Walk on the Wild Side

Despite the cold weather there have been plenty of opportunities to go out into the mountains behind the Costa Blanca and use the cold weather gear we bought for the Patagonia trip.  Before going away we mostly walked in t-shirts here in Spain and we remarked when enjoying walking in the snow in Chile that we ought to get out in less favourable conditions once home.  As you go into the mountains it is amazing how quickly you get away from civilisation and into remote areas where the very few people are outnumbered by wild boars and birds of prey.

We have been on some good walks with the Costa Blanca Mountain Walkers since New Year, two of which have been led by our friend David from Monte Pego.  He sets a good pace, which you need especially when walking in frosty conditions early in the morning. 

On the other walk the leader had the difficult job of managing the quicker walkers and some who were looking for a more sedate pace.  The compromise solution of walking quickly for short periods then stopping while we all got cold left him getting criticism from both sides - at which point he got lost into the bargain!  Walking politics were in evidence from the start.  At one point when he decided to stop he was asked "is this a banana stop or a water stop?".  When he tried the obvious line "it can be whichever you want it to be", he received the response "you should be telling us if you are the leader"!  And this is what people do in their retirement for relaxation - perhaps people love all the politics that go on in offices and just can't do without it?

David claimed he was supportive of the leader throughout, which doesn't really explain why he was heard shouting loudly "you should be alright from here" when we were about 150 metres from the bar at the end of the walk as we arrived a good 45 minutes late.

On the second of David's walks we were joined by a mythical group of elite walkers that we have heard about but not previously met.  They call themselves the A Team and only show up on the more challenging walks.  Disappointingly none of them resembled B.A. Baracus, but having said that the sight of a well-built black man with a mohican wearing a gold chain just wouldn't look right around here.  I stand out enough as it is.


BA Baracus - from the other A Team

Away from the Costa Blanca walks of course we strike out on our own too - learning the routes that they take us on and trying some of our own.  A regular favourite is the trip from our house around the Segaria ridge opposite to the village of Benimeli and back over the mountain home.  

The view of Segaria from our house

It's a 2.5 hour round trip with some great views but can take longer depending on how long you stay in Bar El Hogar in the village square.  However with the ascent of a 500 metre mountain to follow the bar, limiting beer consumption is the best strategy.

Bruce; Jane & Su on an official banana break overlooking Denia

On this occasion we had Bruce and Jane for company who are over here for the weekend to stay at their house in Denia.  It was really great to see them.  They had warmed up on the friday night with a trip to Aitana tapas bar (see previous blog entry) where Bruce attempted to order not one but three bottles of water which led to a predictable level of disdain from the owner.  Clearly having learned his lesson, non-alcoholic drinks were dispensed with for the rest of the evening and after a trip to their favourite late dancing establishment, El Silenci, Bruce was not looking at his best for the walk.  Of course we took no prisoners and set off at our usual pace (well maybe a little faster!) and having learned from the pros we structured the walk properly with designated water and banana breaks.  It was great to be out in the fresh air and we were all rewarded for our efforts with some warm sunshine and a suitably large dish of Arroz Negro at El Tresmall afterwards.