May 19th to May 28th

The maps are back in favour! We used them to plan a walk along a mountain footpath which gave us spectacular views over the dried river bed (rambla) below. The path was originally a single track dirt road but has fallen into disrepair from rain damage and undergrowth. There are several ruined dwellings dotted around the mountains which the road was evidently built to serve. It was totally quiet, apart from the birds, of which we saw crested lark, tawny owl, red-legged partridge, serrin, Sardinian warbler and a stonechat shrike, the latter being a first sighting for us.


Back on the site, Bob & Mavis, the tandem cyclists, are coming up with more amazing facts. Bob was explaining, as he knows about these things, about a chap who built a world-class racing bike out of a washing machine! I asked whether he was planning to similarly construct a tandem, for which he would, of course, need a twin-tub!

May 8th to May 18th

We visited the abandoned army artillery base again, 8 miles away. The batteries used to protect Cartagena harbour 10 miles distant, but in 1993 the base was abandoned intact. It’s sited on a beautiful headland and you can look at all the military buildings, guns, underground bunkers and shell storage areas etc. It’s got to be a health & safety free zone – but most interesting!


Although the walking locally is excellent, you need UK style Ordnance Survey maps to really explore. But the shops here don’t sell them. However, I did find a supplier on the net. A few days ago, the maps arrived, having taken 2+weeks (the service isn’t likely to challenge Amazon). They’re not bad, not quite up to OS standard, but my real gripe is that 3 out of the 7 maps are 90% sea! You can’t do without them because the campsite is actually on the join of 4 maps, 3 of which contain these vital strips of land.

April 27th to May 7th

Since the last entry we’ve been on a boat trip around Cartagena harbour. Cartagena is a large deep-water port that, as you can see, can berth the biggest ships. It is also the main base of the Spanish Mediterranean fleet so there were many warships around. Naval manoeuvres appeared to consist of a several vessels leaving the harbour mid-morning and returning by 6.00pm in time for pink gins. Any war would obviously be fought mañana.

The site here is very well run – but it comes at a price. That price is Crispello, one of the brothers that own the site. He’s the hatchet man and has been known to throw people off instantly (that’s actually not quite true, you get 10 minutes!) for misdemeanours such as feeding the feral cats, making any kind of noise during siesta time, or disagreeing with his son.