Meandering through Spain 2024

Arriving in the Els Ports Natural Park was stunning - the huge limestone massif seems to rise out of nowhere, with cultivated olive and almond growing in the plains below. It was truly spectacular! The weather was great too - around 20 degrees, blue skies, green pastures, and the first signs of blossom - it really felt like spring! We couldn’t help but think about the contrast with January back home ☹️ Els Ports Natural Park lies in Catalunya, and is home to the largest Ibex reserve in Spain. Also famous for golden eagles, the Iberian Lynx, and over a thousand botanical species. Hiking and biking opportunities are endless here, and we were keen to get started 😊 The awesome Els Ports Massif  One of the most famous walks in the area is through an amazing gorge deep within the limestone massif, following the river to where it opens up and forms beautiful pools of blue/ green water, cascading over the limestone rocks - Toll Blau. Parts of these waters are protected for the biodiversit...

Waking up to sunshine and warmth was a real treat and we were keen to get out and explore the area. We’d both been pining for some better weather - it’s been such a miserable winter (so far) back home, and we could definitely notice our moods lifting as we felt the sun on our faces 😃  Port Lligate lies on the tip of the Cap de Creus peninsula (Natural Park) next to the quaint old whitewashed fishing village of Cadaques. The coast is rocky and rugged, with beautiful deserted sandy coves - maybe wouldn’t be so deserted at the height of the season, but for now was lovely 🤣  Spent the day pottering along the coast, exploring tiny coves, testing the temperature of the water (mainly Ruby 🤣), and ending up in Cadaques. Nothing much open as mid afternoon, and out of season, but managed to find a lovely sea view cafe to sit and watch the world go by for a while. A very leisurely day - unwinding after the long journey down here, and enjoying the warmth 😃  Ruby taking every oppo...

Hoping for some better weather than what we’d been having in the UK we were somewhat surprised to arrive in France to a blanket of snow! Temperatures were freezing, not really getting above zero, but thankfully the roads were clear. For those in the know, thank goodness we had the “bloody sleeping bags” with us 🤣 We had planned for a leisurely meander south, but given how cold it was we decided not to hang about and to find warmer climes asap 🤣  So heading south we spent a night by a raging river, and just managed to catch the last of the sun before it set - still very cold though 🤨 Pottered along the river (still a bit of snow on the ground ) and over the magnificent bridge into the small town - nothing there, so early to bed 😂 A stroll by the river The last of the sun 🌞  All was going well the following day as we continued to head south, temperatures were starting to increase, and the journey uneventful, until we arrived just north of Perpignan where signs indicated tha...