This was our last Thursday walk before the Christmas
break. We decided to do this relatively
easy walk and to have our lunch break at the Cross above Senija.
Unlike the Monday walk, we never know how many walkers are
going to turn up for the U3A walk.
Being so close to Christmas we did think numbers would be low, so we
were very pleasantly surprised to have a total of eleven on the walk.
We arranged to meet Dee and Helen in Parcent, so that they
could follow us to the start point in Lliber car park. Due to a mix up we were late arriving in
Lliber. Dave and Sue had joined us for
this walk, so no doubt I will be reminded that I was late for my own walk for
quite some time to come.
We were looking forward to this walk. We had to cancel last Thursday due to bad
weather. We had to miss Monday walk due
to a hospital appointment. So we were
really pleased that we had such a lovely day for today’s walk.
Although the composition of the group changes each week, we
always try to find out who will be walking the following week. This week we expected there might be as few
as four of us. But by Wednesday we were
expecting at least six, perhaps due to the excellent weather.
Peter brought along Rita, who had not walked with us
before. She is Dutch, so it was
fortunate that Anneke had also brought her husband for the first time. As a result there were three Dutch walkers in
the group.
A chance meeting with Dave and Sue on Wednesday prompted
them to join us. They should have been
preparing for their Christmas walking group, who arrive on Sunday. But were pleased that they were tempted to
join our group instead.
Dee wanted to join the walk, but she also had to be back in
time to get ready for a Christmas drinks party by 5pm. I always think of this as an easy, and quite
short, walk. So I promised that we
would be back within four hours. Due to
the late start, and a longer than usual banana and lunch break, I would not be
able to keep that promise.
As we neared the Cross we heard dogs and soon spotted two
Spanish hunters. Fortunately, and
unusually, they were not using firearms.
The dogs were trained to catch rabbits, and we were greeted by one
trotting past with a large one in his mouth and looking very pleased with
himself. One of the two hunters spoke
very good English and was happy to explain the whole thing to us.
Due to our late start it was about 12.30 when we reached
the Cross, and settled down for our picnic lunch. It proved to be longer than usual. This was partly because it was very pleasant
sitting in the sun enjoying the view.
It was also because David kept us amused with his endless supply of
jokes.
It was 3pm by the time we returned to Lliber, an hour later
than expected. Dee had to miss the drink
in the square in order to get home and prepare for her drinks party at
5pm. The rest of us had a very pleasant
after walk drink.
This was the eighth walk of our Thursday Explorers
group. There should have been ten, but
two were cancelled because of rain. We
were fortunate to have excellent walking weather for the rest. There is too much good weather here in Spain
to waste a good walk on wet and windy conditions. We are
very pleased that the group has had such a good start, and that we have made so
many new friends. We wish them all a
very Happy Christmas and good walking in the New Year.
The next walk will be on14 January 2016. I will send out an email with details in the
New Year. New members are welcome, just
drop me an email and I will send details.
