Gail, and I wish you the best for 2020. May you have many beautiful walks across this great planet, discover new things through the lens of your camera and fulfil all your creative urges.
Happy New Year!
Walking Coast To Coast in Andalucía: Day 28
Tarifa A day-long beach walk On the Atlantic coast On fine white sand Across ocean-carved stone coves With a hard wind at our backs Pushing us To Bolonia To the Roman city, Baelo Claudio To the end of our Andalusian trek To our next long walk 29/05/19 20.8km/56m ascent/55m descent
Walking Coast To Coast in Andalucía: Day 27
El Pelayo Down a stream Down a country trail To the Mediterranean (once again, after 19 days walking) Weaving along the coastline Dipping down to beach coves Climbing (slightly) to headlands Passing gun emplacements from past wars Following old drovers' paths To Tarif Where Atlantic meets Mediterranean Where Romans, Moors, Christians fought Where fishers, wind... Continue Reading →
Walking Coast To Coast in Andalucía: We Have Arrived!
My postings have fallen behind schedule. But they will come soon! In the meantime, a quick report is in order. Today, Gail and I arrived in Bolonia, the final destination in our Andalucian Coast to Coast walk. After 21 days walking, covering 444 kilometers and many thousands of meters climbing and descending (and occasionally falling),... Continue Reading →
Walking Coast To Coast in Andalucía: Day 26
Los Barrios Gently up Forest Roads Cork oak forests Mountain vistas Gibraltar Morocco! A leisurely climb Then... One last kilometre Down through bramble, thicket All things prickly Down unmarked slopes Lost, scratched, bloodied Then, finally... El Pelayo 28/05/19 25.5km/575m ascent/350m descent
Walking Coast To Coast in Andalucía: Day 25
Castillo de Castellar Hard to leave But... Down La Calzada (a Roman road) Level paths, dirt roads, paved highways To Venta Juan Carlos (a rare restaurant meal at lunchtime) Gently up quiet roads (Gibraltar is so close) Steeply down trails To Los Barrios 26/05/19 26.9km/379m ascent/620m descent
Walking Coast To Coast in Andalucía: Day 24
Castillo de Castellar A welcome day of rest. And what a place to veg out. Castillo is, as you might guess, a castle. One that dates back in its present Moorish form to the 13th Century. Positioned high on a hilltop, with Gibraltar clearly visible on the horizon, the castle has been a strategic point... Continue Reading →
Walking Coast To Coast in Andalucía: Day 23
Jimena de la Frontera A cool, shady start On a long, flat path (A prairie-dwellers dream walk) Train tracks to our right Farmland to our left Temperature climbs to 27° C For a modest climb To Castillo de Castellar Beautiful 24/05/19 21.8km/339m ascent/197m descent
Walking Coast To Coast in Andalucía: Day 22
El Colmenar Early start To a long day Up Through cork oak forests Uphill scramble Gibraltar: first sighting Following cairns Toros on the track! Down To Jimenez de la Frontera To Casa Henrietta To dinner After a long, long day 23/05/19 29.7km/1,053m ascent/1,168m descent
Walking Coast To Coast in Andalucía: Day 21
Cortes de la Frontera Ayuntamiento, La Plaza de Carlos III Descent To La Casa de la Piedra Down Estación de Cortes Ascent Cable climbs Tunnels To Puente de los Alemanes Canyón de las Buitreras Down To (tiny) El Colmenar 22/05/19 17.7km/578m ascent/969m descent .