People and Activities

Walking on the Mazarron Coast

We took some Norwegian friends for a coastal walk.

Some photos along the route.










Orienteering again

We spent some time this summer orienteering in France, Italy and Spain.

We were joined in France by Salvador and Maria and their two children Manuel and Marta.

This is our Totana team.




And the successful ones on the podium.  Note no children this time.  Must do more training with them.


Judith

Martin


Salvador


Some photos from our latest walks

Yesterday we walked from La Muela to do a walk taking in the route through the Badlands, similar to the route we did last year, but making it a circular walk this time.

Walking in La Muela, near Alhama de Murcia, approaching the Casa Forestal

Looking back across to Sierra Espuña from the Casa Forestal
Morron Espuña, Chico and Leiva in the distance

In the rambla in the bottom of the "Badlands"

Orienteering

Last Sunday was our clubs annual orienteering competition.  We were part of the start team (again).  A few photos are below.

Sunrise just before we left home to drive to the forest

The first competitors arriving down the hill

Last minute instructions

Concentration!!!

Concentration paid off - happy winner!

Happy to finish

There´s something for all ages

Last control!


Walking with Camperstop visitors

We took Ken and Steph out on some of our local walks.  See photos below.

View from Collado Bermejo on a misty day

View overlooking the "Eagle Cliff" from Camino Rapido in Sierra Espuña

Golden Eagle (rather a long shot) from Camino Rapido
  
We were very lucky to see the eagles.  We tell people that they are around but very rarely manage to be in the right place at the right time.
  


Camperstop Visitors

The first year the Camperstop was open we had a Belgian visitor.  He asked if he could practice playing his Alpine Horn.  Well we could´t resist hearing this so we gathered to listen.

Belgian playing an Alpine Horn in Spain!
 

Walking with a Spanish Group

Last Thursday, being a Fiesta, we were asked to go out walking with one of our Spanish friends and some of her other friends.  We met at the restaurant La Perdiz in Sierra Espuña to walk up the Caracol (Snail) route .  The group  was of mixed abilities but I think everyone enjoyed the walk once the uphill was behind us.  The idea was for a sandwich lunch before the descent started.  Well, we took a normal lunch, sandwiches, fruit, coffee, etc.  but Antonio had carried with him a packet of ham, cheese, bread, LARGE flask of coffee and a bottle of wine and plastic cups for everyone.  I think we have something to learn from him, although it is the first time we have had wine to drink whilst on a walk.  The weather was excellent, sunny and only a little breezy.  Hope to walk with this group again soon.

Walking Group on the Caracol
Lunch break (with wine)




Cycling along the Canal

The stretch of this canal (Trasvase Tajo-Segura) running between Alhama and Lorca is fairly level.  It has one hill and one dip when the water goes underground.  Other than this it is excellent for cycling, with only a small amount of local traffic using it.  The surface is tarmac, although with some speed humps and to do an out-and-back route from the camperstop you can cycle 18 km, in the direction of Alhama, without any noticeable climb and about 40 km the other (with the one hill to ride twice!).  The scenery along the canal is excellent and quite often eagles (booted and short-toed) can be seen overhead.


Via Ferrata

The first Via Ferrata in Murcia opened in May 2012 near Fortuna.  The whole trip from parking to parking takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, with the actual climb 20 to 30 minutes.  A good route to do when time is short.


Walking with the Shepherd

A group of us went walking with Spanish friends.  After we had been vetted by the oldest person there (the Shepherd) as to our fitness and suitability to walk in the mountains we set off.  Santiago (the Shepherd) took us up into the mountains and was a wealth of information about the area, especially about the ruined houses near the snow houses.  Apparently one of the last residents of the ruins still lives in the village of El Berro.



Walking Group taking refreshments



On top of Morron de Alhama

Below are a selection of photos taken on a walk we did with a Spanglish walking group through the "Badlands" near Gebas.


Land formations in the "Badlands"



Looking towards the Embalse de Algeciras



The next pictures are of a walk through a local gorge known as Estrecho de la Agualeja.  There is a parking area with picnic tables and a walkway has been made from here down some steps and through the gorge and back.  Only a short distance but well worth doing.


Walking up the beginning of the gorge



In the Gorge



Exiting the Gorge



Orienteering

Our local orienteering club in Totana has a very committed President who is always willing to organise competitions and training for children.  Last year the club held a competition for all the local schools.  This was held in an urbanisation on the outskirts of the town.




Waiting to start

The Club also organised a competition in Las Alquerias in Sierra Espuña.  Below are pictures of some of the competitors.


Some are very serious

And some not so serious - a local Headteacher taking a rest