We're walking....

It seems perverse to travel to the other side of the world to go walking and then to sit on our bottoms here, so, since our return and now that our summer stream of visitors is over, we have been trying to get out and about more.

A couple of weeks ago we did a walk that we have done before over the headland from Caños de La Meca to Barbate. It's a lovely walk although the terrain is very sandy and walking uphill on what effectively is a series of sand dunes makes it quite tough. On Friday we decided to do visit the National Park Los Alcornocales (the cork oaks) which is about half an hour south of here. We walked for about an hour and a half from the Mirador de los Ratones (although why the mice need a lookout point I don't know!) to the embalse (reservoir) de Barbate and some tombs from the Third Millenium BC. Then after a picnic, we walked back again.

A good part of the way during this second walk was along the old drovers road so, by comparison to Caños to Barbate, it was fairly easy going, but in all the time we were walking we saw only three people, a ranger and a couple of guys working on one of the fincas.Since we are now into high season here in La Barrosa and the beach, especially at the weekend, is tent city, the peace and quiet was amazing.

As well as wonderful views what we also enjoyed are the smells. On the first walk we came across a plant that has a very delicate curry-like scent and on Friday there was a stretch where we were able to smell wild thyme.....