26th October 2006

 

The first visit to Gozo...

for the 2006-07 season will be remembered not only for the interest generated by the sites visited on such a glorious sunny day, but again for the cosmopolitan flavour of the participants. Some seventy six ramblers crossed the straits on this week day, of which a third at least were visitors or non-Maltese residents. Canadians, Swedes, Swiss, Scots, Belgians, Dutch and Danish joined the gathering together with the usual good number of English folk.

Assembling on the sagging clay slope hardly propping up the perilous old fortifications of Fort Chambray above, the group listened attentively to the secretary giving a brief history of the Fort, then started off eagerly westwards along the coastline basking in the Autumn sun. The first few hundred meters tested the resolve of the less experienced as the trodden path had wearied by the recent heavy outbursts of rain. As the going got smoother all could enjoy the views of the sister islands from Mellieha Point, the clear sparkling waters of Ix-Xatt l-Ahmar, and the bright rugged rocks of Ras il-Hobz contrasting against the deep blue depths beyond.

The breeze was slight as the bright sun lashed down sweatingly on some of the heavyweights, so the shade afforded by the de Redin Tower at Mgarr ix-Xini proved most welcome to them and all.

Well nourished and refreshed, everyone took heed as the historical relevance of Mgarr ix-Xini was outlined by the secretary. Then the ramblers started on the hill-climb that pressure-tested their blood-pumps to no small degree. However, at the olive grove on top some ramblers preferred a rest rather than join the detour along the ledge over Wied Mgarr ix-Xini. Those who persevered were amazed by the enormous gorges of the valley beneath, and perplexed by the numerous rock-cut basins and troughs that dot the rock-face of the ridge. Further up the valley we came to view the stone dam that stopped some of the waters of the recent rainfall from rushing to the sea. The seaward and landward views were magnificently reflected in the bright light, in spite of the fact that the water was heavily polluted by the spill-over effluents from the unregulated cow-farms further upstream towards Sannat. At this point the Secretary pointed out the efforts of the Association to advice Government on regulating farmsteads in Malta and Gozo, through an exhaustive report prepared and forwarded to MEPA. Unfortunately the authorities have not yet even bothered to acknowledge.

The route thence became a stroll on the dirt road in the direction of Ghajnsielem, where the group stopped momentarily on a 'belvedere' to take in the view of the route through Ix-Xatt l-Ahmar that had been trekked two hours before,. The next stop was at the Chapel of Lourdes where a brief history of the site was recounted by the secretary, who also invited all for the next walk to Delimara on the 5th November 2006.

Just in time to stack our feet up on the 3:00 pm boat back to Malta, gulping down a most awaited cold drink.

Alex Vella.