Lucero Walkabout

19 - 23 Nov 2022

It's a lonely area. However, we met a few hikers. They told us that there was once a lot of life in this area. They showed us a ruin that was a kind of guesthouse. We slept in a cave that protected us from rain, wind and cold...

South Spain

A map should appear here soon...

◄-► 55km
𖣫 3100m
8-20℃

► El Morche
► Torrox Costa
► Torrox
► Cómpeta
► Canillas de Albaida
► mountains
► Cómpeta

Source of the map:
OpenStreetMaps

We wanted to go to the mountains again. There are hardly any changes by people there - hardly any houses, rubbish and no agriculture. There, the animals and plants live without human interference. This is what fascinates us about this landscape. There are numerous water sources along the way, but not much to eat. Therefore, we took food with us, mostly dried, to save weight.

It's a lonely area. However, we met a few hikers. One of them told us that there was a lot of life in this area in the 40's. He showed us e.g. a ruin that was once a bakery for the people in the area and for those passing by. There were also armed conflicts between the Franco regime's military and its opponents. The Lucero offered opponents steep slopes with crevasses in which they could easily hide. The story of the house "Venta de Panaderos" give us an insight into life at that time.

We got a little rain in two nights. But we slept in both nights in a cave that protected us from wind and cold as well. There was a lot of wind in the high mountains. Therefore we didn't reach the summit of the Lucero - but almost...

Saturday, 19 Nov 2022

Aline, Murielle and I started at 4 pm in El Morche and walked some km along the beaches to Torrox Costa. The village in the background is Torrox. The high mountain in the background on the left side is the Lucero.

Dried figs, many are open , eaten by animals

I collected these dried figs under a tree. And almost all of them tasted good! For me, taste is key. If the fruits are eaten by animals or have worms, it's not a problem for me. This is important for self-sufficiency, survival and also for health.

Sunday

4 hikers, selfie, the sund in the midst over us

Now we're 4 people - the friend of Aline joined, but only for one hour. Father sun seems to be in our midst.

Dung beetle at work

In Torrox Costa we bought some ecologic vegetables. On the way we found the mangos, pomegranates, avocados and almonds. The food that we brought from home, is not on the photo: bananas, vegetables and seeds.

Aline is sitting on a road at an almond tree, picking almonds

Aline collects almonds.

At the church of Cómpeta we meet Pascale and Pablo. They join us.

Monday

Murielle's sleeping place, but the trees and herbs are brown

We slept in this olive plantation. Apparently there was a fire, the smell of the burned wood was a bit disturbing.

I am on a small path and collect something from the ground

We find walnuts on the way. There are many walnut trees around Fabrica de la Luz.

Hug of a big tree all around with 3 people

A big tree, several hundred years old. We are able to hug it with three people.

Its a cork oak tree. In this area it's rare, you can find it more in Extremadura and Portugal.

3 hikers take a break on a small rocky path

Puerto Blanquillo. Puerto usually means port, but has a different meaning here, namely mountain pass, between the valleys of Río Torrox and Río Algarrobo.

The "Cueva del Daire" is in view! We discovered the cave already two years ago on Aim'jie's Walk.

The cave up close, 3 people stand in the entrance looking out

After climbing up a small path, we arrive at the cave and enjoy the beautiful view.

Photo from inside the cave, Murielle and I sit in the entrance and look out

First we think, we can see the Lucero from here: the mountain in the background over my head. But later we realize: It's the Cisne. We wasn't there on the top yet. The Lucero is not visible from here.

Photo from more inside the cave, the cave is big

The cave is large enough for several people to sleep.

Mattress with my isolation mat and backpack on it, in the cave

There is a mattress at the back of the cave. Someone dragged it here. Most of us don't like to sleep there for fear of dust, I have no worries and enjoy the convenience.

Tuesday

3 hikers take a break, sitting on a trunk of a fallen tree

We leave the sleeping stuff in the cave and hike to the Lucero. However, 1.3 km before the summit we return by a different route. It would still be 300m uphill and the wind is too strong. Here we find a nice place in the sun for a break.