Section 2 Orgiva -Busquister

15 November 2011
With the weather forecast predicting a clear but cool day we decided once again to forgo the heights of Sulayr and continue our walk along the lower GR142.
The second 24 km section runs from Orgiva to Busquister and we intended to catch the bus back. The best way to walk when you are relying on the bus for part of the journey is to catch it out and walk back, and then you are not worrying about arriving at the bus stop in time. Graham would have none of this, as it would be a down hill walk, not something mountain men and women do.
With an early 8 am start from Orgiva we set off through the town, we had only gone a few hundred metres before Graham slipped on a piece of paper and ended up on his back. Fortunately nothing was broken, and he was picked up and dusted down and off we set again. The path was along a quiet road for 6 km, running up the fertile valley of the Rio Tevelez. It was amazing to see plants still flowering that have long since died back for winter up in Lecrin. Eventually the path leaves the road, with no sign posts we missed the turning at first as it looked like access to someones garden. It was the usual thing, where there is a turning or junction there is no sign, on straight sections where a blind man on a dark night could find the path there are posts and markers every 10 metres.
This is another area we have never explored, but it was isolated and stunning with the deep valleys and snow covered mountains. It had rained the night before and we could look down into the fast flowing Rio Trevelez, I hoped there would be a bridge across it as I did not fancy wading across. The bridge, when we eventually got down to the river, was a narrow metal foot bridge. I did not think anything of it, and was surprised to find Mike at the other side with his knees trembling, seemingly it had taken nerves of steel to walk across it. The drop into the river was 1.5 metres!
My nightmare came two minutes later when a gun toting farmer jumped out from behind a treeI I was just about to put my black belt self defence training into practice with a flying kick and vicious assault to his body when I realised it was a scarecrow. Scarecrows don’t normally scare me, but out of the corner of my eye, I swear I saw him raise his gun and point it to towards me.  
The hard part of the walk was looming, there was no way out of the valley except up. This was the 686 metre climb we had all been looking forward to, it was going to test our fitness level. Fortunately it was well graded, a 11 degree inclined path that we completed with just one water stop along the way. The fitness level of the group is amazing compared to 12 months ago.
At the top we had reached the point of no return and so we stopped to admire the views back down the valley and to take a well earned break. It was now shorter to continue along the path to Busquister than return to Orgiva, and we also had plenty of time to catch the bus.
Parts of this next section we have done on our Sunday walks, but it such a spectacular valley that it is no hardship to repeat it again, and besides you pass the fizzy water fountain in Ferreirola along the way, just one sip and you can feel the benefits. As you approach Busquister, and just when you think you have completed all the climbing for the day, there before you is the steepest section of the walk up into the village. With just enough strength left we staggered into the nearest bar for beer and tapas. We had plenty of time to stroll up to the bus stop for the 4.15 bus.
Mike amused us all by standing in the middle of the road trying to stop every coach that passed by. He was desperate not to miss it because he was going on holiday in the morning and did not fancy spending the night in the Alpujarras.
Plym was desperate to find a gift shop to get a birthday present for her dear old mum, she had had 60 years to find something, she also was flying out in the morning. At 4 pm in the afternoon there was not a lot open in Busquister.
Rene was desperate to earn the €1.84 bus fare, she had stuffed a pair of socks in her pocket instead of her purse.  
It had been another great walk full of surprises.
Can I say a great big thank you to you all for the fantastic relief map, it’s a great present and a mine of information. I can already see new routes that need exploring, can someone please slow the world down so we have enough time to do everything.  

On the walk Graham, Mike, Kees, Plym, Rene, Mark, Ray and myself.

Distance on GR142 22.8 km, ascent 1376 metres, total distance 23.6 km.
Total on GR142 29.8,
Total walked 49 km. Total ascent  2461 metres.

Section 1 Lanjarón to Orgiva

The first section from Lanjarón to Orgiva is only 7 km according to the book, and I suggested that we could catch the bus back afterwards. This was greeted with derision, and questions on what we were supposed to do for the rest of the day. Even doing a there and back walk would only bring it up to 14 km, less than half of what we have been doing lately and besides, we are not expected home until after dark.
With some careful planning a route was worked that brought the distance up to a respectable 24km.
The first section started at the park in Lanjarón and went down, past the castle, into the steep sided valley of the Rio Lanjarón. When we first discovered this path, in 2010, there were no markers to guide us on the many twists and turns that the path makes on its way down to the river. Last year there was a rickety old bridge to get across the river, this year it appears to have been washed away. With some careful foot work, and judicious use of some stones, we all managed to get across with dry feet. The walk then climbed up the steep sided valley following the newly marked track, this was interesting because last year we had run into a spot of bother when we got to the top. A farmers wife came stomping across the field to tell us that we were on private property, which we weren't, well, we were 1 metre off the unmarked path. This time there was no doubt where the path was, it was well posted and painted, me thinks someone must have complained about her to the medio ambiente. We continued our walk up to the Ermita de la Cruz above Lanjarón where we stopped for refreshments.
This is where we joined the GR142 as it makes its way to Orgiva, The path was well used and easy to follow until we approached Orgiva. The GPS pointed into a hippy community and a parallel  universe where the occupants where living on a different planet. Arriving in Orgiva we decided to stop off for a drink and a spot of tapas. I can’t think of another walk we have done that passes a bar at lunch time, so we had to make best use of this unique opportunity. It was so pleasant there that we could easily have spent the whole afternoon just relaxing and enjoying the drink and tapas, but common sense prevailed and we still had 13 km to go.
The way back was not along an established footpath, it was just a series of tracks I had cobbled together, none of which ran directly in the direction we wished to go. The beer sat heavily in our stomachs and, at times, it was an effort to climb what  appeared to be a constant procession of hills, but it made an interesting walk back, taking us through countryside that I had always dismissed as scrub land.
We did finally manage to make it back to Lanjarón and another bar, except for Plym and Mark who insisted upon having ice cream. We arrived home as the sun was setting, perfect timing.
It was a good walk and a fine start to our new adventure.
On the walk Graham, Mike, Kees, Plym, Rene, Mark and myself.

Distance on GR142 7 km, total distance 25.4 km, ascent 1085 metres.