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.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment