Thursday 20 August to Saturday 22nd
Good drive down to Portsmouth, only upset Roy went walkabout as we were loading and I moved it up to the line, sorted in end, too much wine at night, lazy day next day.
No hold up at customs in Spain. Lidl sorted and got to site Camping Iturbero 28 euros in Lumbier. about 2pm. Walked into Lumbier, old town but couldn't find the market Jacqueling told us about.
Sunday 23 August
Did 4km walk to San Gregorio an old watchtower., Hot day. Siesta afternoon then drove 4 minutes to Foz de Lumbier, a beautiful gorge with about 200 pairs of griffon vultures also saw an Eygypian Vulture all white.
Hot again 32o Drove to Sanguesa and looked round small town, churches, river Aragon. free carpark. Then on to Arbayun Gorge carved by the Salazar River to the Iso viewpoint, stunning gorge, not as many vultures very windy.
TUESDAY 25 AUGUST
Cloudy morning sunny afternoon 28oc. Drove an hour towards mountains did a lovely 5,3 km circular walk to Belabrace Waterfall in the Roncal Valley at the foot of the Ezkaurre massif.
OTSINDUNDU BRIDGE
26 AUGUST
Drove to Jaca, part way along a lake and saw deserted town on hill. Lovely campsite Camping Ain Jaca Pirineo. 30 Euros a night. Went into Jaca to Dia supermarket. Hot 30oc had beer sat out.
THURSDAY 27 August
Cloudy day so decided to change walk, drove to Aisa and did Iguer Valley walk 7km circular finally up in the Pyrenees. A beautiful walk, windy but fine.
SIBISCAL WATERFALL, NO WATER BET ITS STUNNING IN FLOOD!
FRIDAY 28 AUGUST
A perfect hike, 5 miles, clear blue skies, took the chairlift up at Astun to do a high altitude trail dotted with glacial lakes between meadows and mountains, all under the watchful gaze of the majestic Midi d'Ossau.
29 AUGUST
A tourist lazy day, drove into Jaca and visited St Peter's Castle, the Citadel of Jaca. Then drove short way to Canfranc Train Station, a magnificent building built in 1928 as a railway to France via Canfranc. It provided a hotel, casino, customs office etc to travellers. It became decisive during WW2 as a crossing point for gold, stolen art works and Jewish refugees on the run.
CANFRANC
SUNDAY 30 AUGUST
Drove for 30 minutes to our next campsite Camping Gavin near Biescas. 6 nights 2 at 36.80 and 4 at 25 euros. Beautiful site pool restaurant, supermercado. Drove along the Garganta del Escalar gorge to Balneario de Panticosa. Lots of hotels at the end of the road but no sign of skiing available at all cliffs so sheer.
 |
| CAMPING GAVIN |
MONDAY 31 AUGUST
A wonderful 8km hike up Pazino Peak standing at 1965 meters, a mountain with gentle contours but provides spectacular views in the Alto Gallego region. One of Roy's all up all down hikes but I loved it!
THE LAST CLIMB TO THE TOP
LANUZA RESERVOIR
LUNCH AT THE TOP
PAZINO PEAK FROM THE PASS AS WE CAME BACK.
Tuesday 1 September
A lovely 6.5km hike up to Lake Piedrafita, one of the most accessible glacial lakes in the Tena Valley. Had a great swim when back to site.
this is what Maisy will be like when she,s grown, Roy thinks
kite
A lovely 6.5km hike up to Lake Piedrafita, one of the most accessible glacial lakes in the Tena Valley. Had a great swim when back to site.
Anne swim
a couple coming down
GO DIRECTLY UP FROM ROYS HEAD TO A BROWN AREA - LAUNCH PAD
ZOOMED IN LAUNCH AREA
Tortuous 40 minute drive to Torla, where we paid 5 euros for a big bus to take us up and back to the Odesa glacial Valley with towering vertical cliffs and a sheltered woodland trail to some waterfalls. Temperature was 34oC so slightly hot for any big hike!
Wednesday 2 September
Today we drove to Ordesa Pirineo zip line for the most magical experience. We drove in a 4x4 for about 15 minutes up to the launch site on a really old road. We did tandem, it was just perfect. Supermarket in town then back for swim.
a couple coming down
THURSDAY 3 SEPTEMBER
Tortuous 40 minute drive to Torla, where we paid 5 euros for a big bus to take us up and back to the Odesa glacial Valley with towering vertical cliffs and a sheltered woodland trail to some waterfalls. Temperature was 34oC so slightly hot for any big hike!
Torla
FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER
Drove to Balneario de Panticosa, did the Caldares River walk, surrounded by towering peaks exceeding 3000 metres, the trail we took revealed one of the most spectacular corners of the Aragonese Pyrenees. Thundering waterfallls cascading between granite rocks, just heaven!
SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER
Drove to Ainsa to a fabulous campsite Camping Pena Montanesa 27 euros with ACSI and got a free bottle of local wine.
Big site all sectioned with box hedging. Lovely pool sat at side having an Estrella or 2.
SUNDAY 6 SEPTEMBER
Drove up a crazy wiggly narrow road to Tella at 1340 meters. The trail of the Tella hermitages, located at the entrance to the Odesa and Monte Perdido National Park was a lovely walk visiting 3 chapels or hermitages. According to local legend, these chapels were built to protect Tella from witches who chose these places to hold their covens.
MONDAY 7 SEPTEMBER
A tourist day visiting Ainsa a beautiful mediaeval town. Enjoyed seeing all the sights and a lovely tapas lunch in the square.
TUESDAY 8 SEPTEMBER
Drove up the Anisclo Canyon, one of the most remote and astonishing places in Ordesa & Perdido National Park. A single track one way road which we only realised half way up! A magical place, if you love mountains as I do!
Set off to visit Gerbe, a walk around a lake with bird hides, couldn't find it so decided on the Miradors of Revilla after calling at Dia for supplies.
Drove up the wiggly road towards Tella and turned off towards Revilla, another windy, hairpin small road. Got parked and set off to do a 45 minute walk to some miradors and Revilla. This turned out into a 2 hour circular trail returning to the village of Revilla by the Gurrundue cirque, a superb hike!
THURSDAY 10 SEPTEMBER
Drove up to the majestic Pineta Valley, our hike took us alongside waterfalls, peaceful meadows of La Larri with cows and horses and the voice of a marmot with breathtaking views overshadowed by the wild north face of Monte Perdido and its shrinking glacier. A stunning last walk in the Pyrenees not spoilt at the start as I wasn't looking at the ground, fell over a rock and rolled sideways on to the stone path viewed by a group of people, no major injuries! Added to that the cow that took a dislike to me and started to charge, not a bad last day!
FRIDAY 11 SEPTEMBER
Left our lovely site at 11.20 and had a pleasant easy drive to Lumbier, 100 miles. stayed again at Camping Iturbero for 21 euros. Sunny and warm had walk up into Lumbier and discovered they have 2 supermarkets almost opposite each other .
SATURDAY 12 SEPTEMBER
Arrived in Zumaia, Oh no! campsite full for Saturday. We booked for Sunday/Monday and the helpful site man told us where to park for the night, just over the road in an industrial site with lots of campervans and 3 big rigs. We haven't dry camped for years but it was fine. Had a lovely afternoon walked along the side of the river into Zumaia where we discovered a huge triathlon was taking place. Great to watch!
dry camping
SUNDAY 13 SEPTEMBER
Had a lovely walk both ways along river while waiting for 12 to get in site. Camping and bungalows Zumaia a great site. Roy went up and said ok to go, all in by 1pm. Walked into Zumaia and saw 2 churches and the coast.
IGLESIO DE SAN PEDRO
MONDAY 14 SEPTEMBER
Great last day, we got the train to San Sebastian took 38 minutes and spent the day sightseeing. A superb city.
IGLESIA DE SANTA MARIA
SAN VINCENTE CHURCH
PINTXOS BAR BIGGER THAN TAPAS AND GORGEOUS
THE BELL OF IGLESIA DE SANTA MARIA
ANNE IN OLD TOWN
ROYS 3RD ICECREAM
TOWN HALL
CATHEDRAL OF BUEN PASTOR
ROY HAD PADDDLE
ROY WITH FAMOUS CHEESCAKE
And that's the end of our fabulous holiday probably the best one in Europe.
Big thankyou to Roy for all his planning and walks.
