Two Go Exploring Spain

[Libellula]

We did a bird of watching this morning. The first place we stopped had many shapeless white blobs out on the water. A second look through binoculars revealed them to be sleeping flamingos! But things improved during the morning.

A lot of the Delta is used to grow rice but there are extensive reed beds and stretches of open water as the aerial view shows.

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We spent most of our time around the lake called El Clot which you can see lower left above. The campsite reception had given us a handy guide in English which showed the main areas worth visiting, even listing what birds you might see.

The marshy bits look like this. Photo taken from one of several viewing platforms. You can see next to nothing at road level. This place is very flat.

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There were hundreds of Black-winged stilts everywhere. This is the one-legged variety, taking its cue from the sleeping flamingos.

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Two and one-legged ones here.

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Then we spotted a large dark bird. A Glossy ibis, and a first for me.

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Others followed but just in ones and two.

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Until we came to this field, which was covered in dark dots.

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Zoomed in a bit they were revealed as more Glossy ibis. This is only a fraction of them, there might have been three hundred in total. (note the flying one at the top.

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Common terns and more sleeping flamingos.

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Some visitors were slightly better equipped than us...

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But luck always plays a big part in bird watching. Towards the end of the morning as I was driving along what looked like an overgrown moorhen flew across the road in front of us before dropping into a reed-fringed ditch. But it wasn't a moorhen on steroids as it had very long, heavy and above all red legs. I double checked my book and it could only have been....
....but never mind that, was it still visible in the ditch?

I couldn't exactly pinpoint where it had landed and I was about ten feet out with my reckoning. As I peered between the reeds there was heavy splashing off to my left and I got a brief glimpse of a very white rump surrounded by bluish plumage vanish into the undergrowth.

But that white rump and red legs were enough to confirm the bird as a Purple swamphen as they are now called. They used to be known as Purple galinules.

Purple Swamphen - Birding highlights of the Ebro Delta.

One species of bird that is a perennial favorite on our bird watching tours is the Purple Swamphen (also known as Western Swamphen). This species is not widespread in Europe but here on the Ebro delta it is locally commo...

ebrodeltabirding.com

Another first for me of course and it nicely rounded off our little birding trip.

Back at the campsite I improved my knowledge of Catalán by taking our rubbish to the bins.

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Great bird photography thanks.

 

[Lenny HB]

Then we spotted a large dark bird. A Glossy ibis, and a first for me.

Zoomed in a bit they were revealed as more Glossy ibis. This is only a fraction of them, there might have been three hundred in total. (note the flying one at the top.

I said there would be loads there this time of year.

Saw those purple thingy's last year as well.

 

[DBK]

Saw those purple thingy's last year as well.

They go purple in breeding plumage from what I`ve read. But we were too early I think to see this.

 

[Nirvanauk]

Are the spanish ok with dogs in general and in restaurants. Etc.

 

[DBK]

Are the spanish ok with dogs in general and in restaurants. Etc.

I'm not sure about dogs inside a restaurant but on outside tables I've often seen dogs.

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[DBK]

Just another place-marking post from me tonight as we haven't really done a lot for the last 24 hours.

We left Camping Vall de Laguar this morning, we enjoyed our stay but it was cold! Not their fault and it is not much warmer where we are now.

We've returned to the aire at Campello Beach a little north east of Alicante, the blue blob in the image above. We were here several years ago where we met the wonderful Coolbeanz and enjoyed her paella-feast which she hosted.

This evening Mrs DBK and I did a fairly vigorous paseo up and down the beach.

In the far distance on the right is Benidorm. You can catch a train there from just below the aire, which we've done and enjoyed our day visit.

Tomorrow it is back to the possibly chilly hills and Camping Sierra Espuña near Murcia for a bit of walking and (don't tell Mrs DBK yet) a bit of radio stuff.

 

[Coolbeanz]

Just another place-marking post from me tonight as we haven't really done a lot for the last 24 hours.

We left Camping Vall de Laguar this morning, we enjoyed our stay but it was cold! Not their fault and it is not much warmer where we are now.

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We've returned to the aire at Campello Beach a little north east of Alicante, the blue blob in the image above. We were here several years ago where we met the wonderful Coolbeanz and enjoyed her paella-feast which she hosted.

This evening Mrs DBK and I did a fairly vigorous paseo up and down the beach.

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In the far distance on the right is Benidorm. You can catch a train there from just below the aire, which we've done and enjoyed our day visit.

Tomorrow it is back to the possibly chilly hills and Camping Sierra Espuña near Murcia for a bit of walking and (don't tell Mrs DBK yet) a bit of radio stuff.

Oooh how exciting you are near us. We live at Pinar de Campoverde, how long are you in this area? We’ll have to try and meet up if you have time?

 

[DBK]

Oooh how exciting you are near us. We live at Pinar de Campoverde, how long are you in this area? We’ll have to try and meet up if you have time?

We are leaving here today and if Camping Sierra Espuña is OK we might stay there for several days, possibly until Sunday or Monday.
John

 

[jumartoo]

We are leaving here today and if Camping Sierra Espuña is OK we might stay there for several days, possibly until Sunday or Monday.
John

It would be nice to meet you in Espuña but, sods law, we go to the UK on Friday for five days

 

[DBK]

It would be nice to meet you in Espuña but, sods law, we go to the UK on Friday for five days

That's well planned, you've had a narrow escape from meeting us!

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[Coolbeanz]

Glynn is flying back to the UK Thursday for 3 days . Where are you heading after Sierra Espuña?

 

[DBK]

Glynn is flying back to the UK Thursday for 3 days . Where are you heading after Sierra Espuña?

West or South West somewhere, I haven't looked that far ahead.

 

[Coolbeanz]

West or South West somewhere, I haven't looked that far ahead.

Ah that’s a shame as we won’t have time to meet up but just remember next time you’re ever near this way I make a mean cup of coffee, it’s red and comes in a glass . I’ll have to buy another paella pan now we’re settled

 

[DBK]

A two hour drive today brought us to Camping Sierra Espuña in the village of El Berro, west of Murcia.

Zooming in.

If anyone comes this way you would probably be best advised to approach on the C-25 road which starts north of Gebas. We came on the wiggly road which starts where it shows ASN Espirulina in the bottom right. This way is moderately challenging with massive potholes for the first few kilometres then a couple of alpine sections which are narrow and not well guarded. It was fine for us but we didn't meet any other vehicles. If we had then reversing, if we had had to, would have been "fun".

But we are here now, reception spoke English as did the lady in the bar, which we've visited. This may be because there are several UK registered MHs here and English voices were the first we heard.

Pitch is fine.

Some local views, we will go for a gentle walk tomorrow.

Local cemetery, very tidy but look at the brown foliage, everywhere is very dry and trees are dying.

Interesting translation outside the village church. It refers to a hermitage but the building it was stuck on was definitely a church. I'm not being critical because it's better than I could do translating from Spanish.

 

[Coolbeanz]

Now that we’re settled here in Spain we’re hoping to get another motorhome (about the same size as yours as we won’t need such a big one anymore ) as there are so many wonderful places to visit within a few hours from us. I shall be watching your journey and adding more post it notes to my map. It’s nearly full of post it notes just from following Jumar

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[namwaldog]

I though I recognized the name of the site and the pictures!

We stayed there a few years ago. I remember ringing the site from Totana, to see if they had any pitches and the Receptionist laughing when I said "see you in half an hour".

Two hours later we arrived!

I always remember this house with "off street parking".....

Enjoy.

 

[DBK]

Now that we’re settled here in Spain we’re hoping to get another motorhome (about the same size as yours as we won’t need such a big one anymore ) as there are so many wonderful places to visit within a few hours from us. I shall be watching your journey and adding more post it notes to my map. It’s nearly full of post it notes just from following Jumar

I think you could make a lot of use of a PVC or small MH living in this area. We use ours just for day trips in Devon and Cornwall - having cooking and of course a loo on board makes it all very civilised.

 

[DBK]

I though I recognized the name of the site and the pictures!

We stayed there a few years ago. I remember ringing the site from Totana, to see if they had any pitches and the Receptionist laughing when I said "see you in half an hour".

Two hours later we arrived!

I always remember this house with "off street parking".....

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Enjoy.

I think I walked down that road today. I say walked but slid down on my bottom would be a better description.

 

[Coolbeanz]

I think you could make a lot of use of a PVC or small MH living in this area. We use ours just for day trips in Devon and Cornwall - having cooking and of course a loo on board makes it all very civilised.

I’m just waiting for the exchange rate to improve .

 

[Rogerwyn]

Great site and you came in the good way, the road from the north is like a Land Rover proving ground

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[DBK]

Great site and you came in the good way, the road from the north is like a Land Rover proving ground

We will still probably leave that way as it's in the direction we want to go next. Thanks for the warning.

 

[gus-lopez]

On a sunday out i came in to El berro from the north , right through the centre of the village & left by the alpine route you came in on. It is far better going downhill.

 

[royandsharont]

The park itself us a delightful place to visit in the van if you fancy it, a lot of history. The ice houses that once supplied Murcia were interesting. We used to visit the park regularly in winter.

We‘ve stayed on the campsite once in early September but it was 40C so we had a shaded pitch up on the top terrace and just sat in the shade for a week venturing into the village only twice on an evening. Always intended to return one day.

 

[DBK]

The park itself us a delightful place to visit in the van if you fancy it, a lot of history. The ice houses that once supplied Murcia were interesting. We used to visit the park regularly in winter.

We‘ve stayed on the campsite once in early September but it was 40C so we had a shaded pitch up on the top terrace and just sat in the shade for a week venturing into the village only twice on an evening. Always intended to return one day.

It is indeed a very nice site. Those who eschew campsites and stick only to free places miss out here. MHs are not allowed to overnight in the park so if you want to visit you need to come here.

Being able to have a couple of showers a day and drink draught beer from the bar is a big plus too.

 

[DBK]

We've had a couple of gentle walks over the last two days. Yesterday we wandered up the Barranco de las brujas which sounds like the valley of the arguments but I may be wrong on that! You can see it west of El Berro in the map bellow.

The route is inside the park, which you know you've entered because there is a gate!

It wasn't the most interesting of walks if I am honest, a narrow valley under forest.

The barranco is a stream bed but lacking the water as so much of Spain is.

Today we had a walk on very minor roads around the village.

This afternoon I walked up to the top of a hill behind the campsite to do some radio action.

After some voice stuff I switched to digital. Watching paint drying is more interesting but it works.

What's happening is the laptop, literally on my lap in this shot, is controlling the radio, which is the little black box on a tiny tripod at the top of the shot. The messages exchanged are emails without the human content. Effectively I'm enabling machines to talk to each other.

I'm still working on my selfies.

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[Russell's Dad]

I though I recognized the name of the site and the pictures!

We stayed there a few years ago. I remember ringing the site from Totana, to see if they had any pitches and the Receptionist laughing when I said "see you in half an hour".

Two hours later we arrived!

I always remember this house with "off street parking".....

View attachment 741078

Enjoy.

It's still there. With slight damage to the cill on this side of the photo. We were in Sierra Espuna this trip and stayed at the campsite too. It was good for walking. My only negative was the amount of slightly run-down caravans on site.
There is a new free Aire on the opposite side of the hills at Casa Nuevas. We loved it there.

 

[jumartoo]

We've had a couple of gentle walks over the last two days. Yesterday we wandered up the Barranco de las brujas which sounds like the valley of the arguments but I may be wrong on that! You can see it west of El Berro in the map bellow.

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The route is inside the park, which you know you've entered because there is a gate!

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It wasn't the most interesting of walks if I am honest, a narrow valley under forest.

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The barranco is a stream bed but lacking the water as so much of Spain is.

Today we had a walk on very minor roads around the village.

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This afternoon I walked up to the top of a hill behind the campsite to do some radio action.

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After some voice stuff I switched to digital. Watching paint drying is more interesting but it works.

What's happening is the laptop, literally on my lap in this shot, is controlling the radio, which is the little black box on a tiny tripod at the top of the shot. The messages exchanged are emails without the human content. Effectively I'm enabling machines to talk to each other.

View attachment 742107

I'm still working on my selfies.

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So you've been up the Witches River . There is a cave, did you get to that? There's a nice route that goes from opposite the cemetery but it's quite long, and pathless in one section that climbs up a hillside. That's a useless bit of info, isn't it

 

[gus-lopez]

which sounds like the valley of the arguments

As jumartoo said it is witches valley or witches gorge.

 

[DBK]

About an hour's driving today took us from the Sierra Espuña to the little town of Caravaca de la Cruz where we are now parked on the excellent free (with services) aire.

We had left the campsite, turning left at the entrance and driving through the village in a spirit of exploration to see which of the two ways into El Burro was best for MHs. The northern route, the C-25 is easier to drive on than the southern "alpine" route but I agree the village is a tight squeeze in places! You can get through it in a large MH but be prepared to breath in.

Google Maps took us towards the centre of Caravaca because it knew nothing about the road closures around the centre. A slight detour brought us back on course but in the process we noticed large groups wearing different coloured shirts. Something was going on!

Signs on the street leading to the aire said no parking today but fortunately the air was open and nowhere near full.

A bit of Googling revealed that today is the Día de la Pañuelo or Day of the Scarf. I can't work out where the scarves or handkerchiefs come into it but over 3 weekends in April each year three groups, Christian, Moorish and the Wine Horses each have a day of celebration. This weekend is the last of them, the Caballos del Vino Or wine horses, of which we have seen none, only lots of brass bands! The three events are all a warm up for a major fiesta which runs 1 - 5 May.

After parking up we wandered into the town, a little unsure where to go until Mrs DBK spotted a family all wearing the same colour, "follow them" she said and we did.

The centre was all dressed up.

The photo above has a double cross on the right, there is also one on the town's coat of arms, which is the big flag in the centre.

The double cross is important to this town, not only is it part of the town's name, it represents the re-taking of the town by the Christians. The legend says the cross miraculously appeared during a Moorish seige of the castle. The cross was then dipped in wine which revived the fighting spirit of the defenders. Whether you believe the legend or not the locals use it as a very good excuse for a lot of partying.

These two statues represent both sites in the struggle.

The double cross also appears on this church door along with the pilgrims' scallop shells above.

All was going swimmingly and we were eyeing up the various tapas on offer until the revellers started letting off firecrackers.

We had Charlie with us and fireworks and dogs are not a natural mix and he almost dragged me back to the aire!

So, when visiting Spanish Fiestas don't take the dog! He still hasn't fully recovered as the odd bang is still going off around the aire.

To understand this video, which starts in the town centre, then moves to the view from the aire it helps to know there is a large exhibition hall next to the aire. The video finishes with a view through the door into the hall. The Spanish do know how to party. . (tip: the sound volume is a bit low so be sure to turn the volume up to maximum)

 

[DBK]

Update: Another volley of fireworks has gone off and Charlie has retreated to his bunker.

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