Bardenas Reales

In the morning the weather looked better, with only a few clouds left and only a few puddles left from the spontaneous river from the previous day. We started off in the Bardenas Reales Biosphere Reserve. A short stop at the information center, have the routes and times explained and get your first glimpse of the semi-desert at the first vantage point.

Some people might recognize the bizarre 415 sq km landscape, which largely consists of ocher-colored clay, from films and television (e.g. Games of Thrones).

After a few kilometers on the gravel road, I swapped Louise's steering wheel with the handlebars of my mountain bike. Because of the surface, we were traveling at the same speed. There were various photo stops for us along the 34 km long circuit and we also had a hearty breakfast. Practical if you have your kitchen with you!

Every now and then the ground wasn't quite as dry and so Louise, the bike and I looked similarly mottled at the end of the tour. There was a supply/disposal area nearby including a toilet and shower, which we used for an all-round sweep. An hour later, fresh water was filled up, waste water was emptied and we both showered again, wonderful!

To stay overnight we decided to stay at an olive farmer's place. The driveway to the farm was spectacular, lined with trees and flowers, with the olive tree fields beyond. The motorhomes can be parked around an artificial lake, with a view of the Bardenas Reales.