Another fabulous day in “holiday-heaven” Andalucian style.

I was off today (after a late start as I waited outside the wrong bar … The “Communist Bar” with the red and orange chairs instead of the right- wing bar with the blue chairs according to Dirk).   Anyway, thankfully cell phones sorted this mismatch of Bars out – both reportedly the only Bar in town at the top of the hill…..need I say more.

We were off on a five hour ride from the picturesque town of El Gastor which held out against Franco for an additional 15 years whilst the menfolk hid in the hills.  It would have been pretty chilly in winter I can tell you as it was only 8 degrees on the tops when we rode through in April!

However being here in Spring brings it’s just rewards in the form of the gorgeous peony above and what I suspect were miniature Iris reticulata just emerging from the moist shale-like rock.   We had a fabulous ride through spring meadows and under hundreds of Cork Oaks with incredibly stunning scenery.  A little like the South Island but with more rock.

A big thrill for me was stopping in to visit Guy Hunter-Watts whose book was the whole basis for our trip to Andalucia.  I had the chance to double-check my choices of walks and accommodation and I received a huge tick both for the route and the fact we have allowed so much time to see so much of the Andalucia he obviously loves so much.