Cabo de Gata Walkabout

Preparation

I dry crackers on the glass of a former car...

...and nisperos and mulberries from our garden in the sun...

...and I prepare a mousse from buckwheat, sesame, linseeds, tomatoes and wild plants and let it ferment.

I haven't hiked for 6 months because of a foot problem. Now my foot feels better again.
So let's go!

Monday, 29 April 2024 (7 km)

While preparing, I discovered this path on the satellite image, which turns out to be very beautiful.

We're walking to the beach...

...Playa Carnaje.

Tuesday (15 km)

Our first place to sleep, Joachim has a headache, was cold and slept badly.

He needs a day off and books a room in this hotel.

I walk alone up a riverbed to get away from the road and come across this hiking trail.

On the way I spot this little chameleon - it was lucky that I didn't step on it.

The hiking trail leads along this riverbed and the riverbed suddenly turns green.

Here I go down and discover water in the riverbed.

People once used the water, built terraces and practiced gardening.

To eat I have the crackers, the dried nisperos, the dried mulberries and a banana with me.

The hiking trail leads to a high path on the north side of a mountain range with beautiful views.

Then I come to an area with many former aluminium mining shafts.

You can enter them, but you have to keep your eyes open.

They even found gold here.

The rocks have a very beautiful pattern.

I wonder if there is gold in these strips.

It's very windy, I spend the night in this small mine shaft.

Here, too, there are beautiful patterns in the rock.

This sight is not so beautiful: toilet paper. Fortunately, you can't see or smell anything else.

At the end of the 20 m long shaft I lie down to sleep.

Wednesday (19 km)

Joachim writes to me that he has booked a room in San José, where he will be staying for the next two nights. He is spending another day alone. I find a suitable hiking route to San José.

I walk through the village of Los Albaricoques. There, near a greenhouse, I find discarded tomatoes and later wild olives.

There are often caves near the mountain peaks. You can see them if you click on the photo and zoom in.

A former well, I could see to the bottom, it is now dry. The author of the sign was obviously missing two German words, it is quite confusing.

I walk this trail along a dry river.

Since it is still very windy, I sleep in this ruin near San José.

Thursday (15 km)

Joachim feels better now. We hike together from San José south to the beach:

Playa del Barronal. Afterwards Joachim goes back along the road and I go over the mountains.

There were once two versions of a hiking trail here, here is a remaining marker.

There are gaps in the vegetation. Most of the time I can comfortably walk barefoot through the sand.

At the top of a mountain I find a cave, or rather a rocky outcrop, where I lay down to sleep.

But first I have to prepare a level in there. It takes me more than an hour.

Then I enjoy the view.

I climbed up from the road down there.

There are more caves 30 meters away.

In one of the caves there is a perfectly prepared sleeping place. Suddenly I remember: Murielle and I slept here in April 2019 - see the last 3 photos of the Cabo de Gata Walk 2019!

Friday (12 km)

I climb to the top of the mountain and take a photo of San José.

Joachim and I go by car to Las Negras and walk to San Pedro.

San Pedro is an inhabited valley. It can only be reached on foot (4km walk).

In San Pedro we part ways again. Joachim goes back the same way...

...and I walk up the valley. There are paths...

...because at the end of the valley there is still an inhabited hut.

Now things get a bit wilder. This rock face is insurmountable, but I can climb up to the left of it.

A last look into the valley of San Pedro

At the top there is a plateau with patchy vegetation. With the help of my smartphone I head in the right direction.

Here you have to go down the valley.

There is a well marked hiking trail here. In Las Negras, we meet at Joachim's car and drive back home.

I am glad to be able to hike again!