Note: The photos are all grouped in one Cabo de Gata album on Flickr. Slide your cursor over a photo to see where it was taken. You can reach the photo album via the button below. At the top left of the Flickr page, you can indicate whether you want to view it in full screen or in tiles.
21 December '23: Walk/run towards Pozo de los Frailes, back via the mountain village of Las Presillas.
December 24, '23: Christmas Eve walk to La Isleta DEL MORO via the coastal path and back along the track due to falling darkness.
25 December '24: To the Caldera de la Majada Redonda crater
Cycling uphill to Las Presillas and from there a walk to the Caldera de la Majada Redonda krater.
I thought it would be a serious climb, but the path ran along and next to a dry riverbed all the way to the giant crater. Not tough at all, then.
December 26, '23: Walk to Cortijo de la Rellana (15 km, 450 altimeters)
Up via a path departing from hotel rural 'El Paraiso'. On the last, steep part of the climb, the path became quite difficult because of many large, loose boulders. I was glad I had my walking sticks with me. To get from the path back onto the road, you have to go on all fours over about five metres up a very steep verge slope with lots of slipping hazards due to loose pebbles. You cannot fall deeply, but bruises and contusions would be the result. Fortunately, there are quite a few palmitas and thick turf that you can pull up and hold on to. I got up there without any major slips.
Above, you can see very far out over the hinterland of Cabo de Gata.
I stepped further until the 'Cortijo de la Rellana', from where you also have a sea panorama. That Cortijo consists of four uninhabited country houses: one old and three more recent, but all in a state of disrepair. Nevertheless, the location and views there are stunning. The main road is doable by car, but you have to make a long and steep climb each time.
The descent via the rideable road was easy and fast. On the way, I came across a shepherd with dog and flock Against. The modern edition of a shepherd, with smartphone.
I was back at sea level during 'orange hour' with a waxing full moon. Enchanting.
28 December '23: Run/hike to San Jose, back through Pozo de los Frailes (18.3 km, 270 altimeters)
Yesterday I wrote that it was going to be a more active day. It became that, a bit 'overactive' even, beyond my control....
The plan was to take the coastal road to San José to go. Walking where the road allows, hiking the difficult parts. 16 km round trip, according to Komoot. But I hadn't zoomed in enough on the last part of the route....
The first 5 km were slightly climbing but easy to walk. From a construction site occupied by a herd of goats, there were lots of loose cobbles and it became mostly steps. At km eight - halfway, I thought - I was at Loma Pelada viewpoint, overlooking San Jose Bay, but the village centre was still more than 2 km away. The path became a narrow steeply descending goat track. I needed to get there, as planned, to eat something for the way back and clocked off at 11 km when I started my bocadillo (sandwich).
If I took the same road back, I wouldn't make it before dark. Fortunately, the way back was via Pozo de los Frailes shorter and much easier: through a dry riverbed and along easy trails. When the sun was already behind Los Dos Frailes disappeared, I arrived at the campsite.
29 December '23: This morning, the fatigue of yesterday's long trek was still palpable in the legs. It was cloudy all day with a chilly breeze. It was not going to be a swimming day. To avoid being lazy all the time, in the late afternoon I explored the hiking area behind the campsite. All the side paths I took were dead ends, but I enjoyed the view of the hills, the colourful rocks and the silence of the dying day.
Again, it was almost dark when I got back.
December 30, '23: by bike to Rodalquilar and hike around Cerro de Cilos And the derelict gold mine.
I did this road in the other direction last year and knew that a tough climb awaited me to the Punto de vista La Amatista. In the other direction, the climb is shorter but much steeper. Last year, I had to push my bike over the last steepest part. I was curious to see if now, unpacked and with a better bike but with less trained legs, I would manage it.
The gold mine of Rodalquilar is definitely worth a visit and it is a nice walk there (4.5 or 10 km)
A little history...
As early as the 16th century, there were already Rodalquilar ores mined: initially alum, which was used to fix pigments on textiles. The presence of ores and minerals explain repeated attacks by pirates from the sea and the presence of fortified forts and watchtowers on the coastline.
From 1870, 'heavy' lead and silver mining emerged. In 1883, when these ores were almost exhausted, gold was found in the region. Most of the gold veins were in the Cerro de Cilos mountain range. A real gold rush unfolded, and companies from all over the world descended on the region to search for gold. From 1931, the gold was mined by an English company. In 1936 the civil war broke out (1936-39) and in 1943 the state appropriated the mines. At its peak, it employed 700 workers. The population exploded to nearly 1,400 in 1960. From 1966, the profitability of the mine declined and a rapid demographic decline occurred to about 70 inhabitants. It is suspected that there could still be 3 tonnes of gold in the area, but as Cabo de Gata granted natural park status in 1987 received, no new mining activity may be developed.
On the way back, I arrived at the Amatista viewpoint just in time to catch another speck of the setting sun. If I had had to push my bike like last year, I would have been too late. I got to the top without pushing or dismounting.
January 1, '24: of the sea to The top of the Fraile.
After a lazy end-of-year day, I kicked off the new year firmly with a 'sea to summit' to the top of the highest of the two Frailes.
It was a climb over about 4 km with 550 cumulative altimeters with no technical difficulties. A little danger of rolling away on loose cobbles at times, though. From km2.5, the path was sometimes a bit difficult to find. Stone men pointed the way, but they were sometimes quite far apart.
The panorama at the top was magnificent. I could also see very clearly the coastal path to San Jose that I walked some days ago.
I descended via a partially different route that seemed easier than the climb. Less steep and less loose cobbles.
A cool start to the new year.
2 January '24: Last dip in the sea
Tomorrow I leave for O sel ling Centro De Retiros in the Alpujarras.
I took advantage of my last day on the coast to make one last splash in the sea. For a change, I cycled to Los Genoveses beach beyond San José. A large sandy beach, but with little shelter from the wind. On the chilly side to dry up... Nothing beats the sheltered little beach at La Isleta Del Moro To swim.
But the landscape beyond San Jose was wide and imposing. Satisfied to have seen it.
16 September: Opening the door at Diamondway Buddhist Centre in Tallinn The centre's meditation sessions are open
