Andalucia Day 49 Cabo de gata

The day starts much better because the sun is shining although the trees are already being blown around. We drive to the Playa Monsul car park and continue on the Sendero Vela Blanca, originally designed to be a road to continue all around the coast to the Cabo de gata lighthouse it is now closed to traffic. It's easy walking and fortunately we are sheltered from the worst of the wind most of the time. The views of the beaches and cliffs along the coast are spectacular, the sea is deep blue and the waves crashing dramatically.

We arrive at the tower and continue a little way along the coast the other side to get a glimpse of the lighthouse.

There are just one or two people around, on foot or by bike.

We get back to Playa Monsul and wander around a little but then retreat to the shelter of the car, strategically parked for the view over the beach, for lunch and in my case a snooze.

We end up going back to the same café in San Jose as the day before, the view was too nice, and today the coffee while still expensive is hot and therapeutic. On the way back we stop at Los Escullos and walk up the coast in the direction of Isleta de Mar, as advised by a Wikiloc itinerary, but the path keeps winding back towards the road which seems pointless so we turn back. Fortunately because in the other direction, beyond the castle we discover where Los Escullos gets its name.

A fossilized dune is now of fragile white rock eroded by the elements into myriad shapes and low cliffs, we wander around quite a while because it's a fascinating natural environment, but clouds are approaching and it seems late even though it's just past five.

On the way back we stop at Isleta, nothing special and the wind is picking up again too, time to call it a day.

Kilometres by car: 60

Kilometres on foot: 18