View of Sallent from the south with Pena Foratata looming above.

We are now back home after a long trip through France. We spent a couple of days in the Pyrenees crossing the Portalet Pass. The road follows the Valle de Tena and goes near Biescas and Sallent de Gallego before descending to Laruns (Vallee d'Ossau) in France. Before this we had travelled north to Valencia and then to Zaragosa, mostly on motorways. We saw several Golden Eagles in the Pyrenees and one at quite close quarters at the lovely campsite near Biescas. Here the weather continued sunny and warm and it wasn't until we left Laruns that we met colder and wet weather.

The village of Sallent caught in the morning sunshine with the border ridge behind and the Aguas Limpias in the foreground.

In Sallent we had coffee and bought some cheeses in the local market. A hard goats cheese that we bought was very strong, probably the strongest I have ever tasted. Little had  changed in Sallent since my first visit in 2004 and it was interesting to approach it from the south and see the lake that you don't get a view of on the GR11.

Finally I couldn't resist a picture of the Pic du Midi taken from the Portalet Pass (where they were sking nearby, about 17th March)). I hadn't managed to spot this when walking to Sallent as the top was obscured by clouds or it was raining, so it was good to see it with a clear sky behind.
We went on to Laruns and stayed in the Aires; I managed to find a Gourd (or Bota) to carry my wine and it was made in Spain, in Murcia, so I have been reading Belloc's description of how to drink from it; much practise is needed!!

Sorbas and the Desert

Looking across to "Sunseed" on the edge of a gorge; picturesque spot in the bright sun.

Been over to Sorbas today with the camper passing through Nijar and over the Sierra de Alhamilla through Lucainena de las Torres. There was a market in Sorbas so we wandered around through the central plaza and then had lunch before enquiring about "Sunseed" where Emily spent a few months one summer after her A levels. We had seen posters in Sorbas about activities at "Sunseed" including bread and jam making, but that was in February so too late for that. It was quite a way to "Sunseed" from Sorbas along a tarmac but twisty road passing the limestone caves for which Sorbas is now famous.

View of the gorge below Sorbas. We saw one part with a little channel of water still flowing in the centre.

That must have been a long hike Ems and in the August sun...didn't see any flys or snakes around though!

Spring in Cabo de Gata

View towards Las Negras near the end of the coastal walk.

We're still enjoying great weather in Cabo and there are lots to see and do in the area. We did a coastal walk from Rodalquiler to Las Negras parking Hilary's camper at Las Negras and ours at Rodalquiler.This involved a little road walking, pista and then a narrow coastal path above the cliffs passing several fortifications dating back to 18th century built to protect the Granada region from pirates and Berbers (north Africans). There is also a vehicle assessible beach at El Playazo near the Castillo de San Ramon.

View up the Valle de Huebro from above Nijar. The road finishes in this valley but the GR140 continues.

We also did a day visit to the town of Nijar which is north of here in the mountains and is famous for its rugs and pottery and has a long history, much influenced by the Moors. We went on a Sunday and many tourist shops were open but selling much the same things but pleasant enough. After lunch we strolled along a road uphill to see the valley in the photo with many almond trees in blossom. I also spotted a couple Black Wheatears with their distinctive white patches. We returned by a coastal route via Rodalquiler to Cabo de Gata.

Today we did a longer cycle trip from the campsite to San Jose along the coast. Hilary parked at San Jose to do some walking and we met up later to get the bikes back here. The road to the lighthouse is steep enough but we managed without dismounting this year. After the light house the road narrows but remains tarmac (with a few potholes!) until the pass, Collado de la Vela Blanca (photo is the view north towards San Jose). From here it was down hill on a pista to reach the beaches. We had lunch at the second beach, Ensenada de la Media Luna, in sunshine with no wind can you believe.

This photo is of Helen walking along the beach at Media Luna with the tower on the cliff behind showing the position of the pass; it is hard to believe our poor abused bikes made it down from there; well almost, as shortly after this Helen had her first puncture. We used the "slime" to fix it but this didn't work for long but enabled us to get to San Jose by pumping the tyre up a couple of times. We've now fixed it after finding a glass shard in the tyre which was preventing the "slime" from doings its job. Our tyres are certainly taking some beating with the rough rock tracks and scree. Anyway as you'll guess, a beer in San Jose was welcomed. We're pleased we did this route as we didn't last year and also earlier in the week we had advised two dutch long-distance (lots of baggage) cyclists that it could be done on bikes after several people had told them it couldn't. We did warn them it was steep but they seemed happy to walk if needed and the prospect of out-of-the-way camping was a great incentive for them I think.

We have less than a week left here as we plan to head north next Tuesday; maybe time for another post before we then though.