ASTURIAS & GALICIA.... (Spain)

After we left the Fuente De, we drove the route Gargantas, the AS114 following the Salmon river, Limestone ridges around us, stunning scenery.

Mike photographed this little Nuthatch there.

The glacier waters so blue here,  tumble over rocks, through the river gorge.

From there we drove on to Covadonga, arriving at dusk, to see the Basilica, all pink in the evening light.

The following morning was sunshine and Mike photographed the Basilica, lit by the morning light. It is beautiful and tranquil here where Christianity was kept alive, in the caves, during the rule of the Moors,

who were driven out in 718ad by the Visigoth King, Pelayo, his sarcophagus is still sited in the shrine (now a chapel) in the caves in the mountain side, with waterfalls and a pool below.When you walk through into these caves, hew out from the rock, it is not difficult to imagine those Christians of long ago

meeting there in secret. There is a daily mass said here and Covadonga is a huge focus of pilgrimage.

All over this area you will see these strange buildings, so quirky, perched high on stones, for storing grain or maize.

From Covadonga we drove to the coast, where we spent that night at the delightful little port of Cudillero, where the houses are piled upon each other, all brightly colored, a busy bustling place, but so pretty. Asturias is a wonderful area, with its own language, full of diversity and beauty.

Close by a little Black Redstart joined us, calling for a mate, Spring is in the air!.

So we bid fare well to Asturias and voyage on to Galicia, ( the wild coast) Its early March and the weather is fantastic. Passing Ortigeira, we see the many Rias that this area is famous for, below is the Ria de Cedeiria.

We stopped at the Playa Frouxeira, that has the most wild and windswept beach, with great Atlantic rollers crashing in. Behind is a hidden world of salt marshes and scrub land, fantastic for birding.

Mike photographed me, photographing the sea, totally oblivious to the the danger of

"the seventh wave" the huge one that sweeps many an unsuspecting fisherman to his death.

I was lucky, it was only the sixth! I only had wet feet!!

(Mike did tell me all about it, but I in typical fashion ignored it)

Mike photographed this little Dartford Warbler the next morning.

and this Zitting Cisticola enjoying an early morning breakfast.

I photographed some of these extraordinary and beautiful plants growing on the dunes and so important to stabilise them. The colors and shapes against the sky, just stunning.

This is one of my favorite photographs Mike has taken of a female Stone Chat. 

She looks as though she is perched on lace!

 

Male Linnet guarding his wife, whilst nest building.

Mrs Linnet, with nest building materials.

Mr Cirl Bunting.

The next morning we drove up to the Punta Frouxeira, with its lighthouse perched high on the cliffs and what a sight awaited us! We were blessed with sunshine and good weather, it would have been a very different place with a storm brewing! The view was amazing of the surrounding coastline, as below us the huge waves crashed against the rocks.

A place like this makes you feel very small in the world of nature.

 

We bade farewell to this rugged coastline and traveled on, passing Santiago De Campostela, as we have been there before and are on a different exploration, arriving just north of Ribeira at Porto do Son, where we found a delightful campsite from which to explore the area. We were very lucky to have some excellent warm weather, unusual for this time of year.

The beach, with tidal lagoons behind and the huge Natural Park is a wonderful place for birds.

Below is a  beautiful Golden Plover   

More Golden Plovers, taking flight. These birds are some of many passing through this area

on migration.

Some of the beautiful wild flowers growing in the sand.

Mr Stone Chat advertising for a mate. 

I did my usual thing and wandered around the rock pools, looking for treasures

 and photographed these Star Fish. I have never seen so many! 

and these Sea Anemones, like jewels in the glistening water.

This cross among the stones, is a reminder of the those who have lost their lives to the

power of the sea and the forces of nature.

As the sun sets over the sea, we will remember this place, this Galicia, wild and beautiful, with untamed coastlines and its people and we will return.

PICOS DE EUROPA (Fuente De) Cantabria.

We drove from the Embalse del Ebro towards Santander on the N623, which was a very interesting road, with the longest and steepest descent, from 1100mts, straight to the bottom. At the top it was very bleak, snow poles at every 3mts, wind whistling about, they must get so much snow here. With our brakes red hot, we were relieved to get to the bottom and there we passed through near tropical gardens, with palm trees, what a difference! The Parque de Cabarceno is to be our night stop as we head for the coast and we arrive in dense fog and rain, so we sit and watch wet ducks on the lake!

What a shock in the morning! Have we woken in Africa? Elephants and Antelope! No, we just had not seen what was in the Parque last night, as the weather was so bad.

As we drive to the coast, we can look back towards the mountains where we have been. Santona, is our destination, a nice seaside town, with a lovely beach and good marshes for birding. The sun is shining and we walked out on the Marisma, where Mike photographed the Gadwell below.

Tufted Ducks over wintering.

And this Little Egret in  breeding plumage.

We will return here to further explore the marshes.

Now we head for the Picos, taking a very picturesque route through the gorge, with huge limestone cliffs all around us. This is a very winding and in places, narrow, road (N612) through the tourist town of Potes and upwards. The scenery was stunning and we make our night stop high up at Santo Toribio de Liebana, on the Monestery car park, where they allow overnight parking.

Some of the views around us.

Surrounded by snow covered peaks, it seems as though we are at the top of the world and all alone.

We wake to a beautiful sunrise and blue sky, wisps of clouds passing between the peaks.

Full of anticipation, we drive to the Fuente De, to ascend the highest peaks, arriving at the cable car station, where the cable car seems very small and the ascent very high.... gulp!

Looking down from our cable car.........!

Through the cloud to the highest peaks.

We arrive at the top and the snow is all around and deep, no chance of walking far, as it is also very compacted and slippery, but the view, it just takes your breath away.

There are some funny birds up there in the snow!!

and some lovely, friendly Alpine Choughs too.

We are so Choughed with our day!  

 What a memorable experience the Picos is, not only the beautiful drive through the gorge, but the

magnificent Fuente De itself.

LA RIOJA & CASTILLA-LEON

The smallest region of Spain is not named after a grape variety but one of the tributaries to the river Ebro (the Rio Oja) It is a very beautiful region, full of rolling vistas and vineyards growing the famous Rioja grapes.

We followed a road (LR113) through the Seirra De La Demanda, along side the Rio Najerilla, very picturesque is was. The narrow winding road finally became a track, where horses and cattle with bells around their necks roamed free. We bumped onwards through the gorge!

There we came across the submerged town of Mansilla de la Seirra in the flooded valley. Six Hundred souls lived here at the turn of the century, then permission to make a dam was given in 1935. The civil war started in 1936 and it took 25 years to complete, leaving just 100 people to bid farewell to their town when the waters closed over it!

The ruins are very eerie poking up through the waters. In the foreground you will see a big house, half standing, which was a staging post for the Grandee of Castille in centuries past. For me this photograph is amazing, it looks like  a Surrealist painting! (Mike has a Dali Moment!)

Two skeletal trees stranded in the basin of the embalse.

In the hedgerow Mike photographed some lovely Rock Buntings.

As it became late and the sky darkened with a threatening storm, we sort a stop for the night, eventually winding up to over 3,500ft at the Puerto Manquillo.

That evening a huge thunderstorm passed through the gorge below us, Mike photographed, I quaked!!

Surviving the night, we were so pleased to be visited by these Crossbills pecking all around.

Male Crossbill.

Female Crossbill.

Our next photo stop was the village of Orbaneja del Castillo, (off the N623 Burgos to Santander Road)

approached by a narrow road, with rocks like teeth towering above, quite magnificent. Linda stood in the road for you to give perspective.

Waterfalls cascade down through the village from springs that feed the great Ebro river.

Little narrow streets wind through this pretty village, steeped in history, but be warned, it is a huge destination for Spanish day trippers ( avoid weekends)

Travelling onwards we arrive at the Embalse del Ebro, where we hope to spend the night. The scenery is stunning, with a backdrop of snow capped mountains, little villages clustered below.

Although we came here to see the Ferruginous Duck (totally unsuccessful) we had a beautiful sunset!!