Where Eagles Dare !

I carried on driving into the Unknown…but enjoying it ! Rural Spain, especially up in the mountains seemed fairly simple, so I plucked a campsite from my book, and headed towards it !

My chosen spot was Camping Rio Mundo http://www.campingriomundo.com/ just outside Riopar, in the Sierra del Seguro ! A tree covered limestone type area, and the campsite was …. almost empty, and I got a cheaper price than advertised, so what more could I do ?, but stay here… and find things to do !

On the Thursday morning I was out on my road bike exploring the roads around… immediately outside the village where I was –Molinicos- the road was wide, and seemingly very quiet, it’s only disadvantage was… it went up,up and up… undeterred I carried on up the road, although it was step it was steady, until I made it to the top of the pass – Puerto de Peralejo , at 1100 mts , my only bit of company being an Eagle flying high overhead, in the blue clear sky … a quick drink, look at a nearby village, and then back on the bike and zoom back down ,and past the campsite to the village of Riopar , which was having it’s weekly market – there being only 1500 inhabitants, most of them must have been out shopping !

Then it was back to the campsite for a snooze, and put my feet up after a 36 kms ride, with almost 1000 mts of climbing done ! – the campsite was filling up – 2 other vans had arrived !

Next morning Friday, I headed out in lovely sunshine onto the road again, only this time down to Riopar, and then left up another hill to Los Chorros, http://www.hellovisitspain.com/en/toph/3/4.html the source of the Rio Mundo , and up a similar hill to the day before, which I turned off just before the top, along a valley and to the car park to visit the waterfalls – they’d have to wait another day for me as I cant walk in my road cycling shoes ! I had a quick snack there, and rode back out of the valley, and up to the top of the hill… another high pass climbed ! 1150 mts – well done !

I then swooped back to the campsite, having done another 33 kms ride,620 mts climbed,  and pleased with myself, so…. had a snooze !

Saturday I decided I’d go walking, and climb some of the hills surrounding me… I’d love to show you them, unfortunately I found out my camera was broken again, after I’d spent all day taking pictures – so have only got a few from my phone !

Anyway, boots on, butties made and off I went, through the village, across the main road, and along a forest track, which climbed up.. I thought it may lead to a path from which I could eventually climb to the summit , it was quite pleasant walking in the forest in the shade of the trees, I eventually caught up with another couple, who clearly had the same ideas as me, and we swopped pathfinding together a few times, we followed a marked trail, and started getting onto steeper and rockier ground, with , what I thought was the ‘top’ looming above… only it wasn’t ! Eventually I just blitzed straight up a steep dried up stream bed, and made it onto the rocky outcrop, only to find another top behind it… and another behind that ! However after a time I did make it to the top, and had a good look all around…

it was very hot exposed on the limestone, so I had a brief drink, and circled the top , unfortunately losing track of the way I’d come up, and so ended up having to find/make my own way up, several times having to ‘bushwack’ through brambles and dense clumps of trees, until at last I came upon some mountain goats, and their old tracks, and by following them I was eventually able to make it back to the forest road I’d climbed up by in the morning ! A very relieved Jotown then sat down and ate his sandwiches !!

As I wandered back along the track, I noticed a lot of trees, had been ‘tapped’ for their resin/sap, with little buckets placed under the funnel

I only had several scars and scratches over my legs to remind me of my ordeal… I made it back to the campsite after an exhausting 5 hours in the heat and sun, having walked 20 kms and climbed 770 mts ! A cold few cans of beer soon helped my thirst ! , and I even ate out at the campsite restaurant that night… to treat myself !

A few nice days in the Sierra del Segura !

Up into the Hills…

Monday morning I packed up, paid up, and filled my water tank – I was now ready for anything !

I set off meandering Northwards, and slightly east, towards a group of hills/mountains – the Sierra de la Segurra, and as I drove along , heading for https://plus.google.com/105112662767779178277/about I was impressed, I could see real live mountains, and rocks pushing up from the plains – I got excited, I was going up ‘top’ !!

I drove along a main, but quiet road, heading for a town which I thought would give me an entry into the National park, where I was headed ( I didn’t actually have the GPS co-ordinates…), and just before I turned into the ‘interior’ I spotted a Supermarket where I loaded up with food… I wended my way along a dusty backroad, deeper and deeper into the forest, with an occasional sign ( none of which helped !) , occasionally stopping at a viewpoint, looking out into the unknown !

I kept driving, eventually finding my way to a village called Hornos, which I’d been expecting to then have signs for the campsite – none were evident, and so I continued .. and then re-traced my route, although on an even quiet road, eventually spotting this little space behind some trees – I’d had enough driving, so decided to stop here for the night – and what a good choice ! I was about 1500 mts high, so a lot cooler, and clearer air for me , great !

The traffic on the road, was almost non-existent, and what there was finished at around 7-30 p.m., leaving me to survey my kingdom, from the cliffs above , although there was a slight haze in the air, I could still see views all over… even disturbing some deer as I trampled around the forest…

It was a nice evening meal that night, no great sunset, but…Peace and quiet in my little hideaway ! – they’d even demolished any buildings around, so that I wouldn’t be disturbed !

The next morning I woke up to a lovely sunny day, and looking out onto my empire, thought all was well with the world ! – great views from the bedroom !

I had a leisurely breakfast, and decided it was so nice, that I may as well stop another day, and so went ‘walkabout’ first one way… seeing an abandoned homestead, with great views on to the Lakes below… even the ‘wash house’ and plumbing had been made from wood, which I found lower down in the woods, great spot to live in, if only ? , then it was back to Wally for lunch, before setting off in the afternoon, disturbing the deer in the other direction – I didn’t see another soul all day, with probably only about 30 vehicles passing on the road all day… it had been a great day, that was to get even better, as the sun started to go down, and I was able to look out over the mountains, and lakes,

watching the sky turn to a great red !- who needs to be on a beach, to see a great sunset ?  

and, best of all my accommodation costs were ….Nil !!

I got to bed early, as I was up in the middle of the night, looking at a great star filled sky, the Milky way clearly above, and even the odd shooting star… I must be in luck ! 

Another peaceful night, awakening to a sunny sky , but time to move on….

I’d only driven a mile or so, when I found the signs to the Campsite I’d been looking for…. followed them through the forest and ended at a ‘Rustic’ retreat, which wanted to charge me a lot to stay, so I kept moving to my next spot…. which is ? 

A Week with a Difference !!

I’ve just found out, that Portugal and Spain, are experiencing a ‘heatwave’,http://news.sky.com/story/1484731/portugal-and-spain-sizzling-in-record-heatwave and just guess where the hottest part is ? – exactly where I’ve been, and where I’m going… although I’m quite getting used to 35+C !!

After a pleasant couple of days in Seville ( or Sevilla !) I set off on Tuesday morning to wend my way towards Cordoba, intending that if I could find somewhere to stop before then I would – I couldn’t ! So by early afternoon I was at Villafranca de Cordoba, Camping Albolafia http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=9442 they seemed pleasant people, although told me for a big supermarket I would have to drive 25 kms back into Cordoba… ah well !

I intended stopping for a good while, and so drove back into Cordoba for a ‘big shop’ !! and returned with lots of stuff ready to BBQ !! (should have checked the gas bottle !), so later as I got ready to do some BBQ’ing, and got the gaz canister from the boot…thought ‘Oh dear, feels a bit light’, and it was ! I’d only just lit the gas, it was on for about 30 seconds and Pmfff, out it went, leaving me with no gas to BBQ with… The site didn’t have any, and suggested I ‘may’ get some in Cordoba, but Camping Gaz was not common in Spain ( now I know !!)

Ah well, a pasta supper, some nice cheese,and ready for another day…

The following day I decided I may as well go back in to Cordoba to try and find a supplier… without ranting…!!! I found that no one sold it… I did find some at the Municipal campsite, but they refused to sell it to me ! Aaargh ! Nothing I could do, but return, fuming… and have a glass of wine !!, and change all my food plans- a nice big pot of chilli con carne (hot) will do well !

2 days gone, and not much done, so Thursday I was up very early, to catch the 8 a.m. bus into Cordoba,http://www.google.es/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=9&ved=0CFsQFjAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.andalucia.com%2Fcities%2Fcordoba.htm&ei=0gZiVfv3A4boUoT4gYAD&usg=AFQjCNEuSzcwFdYu-Tf3U7aX6GJc7qy7vg&bvm=bv.93990622,d.d24  to view the sights there… it wasn't too difficult to navigate the old town (once you knew !), and soon I  was seeing things ! I found the original entry to the city, over an old Roman Bridge, with the famous Mosque/Cathedral in the background (that was really all I’d come to see !), I walked across the bridge, back into the city, had a wander round the outside of the Cathedral, but realised I’d have to ‘bite the bullet’, and pay my $8 fee !

As soon as I went inside, I decided it was money well spent,  quite unusual to see, all these obvious Islamic features, in a Catholic Church ! – apparently there had been a Christian church there originally, then when the city was captured by the Moslems, they destroyed the church, and built this….  when the Christians re-captured the city, they didn’t destroy it, just added a church inside – brilliant, and very,very impressive !  So there were features from differing times, all blending in together, and being a very famous attraction for the city… the original Moslem ‘prayer tower’ is still there,intact ! I just kept wandering around, and around ( getting my money’s worth !) – although I couldn’t say the Church ‘part’ was as impressive as the ‘Mosque’ part ! , although it was interesting to see when the two parts were together…

I eventually decided I’d seen enough, and went back out into the impressive courtyard, lots of shade, and the large minaret tower looming overhead !

I then walked down to the Palace of the Christian monarchs ( Alcazar de los Reyes Catolicos), but another $8 beckoned, and I didn’t go in… then it was time to wander back around the city, past a roman mausoleum  , and surprise,surprise, with unerring accuracy I found myself back at the bus station, and the bus back to Villafranca !, and campsite, satisfied with my days work!

Friday, was a day for an acclimatisation ride, so I got the mountain bike out, and headed along a nearby road, Parque Aquatico… a dream of a road for cyclists, hardly any traffic, and lots of cyclists ! along through fields , eventually getting up above a reservoir, shame I’d brought the wrong bike… however a nice ride up, and back through the fields again, with views of sunflowers,wheat and olive fields , stretching out into the distant hilltops…

A nice day, even having chance to find a church for weekend  mass , and a relaxing afternoon and swim ! – I’d done 30 kms without even realising !

Saturday, again an early start to try to beat the heat, and I was off on the road bike, again along parque aquatico, soon back to where I’d stopped yesterday, and zooming along… there were lots of other cyclists ( all going the other way !) I was riding through a nature reserve, good road, and almost no cars… wonderful !

I passed over a bridge dissecting one reservoir, and continued up the undulating road, eventually ending up at another dam, at the top of the valley… and there, the decent road ended, so it was turn around time, and back to where I’d come from… panting up the hills again, but zooming down them again ! with the wind rushing through me, cooling me down…lovely

I was soon back to the campsite, another 50 kms ride, and the reward of…. a cold swim in the pool !, lunch, and afternoon snooze !

Saturday evening mass was at the church near to the campsite, up on a hill, so as I walked there for 7-30 p.m. mass, thought ‘this looks a busy church’…it turned out to be ‘first communion’ day, and lots of young children – girls in white dresses, boys in sailors outfits, all marched into a packed church, with a nice choir singing, and a pleasant and enjoyable service – another surprise !

Sunday morning, back on the road bike, and tried to find a  decent road to ride, couldn’t, and so returned to ride along parque aquatico again, and stopped above the reservoir below… it was a close,clammy day, so I decided that would be enough,  and hurtled back towards Villafranca, as I did I saw this sign on a gate, obviously it’s a really wild ‘Bob cat’ re-introduction area…. although I haven’t seen any !

The weather is forecast to go even hotter again around where I am 36C !! So, tomorrow I think I’ll head off again, going towards cooler climes… although where ?