11 April 2023 – Pedreguer Castel de Axia

 18 for today’s walk

This is more than our usual maximum of 16

It does make it more difficult to control the group, and particularly to regulate the pace

As a result there were large gaps which meant more stops to let everyone close up

This is the main reason the walk was 30 minutes longer than expected

It was also much warmer than normal at this time of year

And being cloudy was also more humid

Fortunately everyone had brought more water than usual

It is 18 months since we last did this walk

And the path was more overgrown than I expected

Four of the group opted not to do the final climb to the summit

Fortunately there is a good picnic site at the bottom of the hill

The climb was more difficult than I remember, made more difficult by the heat

In fact we had to stop a couple of times

But the views were just as spectacular as I remembered them to be

Unfortunately the haze made it difficult to do them justice

Three of the group left us at the summit to follow an alternative route down

The rest of us made our way down to rejoin those who had not climbed to the summit

We made good time on the return journey, despite frequent water stops

A memorable walk enjoyed by everyone who took part

 

 

Temperature – 10-24c

Time taken – 6.5 hours

Distance – 11 km

Total Ascent - 525 metres

8 April 2023 – Tina and Gary Wedding Celebration

 

Tina and Gary invited us to celebrate their recent marriage in the UK.  They invited about 60 guests to The Courtyard bar and bistro in Jalon.   

Amongst the guests were most of our Monday walking group.

 Plus many familiar faces who had walked with us in the past.    

They booked the bar for four hours, and laid on music and a buffet  

Once the dancing started Jan and I left along with the other "light weights"

6 April 2023 – Parcent to Murla

Fifteen of us for today’s walk

It was chilly at the start

But it soon warmed up to a pleasant 19c  

Victoria joined us for her first walk today

Also Marlies from our Monday group

We were pleasantly surprised to have to give way to a herd of sheep

The shepherd was less pleased and told us we were on the wrong track

He was right; we use this track because the official path is in terrible condition after serious rain damage many years ago

This walk is half of last Monday’s Orba Castle

So it was very familiar to Alan and Ali who had also done the Monday walk

The abandoned restaurant has now been fenced off

And there appears to be someone living in the house

But no sign of any work on the main restaurant itself

It felt much warmer than the official 19c on the way back

Though a cool breeze stopped us over heating

The warm spring weather seemed set to continue

With no rain forecast for the next week at least

No doubt the gardeners will be complaining soon

We spent almost two hours in the Parcent cooperativa

What better way to finish a pleasant walk than a long, cold drink in good company

Temperature – 10-19c

Time taken – 3 hours

Distance – 9 km

3 April 2023 – Parcent to Orba Castle

 Fourteen of us for today’s walk

Quite a bit cooler today

Particularly for the earlier part of the walk

By the time we reached Murla square it was warm enough to sit in the shade

The current high temperatures resulted in almost everyone walking in shorts

Which would prove a problem in the thick undergrowth coming down from the castle

We climbed up from the right, and a more direct route down on the left

We were surprised to find a new sign at the start of the climb which described it as “easy”

It is not one of our most challenging walks, but I would not describe it as “easy”

We climbed at a moderate pace, and had frequent stops to allow the group to catch up

The path if not obvious and I wanted everyone to keep close so that we could all follow the easiest route

It took us an hour to reach the castle

And I think we all felt a sense of achievement

I know we all enjoyed the spectacular views

We had a 20 minute picnic break at the castle

And then tackled the very difficult first  section of the direct route down from the castle

This also took about an hour

And many found it more difficult than the ascent

The gentle return journey was appreciated in the much higher afternoon temperatures

Jan was waiting at the cooperativea with a very welcome, very cold beer

Temperature – 14-19c

Time taken – 5.5 hours

Distance – 13 km

 Total Ascent - 415 metres