Boca de los Frailes

Squeezed in another run before it got too warm watching the misty sun rise, perfect. Once we got our stuff together, we left the campsite we’d been on for 2 days to continue onward with the journey. There’s a spot eastward along the coastal route in Almería called Las Salinas de Cabo de Gata where wild flamingoes stay. For some reason, Google maps took me down the back roads for the last couple of kilometres, a proper off road dirt/mud track. It was v bumpy but at least not as dangerous as the mountain roads. We saw some flamingoes but they were quite far away. My binoculars were great to see them though. Onward to a lovely cove called Arrecife de las Sirenas - mermaid reef. A lovely bay that you can snorkel in. We’d bought a snorkel that morning and it was so good to see all the marine fish under the crystal clear water. It was like swimming in a fish tank. Definitely a highlight. Hoping to do a bit more snorkelling as we move along the coast. Stayed there for a bit then drove on to our next stop. On the way we went round the other side of the reservoir where the flamingoes were and actually got a better view including seeing some juveniles too. Next stop was a volcanic crater in the mountains - crater del Hoyazo. Long erupted many million years ago but an interesting climb in and around it. There were loads of little stones that the locals call ‘sapphires’ but they’re actually almandine, a garnet type stone made through the volcanic high pressure eruption. I may have pocketed one or two.. we then proceeded on to the campsite, Cabo de Gata Camper, again in the hills and a fruit production area (lots of those greenhouses everywhere). Great inexpensive site, quiet but surrounded by cacti. Managed to get another gas canister refill at a bargain if a price so v happy. Cooked dinner but it was so warm after we’d eaten we ended up retreating in to the local bar to cool down and plan the next day’s adventures.Les mer