Lecrin Valley Limpers

Dear all Our weather may finally be on the turn, we have had a few dry days and the sunshine has been quite warm on a number of occasions this past week. So we were all looking forward to the easy walk we had planned for Padul. We all met in Padul and after a delayed start we set off in perfect walking conditions, sunshine, brilliant blue skies and a slightly cool wind. The walk first crosses the bed of the old lagoon passing some very lush campos, whose soil could inspire anyone to grow just about anything. At the far side of the lagoon there is a crystal clear spring and the remains of an old Roman road. We have not managed yet to turn this walk into a true circular walk, and part of the route has to be retraced in order to cut across the lake bed towards the bird sanctuary. It was while crossing this section we decided to go off piste in the hope of finding a new path. Our track eventually disappeared and we left to scramble over a small weir and discreetly make our way across a pl

Dear All Our scheduled Sunday walk this week was cancelled due poor weather, I appreciate that this will amuse you who are basking in the sunshine back in the UK, but for us poor souls over here, it is starting to interfere with our life style. We should, by now, be topping up our tans and sipping G & Ts by the poolside. Instead we are having to console ourselves by devising even more imaginative tapa whilst standing around the fire. So it was that this Sunday some 20 sad and dejected Limpers went around to John and Sandra's for our weekly social event while the hiking boots stayed locked away. Once again a big thank you to John and Sandra for hosting the party and to everyone for the delicious food. Our walk this coming Sunday is an easy one that we did a few months back, but which quite a number of the group were unable to do. It starts in Padul and crosses the dried bed of the lagoon, then continues by the side of the old Roman road before re crossing the lagoon and calling

Dear Limper It was with a sinking feeling in my heart that the group met this week in Nigúelas, for our Sunday walk. We had just finalised our transport arrangements for our onward journey to Padul, when a coach carrying some 50 people arrived, and began disgorging hikers. I know the emails get widely distributed, but this was taking it too far, had they brought tapa? Would Deborah have enough glasses? It now appears that it was a rival group from Armilla, who go for long hard walks, and then go home, because they don’t do tapa! Our walk this week took us up the cruz Altaya above Padul which takes about 1.5 hours of gentle uphill plodding, where we stopped for breakfast. Some in the party were hoping that this would be the extent of our uphill exertions, but in true Limper tradition, there is always another hill to climb. Another 1.5 hours of steady walking, including a search and rescue stop when 2 members wandered off in the wrong direction, they were found chattering away, wit

Dear all Can I just mention, before you read this newsletter, that the behaviour by one member this week at the tapa party was totally reprehensible, more will be said about this later. Our walk this Sunday found us heading for Conchar, in what turned out to be the only decent day we have had for a fortnight. When the sun finally reappeared it caught everyone unawares, and we had to discard the multiple layers of clothing we have become accustomed to wearing. The walk followers the course of the Rio Durcal and is an absolute delight as it meanders in and out of bamboo tunnels and crosses rickety little bridges. We have been unable to do this walk for the last 9 months, because the bridges were swept away in a storm last June. But they have now been restored, and the walk can once again be classed as one of the best short walks in the valley. We had split the walk up into 2 sections with the first part finishing at los Naranjos in Melegis, where refreshment was taken on the terrace

Dear All Today's walk was a total wash out, due to heavy rain and low cloud, but at least some more snow has appeared, so the ski resort should have something for Easter, and we may have something to drink in the summer. One Limper happy about the cancelled walk was little John, who I had spent all week winding up, ready for the 1st of April. The only bright spot of the day was the tapa at Colin and Lesley's, which attracted 18 Limpers, which was probably more than if we had gone on the walk. This begs the question should we scrap the walks and go straight to tapa? It appears that this week I have been awarded the Billy Bunter prize for gluttony after eating 2 slices of mince pie, But I know Sandra made it especially for me, so I consider myself extremely generous for sharing the rest of it.Thanks to Colin and Lesley for hosting the tapa and to everyone for providing the great food. There are two outings planned this week. The first is to Padul on Friday evenin

Dear all Well the weather forecast was right after all, So with deep regret we have to announce that the walk this week is cancelled. The good news is that the tapa is still on in Monachil, so if you are coming to this meet at the car park in Niguelas at 1 pm. at least little John got away with it, this time. Regards Stuart