May 2013 - Costa Calida Chronicle

This month the WARM group enjoyed two
beautiful walks in the region of Murcia.
On the first, Saturday 23 rd March, our prayers
were answered - it neither rained nor were
we baked - the day had dawned perfectly for
walking and a very multinational and multiaged
group met at the Ermita de San Roque
north of Blanca, to go exploring the tracks in
the area. 25 people and two dogs completed
the route of just less than 14km. We set
off downhill towards Blanca on a lovely wide
track that’s invisible from the road, alongside
the Sierra del Solán. It was impossible not
to stop and enjoy the treat provided by the
intriguing yellow spiked flowers of the parasitic
broomrape Cistanche Phelypaea. Continuing,
we passed alongside the cemetery
until reaching the lookout platform over the
huerta of Blanca and the Rio Segura. Continuing
through the fragrant azahar of the flowering
citrus trees we stopped beside the Azud
de Ojós lake to enjoy the canine entertainment
of one of the dogs retrieving a cane six
times longer than her. After a leisurely meander
through the hamlet of Bayna we reached
the picnic area under La Navela and made the
long and gradual climb back upwards through
the pines, stopping frequently to admire the
views up the Valle de Ricote towards Abarán
and Cieza, and the distant remains of the last
Moorish stronghold in Spain – the ruins of the
castle of Ricote. Finishing the walk back at
the Ermita, we drove a very short distance to
our final destination and a warm welcome at
a local restaurant for well-earned drinks and
a three course meal.
The second walk was on Easter Saturday
when 20 people started in Ucenda and walked
through the Reserve De Selva in a loop and
returned to Ucenda. We stopped at an old
ruin and went inside to investigate. On the
walls, someone had painted a picture of birds
which were very intricate and colourful. We
continued on what had turned into a beautiful
day with cloudless skies although the wind
was quite strong. At about the halfway point
we stopped at some marble blocks and had
a picnic with homemade Hot X Buns - much
appreciated by all. On the return we stopped
to look at a lake that had formed since last
year’s Gota Fria and an eagle swooped low
across the water, circled round and disappeared
into the woods. We returned to the
cars having walked for 16kms, tired but happy.
Thanks to everyone who joined us for the
walk especially those who were in Spain for a
holiday. So nice to see new faces.
There are just a few walks left in May and
June, so if you are interested in exploring the
region of Murcia on foot with a group of likeminded
people please contact warm2005@
gmail.com for further information.
Route No 5 Benizar - Fuente de Arriba
- Scratch de las Cuevas
On 24 th March we started spring with the
Benizar tour, although it was “freezing cold”
and black clouds crowned the limestone mass
of the Fuente de Arriba. There was a chilly
wind but we intended to go into the depths
of this unique corner of Moratalla with a visit
to the disturbing Benizar petroglyphs, carved
millennia in this limestone area.
We went down to the village to visit some
of the streets of the mill, lovingly tended
by neighbours and we were surprised at the
presence of a plant called Venus’s Navel, present
in all the walls, which indicates the high
degree of humidity. This is not surprisingly as
the presence of water is constant in Moratalla.
We took an old trail that winds through the
gardens and lead us to the Rincon de las
Cuevas, a botanical enclave. Here the landscape
becomes surreal, surrounded by multicolored
cenajos, several habitats coinciding
in this area, so that biodiversity is awesome
with more than fifty species of breeding birds
seen, even today. We heard a nightingale
sing and a wren or finch whose local name
is piquirrojas chovas. The birds have started
their reproductive period and birds of prey fly
over the peak carrying some small trophy.
In the rocks, we also note that some spring
flowers are growing in the grass; violets and
hellebores are so pretty. We also admire the
paintings barely visible in 3 metres of soil and
ditches and a Muslim aqueduct.
We decided to have lunch in the shelter of a
large cave, well protected from the wind, before
heading to the Cueva de la Pila del Fraile
by an ancient path that passed by a damaged
raft before crossing the creek to observe a
sunset Natterjack toad. After a full ascent, we
excavated a stalagmite developed from the
persistent dropping of water from the roof of
the cave for millions of years. These cenajos
date back to the Miocene era and the atmosphere
is magical and spectacular.
We reached an old cattle pen in which we
observed a schematic style painting before
climbing the steps. Despite its length and verticality
June who is 75 years old, managed to
reach this ancient path. The end of the dizzying
ascent lead us to view a spectacular landscape,
before arriving at the forest of Sabina
which is dotted with plants such as lavenders
etc. that cover one area that collects a lot of
water after the springs feed the area.
In the distance the inaccessible Castillo de
Beniza is located on top of a small plateau
that we eventually
reached. We
went down some
steps and got to
the edge of the
foot of the cenajos
and descend some
new steps to go a
ledge with stunning
caves. The
new landscape
was breathtaking
and spectacular
and to top all a
female peregrine
flew past us.
We left this authentic natural balcony to return
to the cars, as it was time to go to Bar
Fofi, a restaurant that prepared a magnificent
banquet and the good wine Ulea Tertia. At the
end June and her friends said goodbye and
the rest of us decided to stroll by Benizar in
order to “reduce” the hearty meal with that
we had just eaten.
The next walks are:
12 th May – El Salero de Zacatin-La Torre
21 st May – Casicas del Portal-Calar de Sevilla
Tel 968 730 208
turismo@ayuntamientomoratalla.net
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