The hike starts in Ronda, city of Moorish origin built on steep cliffs and split by a deep gorge. Will need to get to Malaga, then take a train to Ronda, stay overnight and start fresh in the morning. Was a an early start from Brno but all went smooth and got to Malaga by 10AM. Then breakfast, stroll through Alameda street full of flower stalls, palm trees, and some bookshops:)....
The first day of the hike will take me from Ronda to Alpendeire. Some 20 kilometers through forests, valley and then over another valley to Alpandeire, one of the pueblos blancos, which are lining the valley of rio Genal. link to map Slow morning, but at 11AM I am finally leaving the gates of Ronda behind. The GR141 is not well marked in the city, but once the houses stop, it improves and never fails me....
The second day will start by crossing the valley, climbing up again and then traversing the opposite side of the valley through several of the pueblos blancos before dropping down into Rio Genal for night. Some 21 km and 720 meters of altitude gain. Link to map Sun rises pretty late in Spain (after 8AM) and I do rise even later. The spot for night looks really nice in sunlight, little grassy saddle above Alpandeire, guarded by abandoned finca and shaded by oak tree....
Day three is going south from the rio Genal to Casares, traversing the hill sides, dipping down to Genal tributaries, crossing them and hiking up again. Should be no villages on the way, but a lot of nature on this 22km day with 1400 meters of elevation gain. Link to map The morning starts really pleasant. The camping site staff invite me into the main building. The fireplace is already going and the girls take turns heating themselves up by it....
The fourth day will be a transition day, leaving the hills and crossing to the opposite side of the wide valley to reach the rest day destination Jimena de la Frontera. Should be some 26 km and mostly downhill, except for the final rise to Jimena. Link to map Getting up pretty early to start descending to Caseras. And then Casares pops into view. White houses perched on a top of rocky outcrop in the true Moorish fashion....
The route of a day six is very simple today. Get to the top of the mountains/hills which lead all the way north to drop me down in Ubrique. The whole journey to Ubruqie is 37km, which is out of my abilities, so I will just walk as far as I can and then sleep somewhere along the way Link to map The ascent took longer then expected, the path is not as well marked as the previous days, but once I am on the top there is a mirador with a nice vista over the wide valley I crossed two days ago....
During the day seven I will leave the natural park, get finally into Ubrique. Next, climb out of it and again and go up a hill to Benaocaz and the then traverse to pitoresque Villaluenga del Rosario. Will be a more civilized 25 km and 750 meteres of elevation gain even utilizing some ancient Roman road to get out of Ubrique. Link to map I am up before eight today, feeling I do not want to leave the sleeping bag....
The last day of the trip! Going through the pastures of upper land from Villaluenga to Montejaque, then last pass followed by descent to valley of Ronda and up to the cliffs. Will be some 26 kms, 670 meters of altitude gain, lots of sun and nice views. Link to map Managed to get up and on the way before 8AM (when the local hunters have a licence to shoot). The first part is a swift descent on the 4WD road to the Llanos de Republicanos....
Our journey starts at 1AM to catch a train to Vienna airport. Getting up is not pleasant, but it will give us more time in Spain. Our goal - Lagos de Covadonga, two lakes up in the mountains of Picos de Europa, are 250 km west from Bilbao; we better get a car at the Bilbao airport to get there the same day. As we drive along the coast on the highway, we decide to head inland already at Unquerra to see the canyon of Rio Cares....
Conference notes on the first day of the The New Cardiobiology 2024 organized in Heidelberg 19-22.2. Despite being the first edition of the meeting was super organized and packed with good talks. Keynote 1: Christine Mummery The efficiency of current pharmacological treatments is not very high. In fact, for 10 top selling drugs in US, for one patient which benefited from the treatment there are 3 to 24 patients who do not improve....