Biking & Baking in Las Alpujarras

If you're an orchid seeker, take a walk out of Tablones (near Orgiva) towards Los Cigarrones and watch where you put your feet!  Right there on the path are the most exquisite little purple-tinged bee orchids ( designed by Nature to  look and smell like a female bee to trick male long-horned bees into pollinating them).  This shortish walk, named Ruta de la Acebuche, is a real pleasure and must be done soon to take advantage of  the spring flowers and lower temperatures.  Not so good in the burning heat of high summer! And be prepared for a soem confusing routes if you come back a different way...but it's less than 2km so not particularly strenuous and young children would love it too.

The men have gone up the mountain for a 'one nighter', equipped with bivvy bags and, in Charles case (rucksack) enough brandy and wine to ensure a good night's sleep no matter what the temperature!  So the ladies have walked and talked and I am now 'resting' with a glass of Tempranillo, a tapas of mortadela on ciabatta bread, Eric Clapton and 'Cocaine' on the CD player and an Atalbeitar almond cake baking in the oven.  We think we might eat at Las Piedras Ventanas in Trevelez when the men return - recommended by some Spanish acquaintenances - but home-made cake might also restore the lost calories! 
 

Is it just me, or has the weather turned a corner into Spring?  There's a warmth in the air even after the sun has gone and I heard crickets tonight.  My Egyptian grasshopper has departed after several weeks of hibernation on the terrazza and some of the geraniums are recovering from the cold.  On the huerta too we have evidence of new green growth (even on the nectarine, raspberries and redcurrant) and the birds are singing with joy as the day ends...maybe their inner clocks are leaping forward too!

Oh and bye the way, I meant 7th decade in the last post, not 70th!!!:)