Day 11-17: Sporty in the mountains

Day 11-17.

Finding suitable parking or camping sites is sometimes easy, sometimes we spend a whole evening checking various apps and Google Maps for nice locations. The next stop is a lucky find and is at Marxuquera, a campsite that is committed to sporting activities. So we head there. Basically, though, you can "only" go climbing there and hang out by the pool. Nothing could be easier. The next day, in wonderful 25 degrees, Eva goes climbing and Chris entertains Lore. In the afternoon, the pool is checked out and Lore can't stop being amazed. Sooo many children and half-naked people. Great!

The sun is blazing down from the sky and in the evening we are chased by mosquitoes. To Eva's dismay, the bites develop into hematoma-like bumps and itch for a few days. After we desperately try to get the bite-away stick to work (oh yes, you should charge rechargeable batteries too!), we regularly rub the aloe vera paste on it. This relieves the itching for a while at least.

We continue towards the mountains to the Rio Tus. The campsite is secluded at the end of a lonely road. And lonely is a good description. We are the only ones on the site and have 14 toilet cubicles and 10 showers to ourselves.

The mountain calls again and Chris storms his first summit. Eva and Lore, meanwhile, go for another relaxed walk, but their relaxation briefly turns into panic when a wild boar with two piglets crosses their path in front of their feet 😱 They suddenly start yodeling to avoid an encounter with the wild boar. Enjoy the flora and fauna with all of your senses, but the "delicate" animals are a real challenge.

The next day also promises to be sporty and we get on our bikes for the first time. After a few initial difficulties (forgot the watch, the trailer rattles, the bike chain jams) we set off on 36km and 700m of elevation through the midday heat. After his 3-hour run, Chris is allowed to pull the 8kg Lore while Eva pants behind on the mountain. The route is amazing, we ride on smooth asphalt and Lore sleeps or looks around. After the mega climb we stop at a small bar and whiz down two non-alcoholic beers. We whizz back down to the campsite and we all agree: despite our burning thighs, it was a complete success. 🚴🙌

Now we're heading towards Granada, back into the mountains. Let's see what sporting achievements we can achieve there!

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