Super Mario

Dear Limper

With two limper outings and an A team expedition it has been a busy week.

First off the A team went looking for new walks above Cumbres Verde and came back with a wonderful, if a little strenuous, stroll of about 5 hours. The walk sets off from the car park at Cerro de Sevilla and at Puerte de los siete Ojos (the bridge of the seven eyes) sets off up the very steep path towards Pico de la Carne. Not a very auspicious start to a walk for a vegetarian. After about 15 minutes of climbing with the heart, lungs, and legs all complaining we took a well earned breather. So it was a surprise to see a hombre Espanola of similar vintage coming strolling up the path in shorts and a T shirt, at this point we were still wearing fleece's. In an effort to maintain the macho image of the A team we set off on his tail but we were soon left eating dust as he disappeared over the next ridge. So it was a surprise some one hour later as we sat eating our snap to see Super Mario come strolling along the path, and it was another surprise some one hour later, and a few kilometres down the track, that Mario once again made an appearance from behind us. I don't know what route he was following but it was certainly different to ours. At the next meeting it was us who sneaked up behind him as he replenished his water at the Fuente Frio spring. As a finale to the walk we checked out the restaurant Mervidero just below the car park at Cerro de Sevilla, you can guess who we met. The walk is very good and affords excellent views of the Sierra Nevada and Granada.

Our second outing of the week was to the Semana Santa parade in Padul on Good Friday. This got off to the usual start as we sampled the cerveza and tapa on offer in a local bar before proceeding to watch the parade, unfortunately the rain that had been promised did arrive, and the sedate procession that normally passes at a snail's pace was put on steroids with the floats high tailing it back to base and the spectators heading for the nearest bar. We returned to the bar where we had started from and proceeded to eat them out of tapa. A good night was had by all, we finally made it to bed around 2 am.

The walk on Sunday was up the Pica Lopera and twelve members turned up to experience the delights of this walk, which starts from the Suspiro del moro to Otura road, for anyone who has not gone down this route for a while, can I suggest you give it a miss until they surface the first twelve kilometres of the new route. The rain that had marred the Good Friday celebrations was held at bay and we had a good walk, The only downside was that Max, whilst trying to supplement his diet that Githa has put him on, ate a dead bird which made him violently ill, and necessitated him having to visit the vets in Granada. The last news we had is that he is OK. The tapa club reconvened at Pacos bar in Cozvijar.

The walk this coming Sunday the 23rd of April is up the Monachil gorge, the walks takes about two and half hours and follows the Rio Monachil which it crosses 3 times on rope bridges. The route is well graded and is classed suitable for Olwyn. The tapa club will take place at Colin and Lesley's house in Monachil. There are two reasons for this, the first is that they live there so it is very convenient, the second is, they have a large number of heavy tiles they want to get rid off, and Pat and Val have very kindly offered to take them off their hands, so they need as many cars as possible to make the trip to Monachil to help fetch them. Meet at the car park in Niguleas at 9.30 bring your tapa.