Nine friends on a fantastic walk
The plan was that we all meet in Albunúelas at 8 am and take two cars on the forest road to Jayena, a distance of 23 km. Walk back 31 km, why we could not walk back on the road and save 8 km, I don’t know. Then one car would go back to Jayena to recover the other two cars while everyone else buggered off to a Carol concert.
It was a beautiful morning for the drive through the forest and we were in Jayena before the sun was fully up.
For the first 3 km the track follows a level road in the valley. It was clear from the start it was going to be a fast walk. Ray was setting the pace, I don’t know what Caroline had given him for his breakfast but he was off, oblivious to all the mutterings in his wake. At the entrance to the Natural park there was the obligatory river to cross, I had never realised what a wet park this is. Thinking back every walk we have done in the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama Parque Natural has involved crossing rivers.
From here it should have been a steady climb for the next 14 km but, with Ray out in front we were doing 5 km/h uphill, what a leader, his last job must have been training Mo Farrar. This section of the walk was breathtaking, in more than one sense. The views were stunning, the snow covered Sierra Nevada one way, the peaks of Lucero and Maroma another and all around the thick pine forest. What a way to spend a day.
We stopped for lunch at the highest point of the walk, 1338 metres, just where we started to head down into Albunúelas but still 14 km away. When we met this morning it was still dark and nobody had noticed Dave, but over lunch with the sun beating down you could see he hadn't shaved this morning, he has only been retired 2 months and already he has gone feral. I am afraid this is not good enough for a group that prides itself on its immaculate turnout, you feel he is letting the side down. If he does not improve after his Christmas holidays back in the UK, I will have to have a quiet word with him.
Setting off after lunch we were soon heading off down a barranco. At first the path was well marked, but we missed a marker somewhere because we ended up scrambling about over rocks and trees before climbing up and onto the correct path.
We were now in our own backyard, on a trail we have walked before, so with Ray still setting the pace we made rapid progress towards Albunúelas, We deviated slightly off the marked route to walk in another barranco and past an old perfume distillation works, long ago abandoned. You could feel the excitement building the closer we got to Albunúelas. Not only were we going to beat our walk record of 29.8 km. we were going to smash the 30 km barrier. I know it’s only 200 metres difference, but these things are important. Stopping to take a celebratory photo at 30 km we then headed for Albunúelas and a drink at the bar.
I must have misheard last week because I thought I had heard Rene say she was going to have a Bondage party after the walk, but it transpires she was talking about a bonding party the day before. It’s a pity, it’s what had kept me going on the last 10 km.
A big thanks to Ray for setting the pace, the concert goers were in plenty of time for their Carols. Next week he is having some rocks in his pack.
All that was left was for Mike, Kees and myself to return to Jayena for the cars.
An excellent walk, up amongst the best.
On the walk Kees, Mike, Rene, Ray, Plym, Dave, Julie, Little Stuart, Old Stuart.
Distance walked on the route today 32.3 km Total distance on route 94.8 km
Distance walked today 32.3 km Total distance walked 105.1 km
Height climbed today 783 metres Total height climbed 2745 metres
Distance driven today 46 km Total distance driven 432 km
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