La Calahorra

Day 7: Sunday 13th April 2013

Got off to an early start in the cool of the morning, about 7.40. We were lucky that our track uphill was in the shade for most of the morning, keeping us cool. We travelled high up above a spectacular gorge, quite a scary drop off if you got close to the edge.

Deb on the track to Puerta de la Ragua

We had to climb 800 meters to Puerto de la Ragua at 2000 meters and it took us 4 hours 15 minutes, exactly the stated track time. The track was excellent most of the way apart from a few muddy patches and brambles, which got us both but not too badly. We had a few streams to cross, but managed them all without getting our feet wet. We had a couple of water stops en route, badly needed with all the climbing even though for the most part the grade was gentle. There was some nice pine forest to walk through, and at the top a pleasant flat grassy stretch before we found our way in to a cafe for a good coffee and a potato tortilla sandwich, very good and substantial, carbohydrate overload but we needed it.

Rob found our track down okay, passing 3 cyclists coming up before we left the road. Never saw a soul on the track, even though it was Saturday. We were now in Almeria, and the track markings virtually disappeared on us, and we had quite a struggle at one or two points to find the track, losing a half hour or so. But mostly the trail was good, and the descent was very gentle all the way. We got into a bit of a tangle of brambles down by the stream, but fortunately found our way through it.

We seemed to lose height very quickly, and were soon on the road into Ferreira, a beautiful village with wonderful orange tile rooftops and ancient buildings. 

From there it was just a few more km to La Calahorra. Just as we got into town we saw a hostel, La Bella, and we got a room for 40 euro, own bathroom, soap and shampoo, yay - those little luxuries are wonderful when you are travelling ultra-light. 

We have our own little balcony with a wonderful view of the remarkable Moorish hilltop fort, and of Mulhacen covered in snow. We have walked virtually right around the mountain, the highest in Spain.

Moorish Fort, La Calahorra

We arrived in La Calahorra about 4.30pm, so it was a 9 hour day, about 28 km.

This is the end of 7 days of absolutely fantastic walking through the Alpujarras, every day sunny, every night we managed to find a place to stay. The landscape has been stunning, the walking enjoyable and we never got bored for a minute. Brilliant.

Had a red wine and olives in our place, then wandered around the town and came back to the first bar we saw. Had another wine and excellent tapas there, and a delicious tortilla and tomatoes for tea. Lovely barman/chef. There are fireworks going off in town, and we think we saw a funeral procession!! Interesting place, but other than our hostel and two bars, there does not seem to be a lot else going on. Hope the fireworks stop soon, we are tired, but looking forward to a relaxing day tomorrow exploring the town before catching a bus to Seville.