After enjoying this special and particularly beautiful part of Europe for a couple of days, we finally start our journey northwards today. We struggled a bit to find a suitable route, as accommodation options are limited once you move further away from the coast. Wild camping is prohibited in Spain and fines are imposed for it. In addition, most areas are "Coto privado de caza" or private hunting grounds, so we try to limit it as much as possible. Although further along the route it won't be avoidable...
But we have found a nice route! We start with the point where the ocean and Mediterranean Sea collide behind us, and walk through the old town. After walking through some small streets with quite a bit of activity for a Monday morning, we quickly walk out of the built-up area. We continue to follow the Mediterranean Sea for about 12 kilometers before heading inland. So today we really hike the last kilometers along the coast and take the very last coastal pictures, until at least after the Pyrenees. And what a wonderful route this is! We climb and descend along cliffs and hills. We walk among fields of countless yellow clover flowers, affodils, gorse and irises. Magnificent! More often, the path is cordoned off with fences, where passages for walkers have been created in it.
Normally we would easily fit through, but they are just too narrow for our backpack. Several times we have to take-off our backpacks, squeeze them through and then move on. Not exactly hiking-friendly... But if you want to walk in such a nice area, with the most beautiful view of the sea and Morocco on the other side, you have to make an effort from time to time.
The weather is fine today, but the wind is strong. The clouds are moving fast over the water. It gives the view a stormy edge. At breaktime, we struggle to get the water to boil. We sit at the foot of an old tower, a well-preserved structure from the 16th century that was used as a watchtower to spot pirates.
We continue our hike and enjoy the last few meters along the sea. When we turn away from the coast, we say goodbye to the waves and the water. It really started to mean something to us, after more than 600 kilometers of hiking along the coast. And it's an extra double feeling, because in this stretch we see the remains of dozens of rubber boats. It makes us quiet for a while...
Once we have put our backpacks back on and move on again, a tough climb into the hills immediately follows. The Spanish landscape quickly shows its beautiful side with a wealth of flowers, magnificent cork oaks and eucalyptus trees. It's the longest slope we've had since Sagres, but the wide, firm paths run well. It's also nice to hike in a completely different landscape. The last 2 kilometers we walk along a large and busy road, but even here we are surrounded by beautiful hills and meadows with cows and horses.
We have to get used to climbing that much again, but are super curious about what the next stages will bring and can't wait to walk further into the Spanish inlands.
