Another summer begins

It has been a pretty busy month  since my last post. Paul’s recovery from his Vuelta Espuna day is finally complete and any pain issues he had have vanished enough for him to talk of entering next years event! We finished the season with some cracking summits of both Pedro Lopez and Alhama de Moron as well as a lovely walk below el Bosque.
With the walking season over for VistaVerdeTrails in Spain, we have decamped to the UK so Paul can avoid the 40+ temps we had throughout out July and August last year. We hope to get in some walking as we visit the South Downs, Derbyshire and Devon/Cornwall so we will keep you posted on our exploits.
When we return we have a few new routes to try and are working on setting up a walking club for those of you that live in Spain or who visit regularly……….so watch this space, visit our website www.visivetdetrails.com or check out our face book page as more details will appear there as we develop the club.
For those of you who are not lucky enough to live in our beautiful part of the world, you can still come and experience a little of the walking Spain and in particularly the Sierra Espuna and surrounding areas has to offer by booking your VistaVerdeTrails walking holiday. We offer various options to suit all budgets from Self Catering to 4*, full board, accommodation for more details go to www.vistaverdetrails.com/?Accommodation .
Whilst we are away, sadly we will miss lots of the summer fiestas, but for those of you in Spain or those visiting, remember to check out www.simplynetworking.es for your what’s on guide to the region of Murcia. It provides great information about what’s going on, how to get there and what time it all starts (but remember, this is Spain and just because they say it starts at 9pm doesn’t always mean it will ;0)
I’ll leave it there for now and look forward to the Birling gap, Seven Sisters and the South Downs our first stops in the South East of England!

Vuelta de Sierra Espuna 2010

I just don’t know where the days/ weeks/ months go. It’s been ages since my last post, yet it seems like just the other day.
Since the last time I wrote Paul has indeed completed the 2nd years event “Vuelta de Espuña“.  This event is organised by the Totana walking club. The inaugural event was last year, but after it’s two successful outings, looks set to become a fixture in their walking calendar.
This years route was some 60 km (approx. 36 miles) and had a cumulative drop of some 4400 vertical meters.122 participants started the walk. Not only was this a demanding distance over some hilly terrain, the participants were also required to maintain a minimum rate required by the organizers of 4.5 km / hr.
It all started when the alarm went off at 4am (I thought the Spanish only did that hour when partying into the early hours) Paul & I (in sympathy) got up and Paul made his way to the pick up point for 5am. From here a coach took the participants to the start point at Casas Nuevas .
At about 7am, they were off. It was billed as a walk not a race, the only rule being you couldn’t overtake the lead guide. However there were 5 of them undertaking a stage each and most of the participants were in light weight gear with only bum bags (so I think they were seeing who could go fastest!)
Before long it became clear that this was going to be tough…..Paul had met up with the only other English participants somewhere near the start and they stayed together until the finish line laughing, joking and generally jollying each other along. The weather, which had looked like being hot, although some cloud was forecast, turned out to be a real mixed bag with mist, sun, with highs in the mid 20’s and a hail & thunderstorm in the afternoon. So something for everyone!
The first participant crossed the finishing line at the Sanataurio Santa Eulalia in 8 hrs and 50 minutes! At very healthy 7km an hour. The first woman was in 5th and Paul and his walking partners finished some time later but still a very creditable 13hrs.
The whole event was brilliantly organized & executed by the club, their partners and the 42 volunteers on the day. There were regular food and drink stations and a lunch stop with a choice of beer or wine with your food (how very Spanish). So congratulations to all of them!
After arriving home I of course waited on Paul hand and foot whilst he nursed his aching muscles, swearing never again. The next day he rested  only undertaking light tasks, but by the Monday it was back to normal, blisters or no blisters and he seems to have come through the whole thing with no visible scares. This is despite really not doing enough training specifically for the event (not something we would recommend!) Paul is of course pretty fit, and does walk regularly up to 25km a day due to the nature of our business, but for next year a full training programme will need to be devised…………but I thought he said never again, well they all say that don’t they 8-)
So maybe you too should start your training plan for next years event…….normally it’s on the first weekend in May. For more information contact us at vistaverdetrails.com
On this very athletic theme, my Cousin Jo also completed the London Marathon - so Well done to her anad all the other participants in this iconic event.
Hasta luego