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squiz Member Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 2888 |
15th February 2017 Hiking - Walking: Ascent of Calpe Rock Wind Direction: Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: sunny and warm Max Speed: Distance Covered: Wednesday 15th February – hike ***** Ascent of Calpe Rock – sunny periods and warm + more breeze today. Woke to more blue sky, not so good as yesterday as there were a few black clouds coming over in a stronger offshore wind but the ascent to the top of Calpe Rock was definitely on :) Up early and because my back has been playing up I decided to do my 45 minutes’ exercise on a nice flat piece of ground near the van while Mag went for a walk along the beach just opposite visiting a couple of Spanish supermarkets on the way back. Left our spot at 10.30 passing through the white elephant enclosure, we couldn’t face being that close to other camper vans but then all they seem to do is watch TV with the aid of huge satellite dishes! A quick visit to Lidl’s for two pretzels to take with us and then up to the small rocky carpark, the starting place for the hike. GPS, camera, snacks and walking boots on (a requirement written on the information board for the path after the tunnel) we set off through the first gate and up the path to the visitor centre. We reached a turnstile entrance and were worried that we would have to return to the van for the wallet and pay but it was just a way of checking if everyone who had gone up had returned. There was a big sign of warnings but the first section of path lead you into a false sense of security as the nice paved path wound its way up to a tunnel with already amazing views. It was here that my camera battery began to fail and I realized I had left the spares back in the van! It was here I throw a hissy fit but decided to save the camera until we reached the top in hope of getting some pics but I was fed up :( We had been walking half an hour so wasn’t going to go back now! It was when we get through the tunnel that things started to get interesting as the man-made path disappeared turning into a natural one with ropes to hold onto with a good sheer drop down to the sea, just the sort of adventure we like! This side of the rock is in shade so the path was very slippery and we passed one English couple in deck shoes and the wife was terrified, she didn’t make it to the top:( The path continued to a junction, the lower Mirador de Carabiners to the left and the top the Cim d’ Ifac to the right. We took the right and the path turned into a rocky scramble, at times it was difficult to make out the path from the cliffs, there were places when you were aided by ropes and chain but luckily the rocks here were drier so easier to get up although Mag was not looking forward to the return journey! We passed some much older people on the way down which pushed us on to make the top which was close now. We reached a spot where you could see over into the next bay for the first time which was scary near the edge as the wind cut through and there were climbing cleats hammered into the rock here, they must be bonkers climbing up here!!! The last few metres were hard as no obvious way, just climbing over large boulder to the round concrete post marking the top. It was absolutely amazing and even the tower blocks looked great from up here but nature wins’ hands down over man-made as the rock is just stunning. For as far as the eye could see inland and both ways along the coast there wasn’t an inch of land left with villas and apartments everywhere! I got Mag to sit on the plinth at the top and the camera battery was kind and played ball as I got some great shots of both sides of Calpe bay, I even managed a tripod pic of both of us with my fingers crossed the breeze didn’t blow it over! It was surprisingly still at the top and we had it all to ourselves for half an hour just taking in the amazing panorama with the fantastic white and grey Herring Gulls playing above and even landing close to our feet in hope of some tit bits! Several of the Gulls were paired up and sitting together waiting for the return of the fishing boats in the late afternoon. There was a digger and a couple of lorries working nonstop to clear the weed off the beach below, a bit like painting the Forth bridge, a never-ending job! With some Spanish people turning up we decided to start the trip down, stopping to speak to a nice young English couple. The way down was a lot easier than we expected as you could see the lie of the path a lot better and we soon made it to the junction and headed to the lower Mirador de Carabiners for our snack. This was right on the far side of the rock with a sheer drop into the sea, we found a rock on the edge to eat our Pretzels and chocolate bar, even sharing a little with a couple of gulls while a fishing boat passing close to the rock face far below! The last section was a doddle and we were soon back to the van, it was too nice a day to drive to the next place so parked up, made a flask and spent another relaxing afternoon on our little pebble beach just past the marina like yesterday. We read for a couple of hours with a cuppa and cake. The same couple who were here yesterday with their old dog joined us again and the spearfisherman were hunting their supper too! Then with numb bums and with the fishing boats returning to harbour we decided to walk round and see them unload their catch. The harbour was busy as a couple of busloads of tourists had arrived to watch the fisherman sort the catch which wasn’t brilliant. Prawn, octopus, little flat and silver fish made up the bulk of the catch as little vans waited to take the fish to the local restaurants. A quick walk along the little beach and back past the fish restaurants - quiet and packing up mostly. Stopped at a souvenir shop for yet more postcards and back to our spot by the Boules court for our third night, we are really joining the ‘Brits Abroad’ gang and can’t wait to get to Benidorm:) NOT!! Mag made one of our best meals of the trip a top chicken curry followed by a disappointing sunset which didn’t spoil another top day in Calpe. Photo Gallery Here |
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