Wednesday walk 6th May

Wednesday walk 6th May

By atrekinthesun   04:22   No comments:

This weeks walk will be up into the hills around La Dehasa de Hondonero. It is on good very undulating tracks but no exposed sections. No refreshments on route so bring your own if required during the walk which will last about 3 hours. Meet at Bar Leo in Villanueva del Rosario at 10 am to drive to the start of the walk.

Not actually climbing this but walking past it

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Lake Walk

Lake Walk

By atrekinthesun   09:54   No comments:

Today we walked on a good track down from Fuente del Conde to Lake Iznajar and up into the village of Ventorros de Balerma where we had refreshments before walking

back to the start.This area is full of rabbits so Scoobie was kept on the lead (for her own safety) but we had another dog with us known as 'The Bear' due to him being massive, he shows the potential of becoming another Scoobie because as soon as we let him off he disappeared and was not seen again until we had finished the walk. The weather was great and we all had a good walk although the ladies outnumbered the men 5 to one, not much talk about football and formula 1.

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Wednesday walk 29th April

Wednesday walk 29th April

By atrekinthesun   05:36   No comments:

This weeks walk will be around Fuente del Conde down to the Lake up to Ventorros de Balerma stopping in Balerma for coffee then back to start. The walk consists of good tracks, road and contains crossing of olive groves. It will be 3 hours walking plus coffee stop. If it is still raining the walk will be cancelled. Meet at bar Los Pajaritos at 9:45 to drive to the start of the walk. Dog friendly but will need to be on leads for road section.

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El Conjuro

El Conjuro

By atrekinthesun   08:35   No comments:

22nd April

This weeks Wednesday walk was in Archidona and started near the old medical centre we made our way up a zigzag track up towards the

get in line

Ermita De Nuestra Senora De Gracia but just before reaching the Ermita we turned off to make our way up the steep slopes of El Conjuro.

It was a long way up

This was quite tricky in places and we finally reached the summit after about 50 minutes.

Top Man

Ermita from El Conjuro

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Wednesday Walk 22nd April same as last week that was rained off

Wednesday Walk 22nd April same as last week that was rained off

By atrekinthesun   06:17   No comments:

This weeks walk will be up to the top of El Conjuro in Archidona. We will start near the old health centre and wind our way up near the Sanctuary then start going up to the top of El Conjuro.
From the top we make our way across the olive groves to a track that takes you down close to the swimming pool and back along a road to the start. The walk takes about 3 hours with the start being all uphill until you reach the summit of El Conjuro where you get magnificent views of the surrounding countryside. Meet in the car park in front of Mercadona in Archidona at 10 am to drive to the start. Bring water and refreshments as no cafe on route but plenty of bars in Archidona afterwards. The forecast is again for thunderstorms but we will still plan to meet and do another walk if wet.

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Weather forecast wrong again

Weather forecast wrong again

By atrekinthesun   07:19   No comments:

The forecast today was for rain most of the day, but we decided to carry on and do the walk. It looked as if it was right first thing but by the time we met for the walk at 10 am it had turned out to be a lovely day with mostly blue skies for all of the walk. We did change from the original walk because we were going over some rocks which may have been wet from overnight rain, so we went down into the Arroyo Marin valley and it was dry down there. A good time was had by all and even Scoobie came back to us at the end.

Not a cloud in the sky

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A slight blip

A slight blip

By atrekinthesun   08:53   No comments:

I spent Sunday with my boyfriend Max and we went down to a local beach to hang out. Unfortunately I had a slight blip on my 'turning of the new leaf'. Yes you guessed it I did a runner, I could not help myself as there were some really nice rabbit smells. I could still see Max's owners so I just stayed up on the hills at the back of the beach until I heard them calling my name. I still ignored them until I saw them start to drive away in the car so I ran as fast as I could and they saw me and stopped and waited for me, lovely people as the beach was a long way from home and I didn't fancy walking it back.

Me at the beach Ops I had done a runner by then

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First leg of coast to coast and more

First leg of coast to coast and more

By atrekinthesun   08:21   No comments:

Sunday 12th April
We had a book for Christmas called 'The Andalucian Coast to Coast Walk' and we decided to do Day 1 of the walk. Having already walked the first section from Maro to the Area Recreativa El Pinarillo we decided to start from there and we drove the car up the track passing quite a few people doing their morning walk to the picnic area which was about 5 kilometres and parked up.

Ready to start the walk

The day was cloudy and overcast which made it an ideal day for walking but not good for photographs. Starting from where we did we soon got into the harder part of the walk which was to end up crossing over four high mountain passes. Even though it was cloudy we soon got a sweat on and it was not long before we removed one layer of clothing. Taking it steady we arrived at the first pass of the day where there was a 4x4 parked and we were caught and overtaken by two young men who very soon disappeared completely. The route was very well marked and was easy to follow and we descended quite steeply down into the Chillar gorge where we went wrong, from the river crossing of Rio Chillar we followed some blue markers on rocks which sent us the wrong way but we soon realised our mistake and got back on track.

Rio Chillar

The track became steep then and we were really glad of the cloud cover. Eventually we made it to the top and crossed the second pass of the walk. From here the route became easier crossing a few dry stream beds. At the third pass we had a little snack before continuing and sat admiring the views. We met with a lot of other walkers which is unusual for us but it was a Sunday and a popular walking route, one of the people who passed us was a young girl in sandals shorts and a vest and a small shoulder bag, we felt overdressed in our trousers, walking tops, poles, rucksacks and sturdy boots I suppose it is because you need all that equipment when you walk in the mountains in England and you never know what the weather is going to do next. . After crossing the forth and final pass of the day we started the descent into the Higueron valley which was quite steep and we were feeling it a little in our legs by then. The sting in the tail was a very steep walk up into the village of Frigiliana and the end of the walk but it was a very nice walk which took us just under four hours. The hotel where we were staying for the night was only about 50 metres from the finish where we enjoyed a nice bath before having a walk round the village and having a beer or two.

Frigiliana

Frigiliana from our hotel balcony

Monday 13th April
After a nice breakfast we were  ready to start the return journey back to the car at Area Recreativa El Pinarillo, but today the sun was shinning so it was going to be a hot one. We descended down into the Higueron valley and then started the ascent up to the first pass luckily it was still in the shade so we were ok. From then on we were mainly in the sun so suntan lotion and hats were required and trousers were replaced by shorts. Things were back to normal where we were the only walkers on the trek apart from one other walker that we saw and he was also English.

Shorts and hat required

It all went well and seemed easier on the way back probably because we know the route. Arriving back at the car in well under four hours. The car was still there so we made our way back home.

Clear skies on day 2

Tuesday 14th April
This was a rest day so we drove to El Ventorro just outside Alhama de Granada and walked the two kilometres into the village for breakfast, then back to El Ventorro to the Arab Baths and relaxed for the one hour forty five minutes.


Wednesday 15th April
The forecast is for rain so we won't be doing the original walk as that involves clambering up rocks. But we do have a couple of alternatives if the rain does arrive. So we will be meeting at the same place and time.

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Wednesday Walk 15th April

Wednesday Walk 15th April

By atrekinthesun   01:51   No comments:

This weeks walk will be up to the top of El Conjuro in Archidona. We will start near the old health centre and wind our way up near the Sanctuary then start going up to the top of El Conjuro.
From the top we make our way across the olive groves to a track that takes you down close to the swimming pool and back along a road to the start. The walk takes about 3 hours with the start being all uphill until you reach the summit of El Conjuro where you get magnificent views of the surrounding countryside. Meet in the car park in front of Mercadona in Archidona at 10 am to drive to the start. Bring water and refreshments as no cafe on route but plenty of bars in Archidona afterwards.

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Wednesday walk on Friday

Wednesday walk on Friday

By atrekinthesun   11:47   No comments:

We did our normal Wednesday walk on Friday this week as it was forecast rain on Wednesday. It looked like rain again first thing but soon the clouds disappeared and we were left in the sunshine for most of the walk from Fuente del Conde to Villanueva de Tapia and back.

After an initial uphill on a concrete road from the church we soon got into olive country on good tracks that were surprisingly dry considering how much rain we had on Wednesday night. Part of the route crossed through an olive grove which was good to walk on and then it was easy walking until the steep track in the village of Villanueva de Tapia which always catches you out but at least you know that there is a coffee stop awaiting you at the top of the hill. From there it is all downhill (honest) back to the car.

3 province stone

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Turned over a new leaf?

Turned over a new leaf?

By atrekinthesun   07:35   No comments:

Been out for a nice 2 hour walk today in Archidona. They let me off the lead so I was free to escape and chase the rabbits in the Arroyo Marin valley. I did a lot of running around but the Deeming's kept whistling for me to come back and I did and they gave me a biscuit every time which was great.

Me being good

For some reason I did this for the whole of the walk and near the finish I walked with them right up to the car and stood there waiting for them to open the door without running off which I think is first. Watch this space to see if I can keep up the good work?

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Nature Trail

Nature Trail

By atrekinthesun   07:27   No comments:

The weather forecast was rain today so we cancelled the group walk. We decided to go for a swim (indoor pool of course too cold for outdoors still). Afterwards we had coffee and toast, still no rain so we decided to go for a little walk into the Arroyo valley.

There are some really lovely flowers at the moment so it turned out to be a 2 hour nature trail.

During the walk two things happened which were unusual. First we met with a Spanish senderismo group from Malaga who were doing the same route that we were doing but in the opposite direction, the second was that we spotted a birds nest with three eggs in only about a metre from the path that we were on. We managed to do the whole walk without a spot of rain, don't know what is wrong with the people at the met office this year? Only know two of the flowers anyone know what the others are?

Celandine 

First poppy of the year

Birds nest only a metre  from the path

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Wednesday walk 8th April

Wednesday walk 8th April

By atrekinthesun   22:56   No comments:

The forecast for this Wednesday is for rain so unless the it improves we will not be doing a walk. Hopefully see you next week.

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Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday

By atrekinthesun   23:57   No comments:

Can you spot the fish

Nice easy day planned for today. First of all we went to gather some wood for our woodburning fire. After filling the car we had a coffee next to the lake and some small fish were swimming really close to the edge.

Nice view

Had a coffee and took in the view.

Shall I go for a dip?

Scoobie could not decide if she wanted to go for a swim or not (she decided not to as she hates water).
We then went to a yoga session for 1 hour 30 minutes. Home for lunch then cutting wood that we had collected and stored it for the winter.

Maundy Thursday procession 

This evening we watched the procession through the village for Maundy Thursday a bit scary.

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Loja in the sun

Loja in the sun

By atrekinthesun   09:38   No comments:

We had a good turn out for this new walk meeting up at Lidl in Loja as it is too difficult to explain how to get to the start of the walk. Started the walk at 9:45 because it is getting warm already to start any later and there was a nice cool breeze as we walked up the hill behind the railway station. The hill at the start got your heart pumping so we were soon warm.

Easy going after first hill

The going was flat on good tracks for the rest of the walk.

I wandered over to take a picture of a nice rock formation and saw some Ibex on top of the ridge and just managed to get a picture before they disappeared.  The walk turned out to be a good one and we will be doing it again in future.

Spot the Ibex

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