Sunny skies, cold winds and the possible threat of a sudden shower did not stop 18 riders taking part in the first ride of 2017.
The ride was moved to Saturday 28th after the heavy rain earlier in the week caused the postponement. Group organiser David Shirley led the ride up into the hills to São Barnabe where a stop was made at the cafe next to the fonte for a warming coffee.
Madrugada, the charitable organisation that provides care and support to people facing life limiting illness has confirmed the appointment of Carol Spires as its new President from December 2016. Carol takes on this voluntary role to replace Alison Blair who stepped down in November 2016.
Carol brings a wealth of experience to Madrugada. She moved to Portugal some eleven years ago and with her partner has developed a successful property management business servicing the Western Algarve.
The steep and twisty roads through the hills near Monchique offered riders great views over the Algarve from one of the highest points in the region.
Meeting for the last ride of 2016 at the Plazza Cafe in Silves members welcomed new riders to the group before heading north from Silves, taking a scenic route to São Marcos de Serra. A short coffee break here before continuing west and upwards towards Nave Redonda and Monchique with beautiful distant views on the way.
A Golf Tournament promoted by the NAU group at its Morgado golf course raised €5,800 for the local Bombeiros.
In September of this year, the municipalities of Monchique and Portimão were hit by a widespread fire. Herdade do Reguengo, the 970 hectare estate owned by the NAU Hotels & Resorts group includes the Morgado and Álamos golf courses, as well as the Morgado Golf & Country Club, all of which was protected by the tireless efforts of the Volunteer Fire Service of Portimão.
ASB members met in the centre of Paderne before following Errol on a Mystery Tour, organised by Phil Smith and Errol Buckton, into hills and valleys around and through the pretty village of Alte.
After seven years of tireless commitment at the helm of Madrugada, Alison Blair has announced she will step down as Executive President at the end of November 2016.
Alison has been the vision and driving force behind Madrugada’s growth and development as a provider of help and support to people facing life-limiting illness: in particular, end-of-life palliative care at home.
Rotary has been organising youth exchanges for over 60 years and, each year worldwide, over 7000 young people enjoy the experience of a lifetime through the Rotary Long Term Exchange programme which runs for a full school year providing incredible opportunities for young people to see the world, experience a different way of life and make new friends. Rotary Clubs all over the world sponsor students currently in Years 11- 13 (5th & 6th Form), to live and study at a similar level in a foreign country where they are hosted by selected families and treated as part of those families.
Almancil International Rotary Club (AIRC) is participating again this year and is hosting Adrian Chang, a student from Taipei in Taiwan. Adrian is 18 years old and has been sponsored by Taipei Tienmou Rotary Club to spend a school year in the Algarve. The club, chartered in 1948 was the first Rotary Club to be established on the island of Taiwan.
At the end of September, members of the Algarve Archaeological Association (AAA) came together to enjoy a lunch at the restaurant São Domingos in Galé to celebrate the start of a new season of talks.
