Alcala Del Jucar to a large rock near Murcia (La Panocha) (197km), then onto Cuevas Andalucia near Baza (180km)

Leaving Alcala Del Jucar the landscape was changing again. Now in the Olive and wine region with the pale silvery hues of the olive groves shimmering across the landscape and the darker green lines of vines standing to attention in the midday sun. A rugged backdrop of mountains hunkered down along the distant horizon following us on our journey. 

 

Today we were heading for the rocky ridge of the Cresta del Gallo south east of sprawling Murcia. This ridge is punctuated at one end by the impressive tower of La Panocho (the Corncob). We had another hair-raising trip this time ascending up to a high carpark next to La Panocho for the night. My knuckles were white by the top as I sat clinging to my seat as the vertical drops next to the road seemed all too close for comfort, but the top was worth the drive. A stunning viewing point from the carpark gave us a panoramic view of the area and was even more beautiful when all lit up and twinkling at night.

  

 

We knew that the car park was not a designated Aire and hoped we would not be moved on, so when the rangers appeared we felt apprehensive, but they seemed more interested in a car parked up there and soon radioed police for back up. After much walking around this vehicle peering through windows and gesticulating, the owner then emerged from his walk and they all disappeared 😂

After this we thought we would be in a for a quiet evening. Walkers, cyclist and runners came and went as the evening passed. We had a BBQ supper and watched the sun setting over the viewing point and settled in to what we expected to be a quiet night. Not to be! At 1.20am we were rudely awoken by a car driving up right next to us and settling in for the next 2 hours with other cars following. Doors open, a stereo blared dance music out into the night, dancing, singing, drinking and generally harmless but loud fun, keeping us awake and slightly on edge for those 2 hours hoping no trouble would occur. Finally after 3.30am things quietened down and we finally went back to sleep 😴

We had planned for an early start to head up to La Ponocho and Climb in the cool, but we all overslept and woke up at 8am. Jack spent some time flying his drone as it was a hazy morning and quite cool, and we headed up to climb around 9.30.

 

We climbed 4 great routes over the following few hours, meeting a couple of other groups of climbers, and then went back to set off to our next destination.

More Epic roads and an awesome Driver 😉😍. All those year driving horse lorries down narrow country lanes with poor access into fields has set him in good stead for this trip.

Stopping en-route to empty waste at one of the many service points along the way. All set up for emptying grey water, toilet cassettes and refilling water tanks - all so easy and clean.

Our next destination would be our first Farm stay - an Olive Farm called Cuevas Andalucia, in the land of the Troglodyte Houses. Owned by Sam and Aurora who have been here for 13 years originally from France. As well as the olives, they have 5 troglodyte lodges they rent out, and 7 camping pitches. Immaculate facilities and a swimming pool 😃 to cool off in. His policy is peace and quiet and no parties, so after last nights revellers we breathed a sigh of relief and had the best night sleep since we have left, due to absolute peace and quiet. The other campers were all French and proper adventurers who stop here en-route to Africa in their 4x4's with rooftop tent boxes. Made us feel like right British softies 😂.

The drive to the Olive farm and our pitch when there:

 

An example of these amazing houses built into the landscape:

We planned our day over breakfast and had intended on cycling to Playa De Frella with a picnic for the day (a beach on the edge of a lake about an hours ride away) but on getting the bikes off the rack, Jacks turned out to have a flat tyre. We spent an hour mending 2 puncture having removed a large thorn from the tyre and finding another small tear,  but the innertube was beyond repair. We changed our plan and Jack gladly opted to stay behind with Winnie while Chris and I cycled to the nearest town of Baza, found a bicycle shop and bought 2 new innertubes (one backup). We stopped for a drink at a cafe as the heat was sweltering and then google maps took us on an extra long detour through sandy tracks that felt like the desert with air like a hairdryer, until we finally made it back to camp alive at 2ish and had lunch. We then settled by the pool for the rest of the afternoon and finally cooled down in the lovely cool saline water. despite missing out on the lakeside beach, we really did have a lovely day.