Autumn Walk

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An unexpected sunny warm day occurred yesterday (14th) so, deciding it was too good to waste, we quickly made up a flask of soup, grabbed some fruit from the bowl, brushed the cobwebs off our walking boots and headed for the hills. This is the mirador (“place to look from”) on the way up to the San Glorio pass. I’ve been greeting this lovely deer statue for many years now. He’s almost like an old friend.

The views from here of the surrounding mountains are stunning – particularly at this colourful time of year.

Over the pass at 1,609 metres asl and on towards the village of Portilla de la Reina in the province of Castille y Leon – allegedly the ancestry of politician Michael Portillo – park up, boots on, rukkie on and off up the track.

Plenty of Autumn colour around! Through this forested area we saw Long-tailed Tits, Tree Creepers and a running deer – all far too fleeting for my camera so you’ll just have to take my word for it!

At the start of the track we wondered why the ground felt so soggy – then we discovered the reason. The rain that we’d experienced lower down appeared as snow at this higher level, most of which had now thawed, but there were still several frosty pockets around!

Those chilly sections of the walk were soon forgotten amid the fantastic colous of the trees:

A lovely sunny meadow was just the place for our soup and fruit while contemplating the little house – nice to know shelter is there if caught out in the changeable Cantabrian mountain weather!

Picnic over we were now on our way down the mountain, encountering several rock crossings over the stream which were deeper than we’d experienced on previous walks. Happily no wet feet and we were soon through the brooding mountainsides and enjoying the views of small waterfalls through the bright rose hips.

A last photo of the patchwork hillsides and home for a hot soak in the bath! I always think Spring is my favourite time of year, but a golden Autumn takes some beating!

Hope you enjoyed walking with us. :o)

• 15 Nov, 2012
• 19 likes

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