Weekend trips

Last Sunday we joined a group of Ecologistas en Acción (a local NGO) and we went to the Guadalhorce river mouth to do birdwatching. We were ten, including a 6 year old kid who was actually interested and behaved very well.


We had a nice time, walking in between the hides and watching, White-headed Ducks, Common Pochards, Moorhens, Black-winged Stilts, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Kentish Plover, Little Ringet Plover, Osprey, Great Bittern, European Bee-eater,Common Coot and quite a few European pond turtles (Emys orbicularis). I would have loved to spot a Chameleon, as they say they are around, but this time they were very well camouflaged.

Moving from binoculars to bicycles, this Saturday we had the last season trip with Ruedas Redondas. Friday, we found out that there was a problem with the hub of my bikes rear tire; after we took the thing apart (Micael) and cleaned it (me), it was obvious that we needed a new part, but at the bike shop they didn't had it so they ordered it for next week. So, my Montague has to wait and I went for my dear old Giant, after more than three years of retirement. I took it out for a ride to check that everything was in working order; it feels small and light and the gear shifter doesn't fell as smooth, but the brake pads are new and that is what will be most needed for the planned day trip.


Saturday morning, we met at our usual place in downtown Málaga and put the bikes in the bus; we were 21 people. The trip was fairly easy as the bus drove us up the hills North of the city and dropped us at the entrance to a small road leading to Ermita de los Verdiales (Verdiales' Chapel). We started our trip; there were a few uphill portions but most of the way was downhill, putting more effort in our forearms than in our legs.

Ermita de los Verdiales

Valle del Guadalhorce

Along the route, there are nice views of the Valley of Málaga on one side and the Valley of Guadalhorce, on the other and inland, we could also see the massif of El Torcal.


Once we got down, we followed the dry bed of the Campanillas river for a few kilometres, then the road to Cártama and then we parted from the group to go back home as they continued along the Guadalhorce towards the beach. It was an easy, social trip in very good company and we returned covered in dust and ready to drink a full liter of gazpacho each.

Valle de Málaga

Back on the bikes!

After a few months when the bikes' use was limited, partly due to the weather and partly because we were not around to use them, we have resumed our outings.

On the 16th, we decided to try one of the routes to Montes de Málaga, to see how rusty were our legs to take on the steep hills.

Our favourite shop in Málaga

The weather was perfect - Malaga should stay in May weather all year round! We started the trip mid-morning and this time we tried going by small side streets in order to avoid the busy Avenida Valle Inclán.

We reached the first steep climb, the one I dread the most and maybe the steepest of the ride, but it seems my legs could still remember how to pedal up (or is it that the bike now knows how to do it by itself?), so we did it with no problem. Me, as usual, slower than Micael.

The montes are green, full of wild flowers that I was enjoying and smelling, while Micael could recognize some of them through sneezes...

There were plenty of other riders and hikers, in groups and couples, something we did not see last summer.

We also noticed that they've put signage for the popular routes.

On the way home, my legs were complaining a little for the 54km ride, but after a good stretch, they were ready for another trip.

This year, our "cycling wish list" includes a trip on the Danube Bike Trail (Germany - Austria sections); the ride from Prague to Vienna, still not sure if we will coincided to join La Espiral between Málaga and Granada, and, maybe, maybe, Camino de la Plata at the end of the summer. Let's see how much we can do!!