Towards inland, past Gibraltar - Ardales - January 13th

After a warm night (12 degrees), we miss the sparrows and only get up at 9 o'clock. We have a leisurely breakfast, pack everything up, and continue on our way. We are amazed by the mountainous landscape here and climb up. It is a beautiful part of Andalusia, with the mountains and the view of the sea, priceless. After a short time, we see the Rock of Gibraltar, but we pass it by on our right. It is supposedly not worth it and we have already reached the southernmost point in Tarifa. Besides, time is running out and we have to dig again in three weeks... and we are just a short distance from Africa... oops...!

At Marbella, we leave the coast and head inland. Our destination is the national park near Ardales. In the early afternoon, we arrive at a campsite in the middle of the park where there's absolutely nothing going on, and we get a lonely spot with a view of the beautiful lake, fantastic! That's how we like it... the complete opposite of the place in Tarifa. The lake has turquoise water and resembles the Lake Tenno in Canale, only much bigger! The dog takes a bath first, and we continue walking through the pine forest... what a beautiful piece of earth! Now we sit in front of the bus and look over the orange-red colored lake, enjoying the absolute silence and getting a little sentimental, as we become more and more aware from day to day that our mission is coming to an end... no homesickness in sight... damn! Unimaginable that we are really going home soon... is the six months really over? Don't think about it, we're still on the move. Tomorrow we want to explore the area and then I'll make sure that all this goes online! But for now, let's enjoy the evening in this beautiful place and prepare for a cold night (2 degrees are expected)! One last look at the starry sky and then, Buenas Noches!

We survived the night well, but in the morning it's quite chilly and the fog lies flat over the lake. At breakfast, it's so cold that I can't feel my toes properly anymore... I remedy this by using the hot water from the boiled eggs to revive them... it works!

Slowly the sun fights its way through and the temperatures rise, but no chance for shorts. Around noon, we start walking along a beautiful path by the lake until we reach the entrance of the Caminito Del Rey. Once one of the most dangerous hiking trails in the world, now, after renovation, a huge tourist attraction. Tickets are often sold out weeks in advance. Even now, in the low season, there's quite a lot going on. We walk on towards the dam, admire the fat carp in the water, and treat ourselves to a coffee in the sun. We return along the beautiful lake, the Embalse del Conde de Guadalhorce.

Now we're heading straight to the bar, hoping for internet so that this can finally go out. Then we'll have the leftovers from last night and then we'll probably go to bed early again, as the temperatures don't let you sit outside for long after dark... a taste of the winter temperatures at home...! Then we'll listen to the little owl and say goodnight to enter the land of dreams. Tomorrow we'll continue towards Granada to the beautiful Alhambra!