Spain Again! Walking 1

So As Alison and Carl headed home I’ve been on my own and I’ve been checking out some of the walks before my walking friends arrive just so we don’t have a repeat of the adventure in the Rio Chillar last year.

I’ll write about them as we go but, today I walked a trail we won’t be doing, for the main reason that it terrified me!

Maro is a small village outside Nerja along the coast to the East. My favourite beach is there! Today I however decided to look at a short walk along the coastline, around a nature reserve and then down to a tiny secluded beach. Simples!!
Its on All Trails as a moderate 2 hour walk. Not for me! It also said this makes a for good run, eek!

The start was fine, cutting behind small farms the trail is full of flowers then up a stone road and into the Maro–Cerro Gordo Cliffs Natural Park which I must say was rather lovely, it has obviously seen a fire in the last few years but the regrowth has started and it was full of small yellowish birds that I think are Serins (a bit like a siskin but more marked and browner back). I was mostly looking out for snakes but I only saw fleeting glimpses of lizards.

The area has lots of Mediterranean pines, carrob and other trees I couldn’t identify. The sea adjacent is protected too. I wish I’d stayed in this part.

It suddenly got rather busy, mountain bikers first, then a group of Norwegians collecting herbs ( so many to chose from) and finally a group of Scottish men out for a stroll, looking a bit lobsterish. All very eclectic!

As I approached the Torre de Maro  I bumped into the mountain bikers again who kindly took the photo below.

The tower is one of a series along the coast of 16th Century Towers built as a warning to invaders from the African continent. To me they are easily confused with the Molinas (windmills) that are dotted about sail-less, a reminder of another time.
Anyway this tower is close to what looks like a sheer drop to the sea but as I follow the path to the it winds around and down.
Now you may not know but my right knee has been an issue since last October and I’ve been having physio so its fine but, I’m now a bit wary and so I’m taking my poles everywhere even on easy walks just in case. Today I needed them. As the track turned down the ground was fine gravel scree and I began to slip. I stopped, opened up my poles and started down with the new found confidence of four pairs of legs!
I got onto a better track and carried on to a trail around the cliff which started out OK then I noticed a washed out area. It had been torrential rain when I arrived two weeks ago and I think this is the result. The path was there, people were obviously using it but it looked a bit precipitous and narrow. I went steady and I came out onto a better stretch.
Soon it started to descend again and became more problematic, although well marked it was dry and there was fine gravel scree everywhere. I placed my poles carefully but even then I slipped and knocked my knee. After swearing quite a lot I stabilised myself and carried on feeling very nervous. Definitely not bringing my walking friends here!
Once over that stretch I was rewarded with this beautiful meadow!

A little further on is the most beautiful little beach but I didn’t go right down to it. I was already preoccupied with going back. 

I text my Dad with my location and that the path  was treacherous, I was that worried about it!
I made it back slowly planting poles and feet with care. As I cleared the washed out area and rounded a bend, I met a runner! I yelled out “steady” as he skidded to a stop grit flying. He  passed me and continued running over the narrow precipitous part….maybe that’s where I went wrong, I should have run over it! Mad man!
Relieved to be back on the main path 3 hours after I set off,  I headed down to Maro beach. I landed in the little cafe and ordered something unusual for me …… a burger! It was the best burger I ever had! Just happy to be alive!