Purple PawPaw

Here I am at Edinburgh Airport on my way back from Orkney – photos can be seen on www.thefriers.co.uk

Its fab – working on my Acer Aspire One, listening to the radio with the headphones from my ipod – even the delay to the flight doesn’t seem quite so bad…

A couple of weeks ago I was out in Spain with my travelling companion Bettina. We are both feeling poorer than we have previously but wanted some sun, something a bit different and a bit of exercise. Bettina can always be relied on to find a bargain, sometimes to the detriment of having a good time, but this time she came up trumps!

We went on a 3 day break with Inntravel, a company I hadn’t heard of before. However all the people we met while we were away on similar packages have sworn allegiance – many return to Inn Travel again and again – so they are doing something right.

We flew to Malaga individually, as I left from Exeter and B from London, met and moved onto Seville by train. Our first evening was in a smallish hotel (that we had booked) in town, but we were able to wander around until fairly late and get going on Tapas – which along with coffee kept us fuelled throughout the trip.

Seville

Day 2 we got ourselves to the train station and picked up our car, part of the deal, a Seat Leon (diesel). We made our way out of Seville, following the excellent directions supplied by Inn Travel to Alajar and the Poseida de Alagar (full trip here). The room was clean and adequate but would not have been great if I had been planning a luxurious break away, but that was not the purpose. Excellent ,meal on the first night, as part of the package and breakfast everyday was also provided.

Alajar

We walked for two days, one day out of Alajar on a circuit taking us into the hills, around the red cork oaks and through pig territory and then back to the village. I was very taken with the area. Maybe the warmth at this time of year, but the food was marvellous, an area where people are concerned about the provenance of food. Having seen the pigs we felt we ought to see the museum of the ham – we possibly lost a bit in the translation, but it was still an interesting place, We were delighted with the smellorama which gave us the scent of the hams drying. After 3 days we could smell it on the air, not to mention seeing pig legs (with hooves still attached, and daintily painted in gothic black) in every hotel, bar, shop, meal….

Pigs snuffling for acorns

Our second walk was around Almonaster an intriguing town with a Islamic past, still evident in the church which was converted from a mosque, next to it the towns bullring.Our route back to Seville took us via a lovely last meal, shopping for treats to return with and wonderful Show caves in Alajar.

Almonaster

A few days more would have been lovely to fully relax, I would certainly go back, an unusual situation for me who rarely wants to return, but I think the full blast of summers sun would be too much. I would love to see the olive season and the chestnut season and there are bound to be fabulous foods around during the citrus season.

Have a look for more photos in Spain Oct 2008

When I was in my teens I used to cycle to school pretty much whatever the weather. Today I cycled to work – only a couple of miles across Exeter – but it was in the rain!

Somehow the rain penetrated every pore and I sat steaming for the next 2 hours. I don’t remember any of this happening to me as a young person. I don’t believe that waterproofs were better, or that rain was less wet…so maybe my brain has edited out the grimness of it all, or maybe I just didn’t care.

Either way if I want to continue bicycle commuting I either need to get up earlier or find a way not to get so wet!

Gordon and I have been canoeing of late – not the skillful kayaking type – but the floating down the river in a Canadian type – well I float – Gordon does all the work – and instructs me as to what to do and when.

We had planned a 4 day expedition on the Wye with Ross on Wye Canoe Hire Co. However there had been so much water for the days preceding the trip that we were unable to complete the second 2 days and instead had to abandon the adventure at Tresseck Farm on day 2 when overnight the river rose by 4 foot. However we did have fun and intend to go back and finish the trip at a later date.

Day One – Hereford to Lucksall.

I took very few photos this day as was too busy trying not to rock the boat – literally – and was bit disorganised. We did however see 2 kingfishers and a whole range of ducks, swans, geese etc.

 

Camping at Lucksall

Day Two – Lucksall to Hoarwithy

Able to take photos, although it was wet on and off so pictures are dark. We hardly canoed at all on this day as the river was running so fast – kingfisher count of 6, flotilla of swans of nearly 60 – amazing!!

My view for most of the day

 

Day Three – Hereford and Hoarwithy

Hoping the Wye would drop and the canoe people would let us continue we spent the day in Hereford, mostly at the livestock market.

Hoarwithy church

 

Auctioneer in action

Day Four – Ross on Wye and around

We had eaten and dunk well at the nights at Hoarwithy at the New Harp Inn and decided to go and find out to where the fantastic perry and cider we had been drinking was made. This took us to Ross on Wye Cider and Perry Co. at Broome Farm where we sampled considerable amounts of the good stuff, and purchased even more.

Lamas guarding perry trees

 I pottered off to Goodrich Castle in the afternoon

Day Five – Symonds Yat

Classic view

Although it was lovely to return to Symonds Yat and look at where we should have canoed the highlight was seeing 2 perigrine falcons in flight – not photograped – beyond my capacity and the capabilities of my camera!

It was a good trip and it felt as if we were away for a lot longer – I think the pace of the river slows you down and there is nothing to do other than float about on the water…highly recommeneded!