Walk Sunday 5 November 2017 Conchar circular




We had a big storm on Friday night and Saturday brought further heavy rain to the valley and fresh snow to the Sierra Nevada, so I was quite surprised to find 19 walkers waiting in Melegis. Dave and Julie joined us when we knocked on their door. It’s a good job we did as I think they would have spent the day in bed. We now had 21 to walk the plank on the way back, most of the group did not know what was coming. Last week Hilary lost 1 walker and a dog, this week I did much better, I returned minus 9 but more of that later.
 After passing through the Orange groves of Melegis the walk starts on the 400 metre climb to the ridge between Melegis and Conchar. At first it is quite steep but it soon turns into a pleasant climb with the views opening up the higher you go.
At the top we split into 2 groups the “No fear” group going with Dave down a superb path with steep drops, the rest of us followed the Campo road down into Conchar.
We had arranged to meet up at the La Huertecilla bar for coffee. I don’t know what took the others so long, we were just about to order Sunday lunch when they wandered in, apparently they had been watching wildebeest or something.
 After our coffee break, taken in the sun on the balcony of the bar, we resumed our walk by the side of the Rio Durcal as it heads towards Melegis. This is a spectacular valley walk as you hack your way through the Bamboo in the jungle. At one point you have to cross the river. Ten years ago there was a bridge but that got swept away in a storm nowadays, to save money, you have a plank. Well, to be honest, it’s a log someone has laid across the river. The only one to make a dignified crossing was Floppy but she didn’t have to crawl under an overhanging branch whilst navigating across the log.
 After regrouping we found a nice picnic spot for lunch and this is where things started to unravel. Plym and her Cousin decided that lunch at the bar was preferable to a sandwich by the side of the river and decided to head back to Melegis ahead of us. Conchi, Toñi and their friend joined in the early departure, even after dire warnings of Plym’s route finding abilities. On our return into Melegis Dave and Julie decided to head back to bed. Brenda and Albert were seen in Melegis but then disappeared never to be seen again. The rest of us just gave up and retired to the bar.
A great day out and, after the storms, the conditions were perfect for walking.       

We walked 11.8 km and climbed 470 metres.

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