Hermita Pinos del Valle

Dear All

What a delightful little walk, most of us had this last Sunday. The walk was to the Hermita, above Pinos del Valle and is a must for any true Limper because of the outstanding views of our Valley that the little hill affords. So on a very bright and sunny, slightly breezy morning our group of 17 set off on our little excursion. The normal route sets off from Pinos and zig zags straight up to the Hermita, but our route was the longer but far more interesting one that leaves Pinos on the Guajar Faraguit road for about 1km before turning right, up what was once a pleasant gravel road out into the campos, but somebody is doing their best to try and spoil it, by laying concrete and making it another soulless road. You sometimes wonder if the guy who invented cement realised how much destruction and devastation his product would cause to such a beautiful landscape. After about 2 km you come to the real objective of coming this way, a wonderful little path that leads off to the right, and we are not the only ones to recognise its charm, because someone has way marked the track with the red and white stripes of a international GR route. This may be taking it a little too far, but it is a nice track. You follow the path for about 2km steadily gaining height before it emerges onto the main track coming up from Pinos. It was only at this point that you realised the steady breeze at the bottom of the hill was a full blown gale force wind at the top. Someone had to hang on to little Margaret to stop her being carried away, luckily in the shelter of the Hermita you were able to sit and enjoy the extensive vistas that had opened up around us. On our way down we had another first for the group when Joanna sliped on some loose stones and fell and twisted her ankle. After some discussion on whether to leave her to the wolves or air ambulance, it was decided she could hobble down to a place where we could extract her by car. She became the first Limper to go on a walk, and not be able to attend the tapa afterwards. Bob and Githa turned up for tapa and introduced the third member of their team, master Daniel to the group, fortunately he slept throughout the whole proceeding, and so he never realised what exalted company he was mixing with.

The walk this coming Sunday is a little longer and harder than what we have run for the last few weeks and takes us from Lanjaron to Mondujar. The path starts by following the GR7 out of Lanjaron and climbs steadily for about 1 hour with 300 meters of ascent on a good forest road. At this point we leave the GR7 and head off across country on a variety of tracks and paths with one fairly steep but not difficult decent and a gentle up hill. The walk is about 12 klm and is timed at 4.5 hours but as always this is subject to variation due to distraction and the groups ability. We have an Easter Sunday walk planned to the Buddhist centre at Os O Ling and Sundays walk will make an excellent training exercise. Tapa will be held at Josettes house in Chite afterwards.

If you are going on the walk please meet at the Acropolis bar Mondujar 9am. We then have to transfer to Lanjaron for the start of the walk, leaving behind enough cars so the drivers can later return to Lanjaron to retrieve them, I know we don't try and arrange anything like this without our Logistics manager Liz being present, but sometimes we just have to struggle on.

A bit of good news "little John" group secretary will be returning from his 2 year sabbatical in the UK on the 26th March.

Pico Lopera

Dear Limper

We had an excellent turnout today for a walk, that had been advertised as having spectacular views, and particularly views of Africa. So it was with a sinking feeling in my heart that I and 14 other brave and intrepid walkers set off for the summit of Pico Lopera. Our only hope that the views would materialise, was that the gale force wind would blow away the fog, that was swirling around us. One advantage of the fog was, because you could not see the objective of the walk we did not receive the usual cries of "Oh my God, we are not going all the way up there, are we?". Surprisingly for the altitude you climb and the height you attain, the walk is very easy. While the cloud base did slowly became higher, it was not fast enough to ensure the dramatic vistas we had hoped for, and we arrived at the summit watch tower still surrounded by fog. A quick picnic stop was taken, as we huddled around the watch tower like Penguins in an Antarctic winter. We had only just left the summit, for the way down, when the clouds suddenly cleared, and we were rewarded with spectacular views in all directions, with Ken claiming he could see table top mountain in South Africa ( I don't know where he learnt to make such exaggerated claims). The billed highlight of the day was lunch at the Bar Venta de Fraille. So excited was Arturo, about having a peppered steak, he had gone to the trouble of vesting the bar, the day before, and having another one, just to make sure it was up to standard. Even though the weather conditions were not ideal, the day was enjoyable and at least it blew the cob webs away.

The walk this coming Sunday the 25th of February is from Pinos del Valle and depending on the weather conditions will either take in the Hermitage, or take a lower level route through the Almond blossom. A decision will be made at the departure point on Sunday morning. Neither route is difficult, with both walks setting off in the same direction towards Guajar Faraguit, before the former turns and heads up hill, and the latter heads down hill. Both eventually return to the starting point, after wandering around various tracks on the hill side.

Afterwards tapa will be taken at the Masonic Lodge in Chite.

If you want to go on the walk meet at the top of Pinos Del Valle by the outdoor Laverdero on the Restabal road at 10 am.

Murchas

Dear all

I thought Margarets' offer to host the tapa would swell the numbers turning up for the walk, and this turned out to be the case, with 16 of the crew setting forth from Murchas on a blustery morning. The hard part was knowing what to wear, you needed a jacket on because of the wind, but the sun was quite strong so you were soon sweating. The walk sets off from Murchas and heads out of the village up to the canal which you then follow on a broad track for about 2 km. Surprisingly for the little altitude that you have to climb the views are magnificent. At the point where the canal disappears into a tunnel, the wide track finishes and you have to follow a little track up the hillside for 50 meters. It is at this point that the sick and the lame turned back to follow the track back to Murchas. The rest continued along the track and headed up a gentle hill for the next hour with panoramic views in all directions. At the top, when El Caballo, with it's snowy top comes into view and all the villages of the valley lay below you, you can say to yourself, aren't we lucky to live in such a wonderful place. On our return to Murchas the 2 groups were reunited and tapa was taken at Margaret's house. The range of food was magnificent, and those of you who were unlucky not to be able to sample the Plum pudding and the Pavlova, then blame Arturo, because every time I saw him he was filling his plate up.

The walk this coming Sunday the 18th February is up Pica Lopera. The walk starts at the Bar "Meson los Prados" about 22 km down the Otiva road from Padul. The walk takes about 3 hours and involves about 200 meters of accent up a fairly easy track and should be suitable for most people. The views are stunning along the whole track and I have promised Quina that you can see Africa from the top, so pray for a clear day. After the walk we are going to the Taberna Venta del Fraíle, which is beside the road about half way back towards Padul. If the food is half as good as last time we went, it will be a good do. If you want to go on the walk and have not already booked a place, please let me know before Wednesday evening because we need to book a table, and particularly if you want to try the peppered steak which they had sold out of last time. Because we are reserving a table, if we have to cancel the walk for any reason, snow rain or fog, then meet at the bar for 2 pm.

If you are going on the walk either meet at the Acropolis bar in Mondujar at 9 am, or at the Padul exit junction 144 of the Autovia, just at the start of the Otiva road at 9.20.

Rio Dilar

Dear All

The weather in the valley this past week has been decidedly mixed. A typically English summer week, wet, cold, and the odd burst of sunshine. So it was with fingers crossed that a last minute decision was made to go ahead with the planned excursion up the Rio Dilar. We set off with a total of 5 cars in a convoy but as the inevitable happens with so many cars we lost one along the way. They eventually reappeared saying that they liked Dilar so much they thought it would be nice to go around it twice. In true Limper tradition 12 started the walk, but we had 2 with gammy knees in the group, so after about 1 hour of walking, and a number of river crossings, 6 members decided to turn back. I think the real reason was, they were afraid they would miss the 3pm start of the tapa party. The remaining 6 in the group continued on for a further hour, but with the clouds getting lower, or the path getting higher, and a definite chance that they would miss the 3pm start of the tapa party, we reluctantly decided to turn around and head back, arriving in Chite with 2 minutes to spare. I always had a sneaking suspicion that it was more the tapa than the walk that lay behind the success of the group, and this week proved the theory when an extra 10 members turned up for tapa, citing reasons, ranging from the a 10 am start is too early to I had to take the wife to Granada market. Thanks to everyone for the wonderful food and to Pat and Val for hosting the do.

The walk this Sunday the 11th of February is a local walk in the Loma de Murchas and is suitable for everyone. The walk starts in Murchas and heads up to a acequias which it then follows on a wide level track, if we have got the weather and the timings correct the views over the Lecrin valley are outstanding and the Almond blossom should be out. After about 2 km the acequias disappears and the path heads up hill for a little while, it is at this point the group can split with the dodgy knee brigade returning the way they came while the rest continue up and over the Loma de Murchas.

There is no tapa arranged this week, but refreshments will be available in local bars.

Meet outside Margaret's house (just over the bridge) in Murchas at 10 am.

Padul and the Roman Road

Dear all

After a week of bitter cold temperatures, snow and heavy rain, it was with some trepidation that we set off on our Sunday walk under heavy grey skies accompanied by a strong head wind, which eventually worked in our favour by blowing the clouds away, leaving us all sweating under the multi layers of clothing that we were all wearing. The walk eventually started from the centre of Padul, after a misunderstanding as to where we were supposed to meet, and set off across the unbelievable flat farm land that was once the bed of a lagoon. As soon as you arrive at the other side, the banking surrounding the lagoon rises steeply and it was amongst this jumble of rocks that the remains of a Roman road could be found. This is not a sample of the long, straight, well constructed Roman roads that you can still find in Britain. This is a track that you would have trouble getting a challenger tank down, never mind a horse and cart, The good people of Padul must have made a fortune from the cart repair shops that must have lined this road. It is also the source of the incredible clear water from the Fuente Mal Nombre. A little bit further along the track, after stopping to admire some Campo land and a small vine yard, we were invited by the owner to sample his home made wine. The hospitality of the local Spanish people never ceases to amaze me, he even apologised for not having any tapa for us. Whilst returning to Padul we stopped off at the waterfowl park which now consists of a number of hides amongst the reed beds, unfortunately it must have been siesta time because there were only a couple of coots swanning about.

The after walk tapa club was held at Quina's Casa in Padul, and we were joined by some members who had been unable to make the walk this week. In total some 15 people sat down for an excellent lunch. Thank you to Quina for organising an excellent day out.

The walk this coming Sunday the 4th February is in the Rio Dilar, this is by special request for Val's birthday who is ## this year. For anybody who has not done this walk before it is a wonderful walk in a wooded valley, with the path cris- crossing the river a number of times. Because there is a chance that you might get your feet wet if the river level is up a bit, a good idea I have seen is a couple of strong plastic bags to slip over your shoes whilst crossing the river. The walk is classed suitable for Olwyn and should take about 2 hours. Please note, times for walks are estimated,and don't account for unplanned diversions The tapa club will convene at Val and Pat's house in Chite afterwards, usual tapa rules apply. If you are going on the walk either meet at the Acropolis Bar, Mondujar at 10 am, or just off the Otura motorway junction, near to the Santa Clara golf sign, at 10.20

Marchena

Dear all

What wonderful weather we had on Sunday, for our walk from Marchena. I know the area around Marchena does not appear too interesting and this may well have put a number of people off going on the walk, but from the start of the walk it only takes about 5 minutes before you are walking in a pine forest, on an old mule track meandering around the hill side as it slowly climbs towards the Camino forestal running below the Sierra del Manar. With no great distance to travel and a meal booked at the Mezquita restaurant we were able to travel slowly, stopping frequently to admire the unfolding views around us. Including the frequent stops the walk took about 3 hours.

Our walk this coming Sunday the 28th, is a tapa included walk, and is classed as easy and suitable for Olwyn. The walk sets off from Padul and crosses the valley floor of what once was the bed of the lagoon. Hopefully we may see signs of the old Roman road which skirted along the edge of the lagoon. There are a number of options available for the return journey, short, medium or longer. A decision to which one we take will depend on who turns up.

On our return to Padul we are invited to Quina's house for tapa, so usual rules apply, bring a plate of tapa and a bottle.

The Vale of Padul.
The Vale of Padul was formed when the Padul-Dúrcal-Nigüelas, fault line dropped. In the past a large expanse of water formed a lagoon, which was fed by underground springs the most important of which is the Dark Eye. In the 19^th century the lagoon was drained so that arable crops could be grown. It also stopped the malaria from infected mosquito’s.
The water was channelled through dykes that transferred the water to the Bridge of Cozvíjar, before running off into the River Dúrcal.
The southern edge of the vale is very rocky and in the past a road used to run along the edge of the lagoon and it was used by merchants and invading armies, as a way of access from the coast to the interior. And you can still see engraved into the rock the marks left by the wheels of the carts and carriages which travelled along this route many years ago.
We start the walk from Quina’s house (The Pilarillo) and we travel via the Camino of the Mills, before arriving at the Evil Fountain. We will stop here to drink water and to look at the old carriage tracks on the old road from Almuñecar that continues along in the direction of Granada.
Our route continues along the road passing the Ajia peat bogs before we arrives at the Bridge of Cozvíjar, where the dykes drain the Vale.

We return to the Evil Fountain and then take a road that crosses the Vale before arriving at the Aguadero peat bog. This area is home to the renowned Padul waterfowl sanctuary, bring your own bird book because I can’t tell one duck from another, the walk is an easy one and should take about three hours. We return to El Pilarillo (Quina’s house) for the traditional dish "Pot of San Antón".

We will meet at 10 am in Padul on the main street by the traffic lights (where the street widens out)

Many thanks to Quina for the research and walk description.

The flickr site is a photographic record of our walks.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lecrin-valley-limpers/

We have had another exceptionally dry and hot week, but the weather forecast this week is for a much cooler spell, and hopefully a drop of rain. The Dutch guy I wrote about last week, must have got into trouble with his wife, either that or I am in trouble because neither he or his Mother in law turned up this week. I will try and smooth things over again, by offering him another 12 months free membership.