Smithman's route from apartment 5a to the beach according to Pathfinder.

[pathfinder73]

Tell me you have walked, carrying a burden, on volcanic rocks in the dark on a foreshore which is washed by the sea ... and I will tell you that you are a stranger to the truth.

High tide doesn't cover all the rocks at that location and anybody going out alone before first light will be investigated.

[Brietta]

High tide doesn't cover all the rocks at that location and anybody going out alone before first light will be investigated.

Just take a close look at the rock formations in Shining's photograph.  I know rocks like that also on an Atlantic coast which is why I am certain you are way off track here.

Have you ever seen gulls scavenging a seal carcass? no sand flies on Portuguese beaches?

[pathfinder73]

Just take a close look at the rock formations in Shining's photograph.  I know rocks like that also on an Atlantic coast which is why I am certain you are way off track here.

Have you ever seen gulls scavenging a seal carcass? no sand flies on Portuguese beaches?

Certain people were out alone searching before first light after everyone else went to sleep. If you think you can't hide something temporarily in the dark in that location then you are wrong.

1485
 'Can you remember what sort of time that was roughly''
 
 Reply
 'Erm it was still very cold and, and dark, erm I think it was you know, between five and six.

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/FIONA-PAYNE-ROGATORY.htm


Gary Lig picked out that location in the Dispatches documentary. "It's pitch black out there, there's nooks and crannies and there's hiding holes."

20:28

[ShiningInLuz]

Thanks great work Shining. Do you think it's possible to hide a small child there in the dark from what you saw up-close?  Anybody who was searching before first light (when anything could then be found) will be investigated.

To be honest,  I think the small beach (west of the Fortaleza/Bull) would be more favourable.  If you are thinking of a temporary hiding place overnight, the rain water drain outlets also sound better.  Whilst everyone seems to have searched 'the beach', I can't find much to suggest that people looked for a concealed body, as opposed to a live but missing child.

We don't usually have gulls here.  They prefer Porto de Lagos, which is the regional rubbish tip, and where the living is easy.

The beach is prime dog walking territory early in the morning.  The rocks are not.

At some point I'll see if I can nip down after dark.  I think the lights from the promenade should give enough illumination to avoid breaking a leg.

[pathfinder73]

To be honest,  I think the small beach (west of the Fortaleza/Bull) would be more favourable.  If you are thinking of a temporary hiding place overnight, the rain water drain outlets also sound better.  Whilst everyone seems to have searched 'the beach', I can't find much to suggest that people looked for a concealed body, as opposed to a live but missing child.

We don't usually have gulls here.  They prefer Porto de Lagos, which is the regional rubbish tip, and where the living is easy.

The beach is prime dog walking territory early in the morning.  The rocks are not.

At some point I'll see if I can nip down after dark.  I think the lights from the promenade should give enough illumination to avoid breaking a leg.

Thanks. After dark will be interesting. Quickly walk in Smithman's shoes from the sighting to the church and to the rocks (time it for an estimate?). I think 5 minutes is plenty to find a good place to hide in that location. I would look for gaps under rocks.

[jassi]

Thanks. After dark will be interesting. Quickly walk in Smithman's shoes from the sighting to the church and to the rocks (time it for an estimate?). I think 5 minutes is plenty to find a good place to hide in that location. I would look for gaps under rocks.

You would need to remember where it was for later retrieval, so nowhere too far from the road.

[pathfinder73]

You would need to remember where it was for later retrieval, so nowhere too far from the road.

Good point. I think you would have a rough idea where taking a straight line to the promenade. I think his main concern would not to be seen so a safe distance away. When that area is already dark and you put something in an even darker spot nobody will find it. You would have to be down on the ground and shine a torch underneath every rock to check. The volunteer searchers on the night didn't have many torches between them all.

[Alfred R Jones]

Perhaps shining could carry a 30 lb sack of potatoes from Apt 5A onto the rocks later this evening and she if she can find a place to conceal it?  Don't forget to time yourself too!

[Brietta]

Good point. I think you would have a rough idea where taking a straight line to the promenade. I think his main concern would not to be seen so a safe distance away. When that area is already dark and you put something in an even darker spot nobody will find it. You would have to be down on the ground and shine a torch underneath every rock to check. The volunteer searchers on the night didn't have many torches between them all.

What happens when you have promenade lighting at your back and a dark ocean and a dark sky in front ...

Why am I having this conversation?? ... the concept is so ludicrous it borders on insanity!

[Alfred R Jones]

Good point. I think you would have a rough idea where taking a straight line to the promenade. I think his main concern would not to be seen so a safe distance away. When that area is already dark and you put something in an even darker spot nobody will find it. You would have to be down on the ground and shine a torch underneath every rock to check. The volunteer searchers on the night didn't have many torches between them all.

I expect "Smithman" had a torch though, otherwise it might have been tricky to find his special hideyhole in the dark, yes?

[ShiningInLuz]

Low tide at 10pm.  High tide at 4:15am, so I'd need a snorkel.  Otherwise I'm stuffed until around 10:30am on 4 May.  Thus fairly high up the rocks, not at the bottom.

5am should be most people in bed, even those who searched late, and by then a near-full moon was adding to any street lights.

[pathfinder73]

[Alfred R Jones]

What is that picture supposed to show?

[Eleanor]

Low tide at 10pm.  High tide at 4:15am, so I'd need a snorkel.  Otherwise I'm stuffed until around 10:30am on 4 May.  Thus fairly high up the rocks, not at the bottom.

5am should be most people in bed, even those who searched late, and by then a near-full moon was adding to any street lights.

I can think of several replies to this, but most of them wouldn't be very tasteful, and probably not very funny.

But we will all be grateful for your photographs.  This is getting more interesting by the minute.

[pathfinder73]

What is that picture supposed to show?

The rocks location from the Dispatches documentary. If you walk from the church to the rocks this is what you would see at night. Search specialist Gary Lig said this pitch black location in an idea place to hide and sewer pipes.