Walk 6th May 2007

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 ploughed field, not the easiest thing to do when there are 19 in the group, but Quina knows everyone in Padul so it was not really trespassing. The bird sanctuary was a bit quiet, or it could have been all the noise we were making that kept the birds away, but one thing we did see was a rare sighting of a lagoon turtle. On our return to Padul we went to the bar Los Romeros for drinks and tapa.

Our walk this coming Sunday the 6th May is to Monachil and will be led by Graham as I am unable to make it due to prior commitments. The walk is one of the finest in the area, and is suitable for all and is classed suitable for Olwyn. It follows the Rio Monachil as it twists and turns in a very narrow valley. The path crosses the river 3 times by well constructed wire rope bridges and there is excitement around every corner. There is no tapa arranged, but no doubt if anybody wants to stop at a bar afterwards this could be arranged. Please meet in the car park in Niguelas at 9am before the drive to Monachil. Your contact name for this walk is Graham

The photo shows Peter, Stella, Alan, Charlie, Arthur, Gillian, Pepper, Colin, Blanca, Monolo, Liz, Quina, Graham, Sandra, John, Margaret, Gareth.

This and other photos can be seen at http://flickr.com/photos/lecrin-valley-limpers/

Walk 29th April

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 in at the bird sanctuary. the walk is classed suitable for Olwyn/Alan and takes about 3 to 4 hours and covers about 11 km. There is no tapa arranged but we will stop at a bar back in Padul on our return. If you want to go on the walk, meet in Padul at 10am just before the second set of traffic lights coming in from the Durcal end.

Walk to Siletta

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, with not a care in the world, led us on the top of Siletta the goal of this weeks walk. Whilst the weather had been ideal for our up hill excursion, the clouds were building up over the Sierras and with our experience, built up over the last few weeks, of clouds meaning rain we had a short lunch break before heading off back to Padul and the awaiting tapa back at Deborah’s in Nigúelas. Once again the food beat anything available anywhere and finished off an excellent days walk.

The weather forecast for the coming week is once again poor with rain promised for most days. With this in mind our walk for next Sunday the 22^nd of April is a coastal walk from Salobrena. It is not one we have done before and is straight out of the guide book. The route description is that it is 13.76km long involves climbing 235 metres, has a maximum uphill gradient of 5.4%, difficulty low and takes 4 hours. Who says I don’t give accurate descriptions. Tapa is arranged at John and Sandra’s and will take place whatever the weather. If you are going on the walk meet at the car park in Nigúelas at 9 am. Email updates regarding the walk and tapa will be issued if the weather is bad.

Stuart

Walk 15th April, Siletta

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, and where some members of the group returned to Chite by car and the rest had a mystery tour of Melegis before returning to Chite via footpaths. Before Tapa could commence the cars had to be recovered from Conchar, and not wanting to get stuck into the food and the wine before all the drivers had returned, myself and a number of other walkers had agreed to stay at our house until little John, who was acting as Taxi driver, returned. The round trip should have taken about 30 minutes, so we became increasing worried when after 1 hour they had not reappeared. After a number of telephone calls, it was established that not only had he not called for us ( he claims he had rung the door bell ) but he was into his second glass of beer and was eating a plate full of tapa. This is his first walk with the group since his return from the UK, and it is not how we expect a fellow Limper to behave. I won't say any more(!) but if he does it again he's out. A big thank you to Pat and Val for the venue and to everyone for the food which was delicious.
Our walk this Sunday the 15th April, is a bit longer and harder than we have run for the past few weeks. It is a circular walk from Padul and involves climbing up Siletta, the mountain range behind Padul. Whilst the walk is not difficult it does involve climbing about 700 metres and takes about 2 hours going up and 3 hours to come down. but if you are of reasonable fitness it is no problem. Tapa will be taken at Deborah's house in Nigúelas on our return around 3pm. If you want to go on the walk meet at the car park in Nigúelas at 9am. before we drive to the start of the walk in Padul. Please note bring sufficient water, and boots are recommended for this walk.
Over the last few months a number of you have been receiving some emails that are unreadable ( I know a lot of you say they are full of garbage anyway) but this has been caused by outlook express having difficulty handling about 50 emails at once. also a lot of people with Hotmail accounts have not received anything in the last week. In an effort to overcome these problems, this, and subsequent emails will be sent using my holidaysingranada@gmail.com address
If you are having difficulty picking emails up try the blog site which should have any up to date changes to the itinerary listed. Limpers blog
http://lecrinlimpers.blogspot.com/ this site also contains links to another photo site of walks we have done.

Walk photos on view at flickr

Can I finish by thanking everyone back in the UK who wrote to express the sorrow they felt for us stuck here having a cold and wet Easter whilst they basked in our sunshine. I also must be having trouble receiving emails because my "sympathy in box" remains empty.

Have a good week

Stuart

Walk 8th April Conchar

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 evening to watch the spectacular Easter procession of floats as they make their way around the town. I realise that this is not enough to attract the group out, so the bait is that we start off in a bar, then go and watch the procession for awhile before returning to the bar for tapa and pizza. If you want to go, meet in the bar, name Los Romeros. Directions:- coming from Durcal, take the first exit to Padul, follow the road for about 1 km and as you approach the town the road turns down to your left, park around here and the bar is the first one on the left hand side of the road, meet around 8pm.

The second outing is the Sunday walk on the 8th. and is from Conchar to Melegis and for those who want, continuing along to Chite via the lake. The first half of the walk takes about 2 hours and finishes at Los Naranjos where transport will be available to return the short walkers (not little John or Margaret) back to Chite, this walk is classed as suitable for Olwyn walk. The second part of the walk onward to Chite takes another hour and finishes with an uphill section from the lake. Tapa will be held at Pat and Val's. Meet in Conchar at 10 am where the cars park on the RHS. After we return to Chite the cars will be recovered from Conchar.

The wet weather continues into Monday and there is now more snow on the Sierra Nevada's than in the middle of winter.Have a good week, and all of you who are living where the sun is shinning, please spare a thought for us over here.

Stuart

1st April 7.45 am Walk cancelled

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