15 Apr 2010 - Green Horse

We have been asked to lead the Cavall Verde (Green Horse) walk for the Monday Club next week, and we have not done it ourselves since last year. So we were quite pleased when David and Rosemary suggested that we do it today as a “recce”.

We had hardly started the walk when David’s mobile phone rang. It was his insurance company about his renewal. The joys of modern communications!

After two dull, and often wet, days we saw some improvement today. It was cloudy and cool, but remained dry all day. After our climb we were warm enough to remove our jackets, but we needed them when we had our picnic lunch.

Unfortunately the widespread low cloud meant it was not suitable for taking photographs of the views. A shame, because this favourite walk does offer great views. Even today they were impressive, sort of moody and atmospheric. But the photographs I took made it all look pretty grim.

After the recent rain the ground was wet in places, but the rocks were dry and the going was quite good. So providing it does not rain on Monday we will do the walk again then. Lets hope that we have better luck with the weather.

12 Apr 2010 - Calpe to Lleus

Ann had offered to lead this walk, and it was nice to see her with the group again after a five month break. This walk is an old favourite of hers, and she also led it when we last did it in June 2007.

We were to meet on a minor dirt road near Calpe. We found the road without any problem, but could not find the start of the walk. We followed the narrow track for what seemed a very long time, and then saw Sylvia and Ken coming the other way! We returned to the start and found the rest of the group there. Eventually Ann had to come and find us and take us to the parking area.

This walk is much gentler than others that we do, and it was quite nice to have an “easy walk” for a change. Certainly no one complained that it was too easy, nor that we took an easy pace with lots of stops to admire flowers or take photographs. And we were very lucky with the weather, which was warm and sunny.

The walk was to the church at Lleus, and we arrived there with half an hour to spare. Despite this everyone was ready to eat, so we found a shaded spot and had our picnic lunch.

The church was being renovated, and watching the four workmen proved very popular. It was quite unusual in that they all wore “hard hats”, most unusual in my experience of Spanish workmen. There was also an impressive scaffold, though it was not attached to anything and looked quite dangerous. And of course the workmen threw loose tiles and bricks down from the roof without any concern for anyone who might be walking below.

The group watching work in progress. Its always very pleasant to take a well deserved break and watch someone else working hard. No one seemed in any great rush to get walking again.

Peter and Pat were not on this walk, but there were still 14 of us today. Pat and Mick are returning to UK next week, so the numbers may be down over the coming weeks. Indeed many of the regular walkers are “part timers”, but the numbers seem to remain 10-15 most weeks.

The walk was within sight of the motorway for much of the time, but we did not notice it much. Perhaps the fact that everyone was talking so much might have something to do with that…..

Each time we stopped for a short break Jan seemed to find something to sit on, everyone else just stood around with their haversacks on.

Today’s flower was Cytinus Hypocistis, according to Jan’s book “Mediterranean Wild Flowers”. Apparently this is a parasitic plant which lives on the roots of bushes of white flowered cistus.

Ken likes being “back marker” and today he had Mick and Tom for company





Next Week



Will be the old favourite Cavall Verde (or Green Horse). Meet at the usual place in Benimaurell to start walking at 10am.

10 Apr 2010 - Orba Castle

It has been suggested that we might lead a Monday Club walk to Orba Castle, and we wanted to do a recce first to make sure that the river is fordable. This is one of our local walks and it’s nice not to have to drive to the start. You can even see the castle clearly from the end of our road.

The first part is a very easy stroll through the orange groves along the dry(ish) river bed towards Murla. The heights ahead is Cavall Verde (Green Horse) not Orba Castle.

There was more water in the river than usual, but it did not stop us walking along the river bed to Murla. We had to cross the water in two places, but it was not difficult.

The weather forecast had been particularly good, with a clear sunny day. For once it was wrong. When we started it was cold enough to require a jacket, though it soon heated up and the jackets were removed. But we had cloud all day, and when they covered the sun it could be quite cool. Good for walking mind.

There are two paths up to Orba Castle. The more difficult and longer one is favoured by most of the Monday Club, so that is the one we tackled today. On our own we normally take the easier route, and I had forgotten how steep and tiring the first part of this one could be.

Once the initial climb is done, there is a long walk along the crest over large slabs of rock. Not very difficult going, and providing excellent views back to Parcent and ahead to the castle itself.

And so to the castle itself. Jan climbed to the top whilst I fiddled with the camera to achieve this “stitched” wide angle view. One of my better efforts.

And from the same spot an example of the close up function. It is clear from Jan’s expression that she has had to wait longer than she wanted for me to finish the photography.

Jan wanted at least one photo of me. Her photographs are getting much better, there was a time when as often as not part of my head would be missing.

Another attempt at “stitching”. You have to take three adjoining photographs, and each one has to match the previous one. A very small image of the previous one is shown on the viewer and has to be matched up with the next photo. Unfortunately the image is not very clear and matching is very difficult. But still pleased with this attempt

We used the easier route to descend from the castle. It is not as well marked as the official one, but is obviously well used if this cairn is anything to go by.

5 Apr 2010 - Col de Rates

We met in Jalon car park for yet another new walk. This time it was our old favourite Col de Rates, but via the Stations of the Cross from Jalon. So not quite a new walk, rather a combination of two old ones. When the CBMW do the Stations of the Cross it is usually a short walk combined with a lunch. However we would join the Barranco Negro path and continue up to the Col de Rates.

Most of the villages in this area have their own Stations of the Cross on a nearby hill, and Jalon is no exception. It would have been more appropriate to do this walk on Good Friday, but Easter Monday was quite close.

The path soon leveled out and led through this very English looking wood. Unfortunately there was more cloud today than recently, and the breeze was cool

Our destination, the Col de Rates, soon came into view. Not one of the big peaks in the distance, but the col between them.

Then came views down the Jalon Valley, with Parcent and its white church tower in the centre.

When we last did this walk, about three years ago, the heather and bracken was much thicker and higher. This area is used by local hunters, and perhaps they have cleared the path. Whatever the reason, it was much easier going today than last time.

Margaret is a Monday Club regular, and it was nice to see Heinz again as he has not walked with us for some time.

Pat and Mick have also walked with the group for many years. They have a holiday home here, and spend each Monday with us when they are in Spain.

It took us about two hours to reach the junction with the Barranco Negro. Good view of the Donkey Sanctuary and Bernia, and our road is the one going to the right.

It was not long before we were climbing again. This is the hardest part of the climb, but Peter set an easy pace and it seemed much easier than when Jan and I do it on our own.

David and Pat take a short break.

At the top of the climb there is a finca where we normally have a break, but there were three cars there today and it was obviously occupied. There was not a suitable alternative, but we were all ready do lunch as it was gone 1pm, so we just sat beside the track.

We have done all of the climbing and it was now a pleasant walk to the Col de Rates. We call this the “hidden valley” as it is a well cultivated area surrounded by the mountains. Coming at the end of our difficult climb it is striking, though there is a good road from the opposite direction.

Having reached our objective there was just time for a short stop to admire the view down the Jalon Valley.

There are three paths leading up to the Col de Rates, and our one back to Jalon was the worse of the three. It used to be a very good path until it was badly damaged in heavy rain a few years ago. No effort has been made to repair it, and it now requires great care and a little scrambling to descend in safety.

Despite the overcast skies it proved a very enjoyable walk, and an interesting variation to our well walked Col de Rates.



Next Week

Pat confirmed that Ann has offered to lead next week’s walk, but she was not sure exactly where it would go. The start point is off the Calpe to Altea road. Just before the first tunnel you turn right and pass rubbish bins. Those of you who have done this walk before will recognize the description; anyone else should ring Ann for further directions.