Biking & Baking in Las Alpujarras

Here's a view of Las Alpujarras by Matilda, from Australia:

It is a lovely, lazy afternoon and I am doing the bread run. The sun is warm and the breeze is soft; somewhere out of sight a bee hums gently.

Three butterflies are fluttering above my head, their brightly-coloured wings standing out beautifully against the deep blue sky. A grasshopper skips across my path. Higher up the mountain, a flock of goats is grazing and the tinkling of their bells floats down on the breeze.

The path is thinning and the olive groves and hedges have given way to ferns and brambles and ancient oaks. It is quite dark and very mysterious. I am so glad we came here, it's a beautiful place.

On Saturday we convoyed with friends over to La Zubia, near Granada, for a bike meet - only the second local one we have found since coming out here.  The presence of our 2 stylish Honda VFRs (750 and 800) and a Yamaha 125 did little to offset the shining ranks of Harleys (tractors with style?), but we did spot a classic Ducati with side-car and a British-registered Guzzi California.  Some good music and food, washed down with a free beer, helped us to enjoy this fairly modest event (Peterborough or NEC it is not) and I bought a Granada shoulder badge for my textile jacket.  We didn't stay into the evening but our thanks to Rafa 'Monty' for such an enthusuastic welcome.  Next event Las Alpujarras 2013 perhaps?

And wasn't yesterday's Le Mans MotoGP superb?  Despite Stoner's declaration of retirement and Jorge's great ride in the wet, the laurels have to go to Valentino Rossi, don't they?  The Doctor is back!!  The rest of the season will be fascinating. 

Tonight is tango in Granada (beginners welcome, contact me for more info) and tomorrow a day's walking into the hills, by which time we hope this cold, sharp wind will have died down.  I have a featherlite Montane jacket to stuff into my daypack (thanks to Craigdon, Aberdeen) and the Man will no doubt come armed with tea-making facilities, so it should be a comfortable trip up the Culo de Perro (look it up in the dictionary)!  Must remember the chocolate biscuits this time!

It's typical!  There I was, sitting atop a small hill on a Sunday morning, 3 hours walk from home, when the mobile rings and a voice says: 'I'm in Trevelez, any chance of picking me up?'  So my blissful stroll up to Panichuelo de Castaras turned into a very brisk walk and then a downhill gallop, all in the noonday sun, to collect the car and thence for the man from the mountains!  Well, I did say I wanted to lose a few pounds...

The walk from Busquistar to the Panichuelo along the old Ruta Medieval is really special, gradually dropping down to the Rio Trevelez and then up the steep little escarihuela towards the fire-watch casa forestal.  White rock roses abound and I've decided that cistus are not pink at all, but a very delicate shade of pale purple.  The acequia was full of melted snow water from the peaks and by the time it reaches the old quarry area of El Conjuro it is going along at a terrific pace.  I reckon this is a 6 hour round walk from Ferreirola including a stop for lunch, and using one of the other GR7 zig-zag paths to get back down.

The man had a good time up on the hill, getting to the top of Mulhacen but then wishing he had his snowshoes for the Siete Lagunas path.  Always the same...whatever you don't take, that's what you need!

My poor litle legs!!  We had 2 days walking in the sierras behind Frigiliana/Nerja and then I went on a 3 hour horse-ride yesterday...then the land to water tonight...it's all too much for me!!  Or so I say when actually I'm loving it and feeling fitter and more energetic than ever.  

The walking was interesting, much more tropical than up here, with white-stone river beds and high limestone peaks.  We did a shortish walk on Tuesday out of Frigiliana, past the reservoir and then in a big loop around the Rio Chillar valley, near La Presa and coming back out in Maro.   Wednesday was a good 16km from the edge of Acebuchal and up to Venta Panaderos, following the Rio Higueron valley at times...what an astonishing and beautiful area.  Lovely white rock roses, pink cistus and sweet-smelling pine trees growing everywhere, those wild rocky peaks and deep blue sky above.  A very intense day, probably the warmest of the year to date.  We loved the 360 degree splendour of the Panaderos, very special and well worth the effort of getting there - our thanks to Stevie and Lynn for leading the way!

However, the Man has had to go off and try his new ultralight tent on the slopes of Mulhacen, so I imagine he is tucked up in his sleeping bag by now and waiting for Zorro the fox to arrive!  I have dined on fresh lettuce from the huerto, crumbled blue cheese and an orange, whilst listening to JJ Cale.  I am trying to lose a pound or two and the only way is to EAT LESS!!  More calories out and fewer in, it's the only way :)