without incident.
The Carters, Colemans and Essexes stayed on until Saturday 10th before coming home.
The whole week was brilliantly put together by Roger E.
Many thanks to him for his organisation.
PARTICIPANTS
Sharon & Neil Carter
Rose & Paul Coleman
Margaret & Roger Essex
Sue & Tony Gadsdon
Adina Grace
Joan & Jeff Hannath
Brian (Tom) Sawyer
Peter Vanduesburg
Sue Williams
Thanks to those who provided photos.
CLICK ON INDIVIDUAL PHOTOS FOR THEIR CAPTIONS
