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Notes (1046)
I know it's old news now but I wish I had been able to sit down and take a morning coffee chatting to Jose (Pepe) Mujica. He certainly led by example, a trait our current leaders fail to do.
https://apnews.com/article/uruguay-pepe-jose-mujica-death-obit-d6074a22d7c0510697b8e684fe173cd3
Just ordered a new thru hiking tent from Durston - a X-Mid-2. My first purchase from them. 3 season, good reviews, only 880 grams (31oz) and very reasonably priced.
Hoping it arrives from Canada in time for our adventure to the Pyrenees in June.
https://durstongear.com/products/x-mid-2-tent-ultralight-backpacking
Unusual hike to visit the Cascadas del Rio Dilar yesterday. Route up the valley involved 30 river crossings! 15 there and 15 back. The water was between knee and mid-thigh level deep, flowing quite strongly with extremely cold snow melt from the . Care required, walking poles very useful. Great fun though!
Cascadas del Rio Dilar today, , .
400km round trip taking my mate back to Malaga airport but managed to visit a few nature reserves along the way ... Fuente de Piedra (Flamingos ✅, Dark Spreading Dragonfly ✅) and El Torcal (Griffon Vultures ✅).
@khusky will have some good photos, I just took my binos. Only problem was the amount of very loud and uncontrolled school kids at El Torcal. Any species would have been long gone by the time that they arrived. Not really getting in touch with nature?
The wonderful Barranco de la Luna today. A short half day trip but well worth it. The ravine features dramatic rock formations, lush vegetation, and a small, crystal-clear stream.
The trail follows the ravine, with some rocky sections and shallow river crossings - adding a sense of adventure. The highlight is the "Cañón de la Luna," a narrow canyon with towering walls that feel almost otherworldly.
Not often we head for the beach but glad I did yesterday. Nice hike between the Playa Nudista at Cantajirran to Playa Caleta, Costa Tropical
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Yesterday we hiked the Ruta Gollizno, Moclín, a scenic trail that offers stunning views, through areas with rich history, including old defensive structures & remnants of medieval pathways.
The trail is a mix of dirt paths & rocky terrain, winding through forests, deep gorges & open landscapes.
Some spectacular sections in the gorge itself with a high bridge & raised platforms to provide some superb situations. See photos
Today we've been exploring, amongst other things, the charming village of Fondales in the Taha del Pitres. Known for its traditional whitewashed houses, narrow winding streets & flat slate roofs.
Like much of the Alpujarra, Fondales has Moorish roots and was heavily influenced by the Berber settlers who farmed the terraced hillsides.
I had to put on my guiding hat and return to work yesterday. I know, it's not really work is it? 😂
La "Ruta Medieval, Taha del Pitres"
Charming Alpujarran villages with narrow streets, flat-roofed houses & historic churches.
Ancient Moorish water channels that still irrigate the land today.
Fresh mountain springs & waterfalls, perfect for a quick rest.
Hike dates back to the Nasrid period, reflecting the region's Moorish past.
Yes, I know it's not but I can't wait that long to post these 😂 .
Stunning scenery in the Taha del Pitres today
That was a good morning's work ... getting set up and installed on laptop and mobile with a repeater on the roof terrace powered by rechargeable battery/solar
Exploring the big 3 caves of the Sierra de Huetor. Fascinating 14km hiking route takes you to 3 impressive caves formed by karstic erosion in limestone rock. A mix of natural beauty, geology & a bit of spelunking
Cueva del Agua – underground stream and stunning rock formations
Cueva del Gato – named for its openings that let in light, accessible without headlamps
Cueva de los Mármoles – large chambers and historical significance (poss Roman burial site)
Spain power cuts - fortunately we are somewhat prepared with solar electricity, cash supplies, 15000 litres of water storage, fuel in car & about a months worth of dehydrated meals 😆. In case of a zombie apocalypse 🧟♂️or natural disaster we also have walkie talkies, LoRa radios & I have been developing off-grid networks (experimenting with , & ) 🤣.
Bit of a wake up call though - prepare for these events no matter how far fetched they seem. They can and do happen.
Electric power down throughout Spain and Portugal. Traffic lights, hospitals, communication, shops all down. Never experienced a whole countrywide loss of electricity before. A bit scary how humanity is so dependent. Hope it comes back soon 🤞🤞🤞
The melt waters from the Sierra Nevada in full flow down the irrigation channels (acequias) this morning. Nice sight.
I know this is a really poor shot but I was shattered and really couldn't be bothered to leave my tent 😀. So it's a shaky camera, hand held. Never mind, I'm not trying to win prizes, just want to show you just how many stars were showing in the sky that night. Always amazes me just how many there are.
Sierra Nevada, Spain
I'm tired. Stayed up to watch the Barcelona v Real Madrid football final. Very exciting but it went to extra time so didn't finish until nearly 1am 😵⚽
Just had to go on an old windows laptop to download some camera updates. First time on windows for over a year. Needless to say I'm now feeling a wide mix of emotions. Frustration mainly, but also relief that I never have to return for further camera updates 🤣