Pure Brilliant & Alicia

"Wow! that was pure brilliant Tanya, pure brilliant!!"

I think she agreed too as she reached out and gave me one of her nose lick/kisses while being unhooked and lifted out of her green bucket/taxi on the back of our bike.

Today was the first time my trusty bike has been unloaded and used on this trip. Health-wise I've been nervous and have stuck to walking. I'm feeling better though. I think my health has improved which vindicates my self diagnosis and self administered prescription for all things Mediteranean.

'Nerja'. East of Malaga is where we are, Another favourite place. There is safe parking on the edge of town in a dirt patch down by the river five minutes walk from the beach. Not salubrious but adequate and quiet enough for Tanya to wander around freely. I was nervous at first as no other motorhomes were here, unlike last year when ten to twelve were on this same site all the time. I thought this year local police were maybe moving motorhomes on. It seems not so. I've been here three days with no problem and no sight of police or other motorhomes. Suits me fine.

Bike came off its rack and we set off for a gentle bike walk using the level cycle ways and beach side promenades. Turned out to be a big success which included a light lunch out at a beachside restaurant. We ended up cycling quite a long way westwards on the dead level and easy beachside track.

Right, I thought to myself. I'm not going to push my luck so it's back to Sadie for a rest up and cup of tea.

We did too, for over an hour, but then; well; I'd always wanted to follow the road/track up river further than the few Tanya walks we'd done. It's a good, well used track servicing riverside small holdings with veg growing, horses, and some building based businesses. And of course it very gently slopes uphill following the river bed as it wormed its way into the steep deep valleys and hills behind this narrow coastal strip.

We set off walking and pushing the bike. My idea was to walk as far as I felt comfortable knowing I had the free get out of jail card of bike plus downhill slope all the way back to Sadies door.

We soon fell in with an Irish couple out for a walk. What with chatting away and the warm late afternoon sunshine we ended up further up river than expected. I still felt really good. The Irish couple took a small road to the right which gave them a circular route back to 'Nerja'. Tanya and I continued  on to where we entered the 'Reserva Nacional de Sierra Tejeda'. Further and further we went even though by this time we were literally walking the wide flat river bed itself. Finally, the river bed narrowed entering a gorge. The path headed off steeply up to the right. Time to call a halt.

"OK Tanya, lets be having you and we'll head  back down." 

By this time she was quite happy to be offered a free ride. I can always tell as she leans herself against my leg waiting to be scooped up into her green 'taxi' bucket.

The ride back was the 'pure brilliant' bit. Gently sloping, rough and bouncy but just such fantastic fun. Down the river bed, splashing through the shallows, out of the National park, under the huge viaduct carrying the main A7/E15 coastal motorway and all the way down the well used tracks and occasional tarmac road until, swinging into the dirt parking area we arrive alongside Sadie safely awaiting us. I, for most of the way had stood tall and upright on the pedals with legs bent and acting as springs. I only had to pedal once, and very briefly at that. Tanya, even though she sits on a sponge seat and is clipped firmly in still bounces around a lot. She seems to love it, leaning out to one side with nose thrust forward and ears flapping in wind.

I've got a feeling we'll be doing that again!
- - - -
Laundry, water top up and of course the inevitable emptying of the 'black water' (toilet) cassette. Not a very exciting start to what turned out to be a delightful and very unusual 'Alicia' day.

Six kilometre's inland from 'Nerja' is the delightful hillside village of 'Frigiliana'. Sadie, after having to be negotiated through a too narrow street care of yours truly once again missing the correct turning, was finally and neatly parked. Off we went at a slow easy pace to explore this very steep, whitewashed and touristy Spanish village.

"Excuse me sir; do you know how I can get up to there?" 

The arm, i-phone in hand was pointing to a peak with what looked like a tower perched atop. It seemed from where we were standing to be directly above us albeit a long way up.

I smiled at this young Korean lady and indicated I was a tourist too. Off she went only for me to bump into her again as we, with like minds, sought out all the little roads, stairways and tracks leading upwards through the orchards and scrub pine forest. We fell in together, as you do, and finally fetched our peak with it's amazing views over village, surrounding countryside and beyond all the way down to the sea.

Alicia was a thirty year old, about to graduate, law student. She was an adventurer with a kind, open manner and youthful zest. With her trusty i-phone guide she was on a tour of Spain and Italy via local bus routes and hotels.

We chatted as we descended and it was agreed, over drinks, that she would love to ride to 'Nerja' in Sadie and would catch a later bus back to Malaga and her hotel. This was no problem as via her trusty i-phone all the relevant information was there for the asking, or rather, button pressing.

I tell you this. It puts a real smile on your face having a young and very excited Korean lady bouncing excitedly up and down in her ladyship Tanya's seat for a few kilometre's. 

"This new experience for me, this first time ever in motorhome. Wooo hooo!!"

We spent a lovely afternoon and evening around 'Nerja' before Tanya and I waved goodbye as her bus pulled away from the stop not two minutes from Sadies safe wildcamp spot.

Different culture, different age, different worlds but the same spirit of fun and adventure . A rewarding and enriching day. May you travel on safely Alicia.