30 September 2024 – Lliber River Walk

Lovely morning for what should be the last of this year’s summer walks

It was chilly enough for some to wear jumpers at the start of the walk

There were 23 of us today

This included Deb and Phil, who last walked about a year ago

And Robin and Sandra who last walked in April

As always it is lovely to see our UK based friends again

On the other hand it was Barry and Linda’s last walk this visit

Fortunately they plan to return in a month or so

Once again there were many more than our ideal maximum of 16 walking

The membership has grown gradually and most residents walk every week

Most of the non residents have walked with us for some time, and also walk every week when they are here

So it would be really hard to refuse any of them a walk when they are available

In previous years the membership numbers have varied throughout the year

And no doubt it will be the same this year

But in the meantime it is lovely to be able to walk with so many friends

When everyone knows each other there is no problem with cliques or groups within the group

And with valley walks not much danger of anyone getting separated and lost

However I do still need a “back marker” so that I can check as necessary

We warned the bar before we started that there would be a large group at 1200

Fortunately there was plenty of space

Though it is a shame that we cannot all sit together at one long table

The bar has a strict no moving tables, because they are on blocks due to the steep slope of the square.

Temperature – 16 to 25c

Time taken –3 hours

Distance – 9 km

23 September 2024 – Parcent to Murla

 20 on today’s walk

But unfortunately not Jan

She has had trouble with her hips and wanted to rest them today

 

Thanks to Tina for this one, don’t remember what was said, but it looks serious

 

Lorraine’s husband Adrian joined us for the first time

He seemed to fit in very well

Not a shy, retiring type – so just what we need

 

Suzanne also walked, after an absence of about three months

Lovely to have her walking again

The morning started cloudy and overcast

So I was a little concerned that it might rain

Fortunately the sun came out, but then it was a little too hot

 

We are certainly very spoiled with the weather here, especially compared with the UK

We were a little late reaching Murla

 

Partly because we had some new members, so more time spent explaining the area

I had arranged to meet Jan in the Parcent cooperativa at 1200

 

So we had a shorter than usual banana break

And without Jan I was the “sweetie monitor”

 
It was much warmer and some struggled with the minor uphill sections

So we had a couple of water stops, and kept the pace down

Despite this we arrived back in Parcent at exactly 1200 as planned

Jan was waiting and the whole group stopped for the after walk drink

Fortunately there is plenty of shaded space in the cooperativa

 

Another very enjoyable walk, but hopefully Jan will join us next week

  

Temperature – 16 to 24c

Time taken –3 hours

Distance – 9 km

16 September 2024 – Alcalali to Parcent

 Another large group, 26 of us, this week 

Extensive road works in Alcalali square, so we had to take a detour

We were late starting this morning

Partly because the group was so large – partly because my watch was not working

I only wear my wrist watch when walking with the group since I came to Spain

But this morning it had stopped, presumably it needs a new battery

I had not realised just how much I relied on it during the walk

Barry offered to be my “watch man”

But gave me an incorrect time each time I asked!

It was another sunny morning with blue skies

It started relatively cool

But soon warmed up

Fortunately there is plenty of shade along the pipeline

And also at the Parcent font where we had our “banana stop”

Thanks to Tina for lots of great photos of the walk, including this one of Jan

It was also nice to see Ali and Faezeh again, before they are off on their travels again next week

This last section of the walk is the most exposed, and consequently the hottest

We did have a short water stop at the Ermita

But not for long as we took longer than usual to complete the walk

We walked much slower than usual, and had more water stops, because of the heat

Fortunately Bar Toni was open, despite the road works 

And no work in progress whilst we were there

However it was less attractive than usual, sitting in the middle of a building site

 

Temperature – 21 to 25c

Time taken –3.5 hours

Distance – 9 km