Mountains

It’s been a while since I last wrote, and much has happened. The most momentus was the coming of a grand daughter. Quite a little distraction!!

Back to the last European Summer and some of its great ranges.

Rioja is one of Spain’s great wine regions and Horrow. The wines and food make it a beautiful gastronomic stop.

The Pyrenees.

It’s a short hop into the Pyrenees and the beautiful city of Torla.

This little village sits just below the Spanish/France Frontier and is an the border of the Ordesay-Monte Perdido NP

Montserrat

The mountain trip across Spain ended at the amazing Montserrat.

Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso

Gran Paradiso rates amongst my favourite national parks in Europe. Once the King’s hunting ground, it was then gifted to the people after the unification of Italy. From a breeding program at Gran Paradiso, the Europen Ibix has been re established in the European Alps.

There are some beautiful views on the walks.

There is often a beautiful mountain and mountainous road in Europe, but these were lovely mountains indeed

Exploring Ireland – Dingle

It was wonderful to be on the wonderful Wild Atlantic Way as I rode south from the Connamarra to Dingle. The twisty roads, quirky sights, and heritage references.

At Kilmer, the car ferry crosses the Shannon River, and it wasn’t long before the Atlantic mist started to roll in.

Connor Pass is one of the great drives of Ireland offering stunning views. But this was not the day!

It was into a damp Dingle I rode after slowly riding down from the clouds over Connor Pass.

But after unpacking the bike it was time for an Irish Red Ale and some good craic ant the pubs.

Music starts in the pubs around 6pm flows through to midnight. The musicians move from pub to pub mixing and matching with each other, playing all variations of Irish Music.

The next day, the rain stopped…

I started the day with a walk along the Dingle Bay out to the Lighthouse and its views out to the Atlantic.

Then a ride up to Connor Pass to see the view and what a view!

There is a waterfall just below the top of the pass.

Climbing up the cliff, there is Lake Pedlar an old glacial lake.

That night at the pub, I was lucky enough to hear the angelic tones of the Harp of Erin, the Irish Harp.

What a way to end my stay in Dingle!

On to Kosovo

From Ohrid, the route to Kosovo continued through the mountains of North Macedonia with Albania to the west and Kosova to the North.

The small village of Janche is nestled in the mountains of the Mavrovo National Park.

Where remnants of old Yugoslavian industry can be found.

Beside the new highway heading to Peje in NW Kosova sits the Terzi Bridge. A fine example of Ottoman architecture.

The destination, though, was the White Drin Falls in the Accursed Mountains near the border with Montenegro. A spectacular natural park. With the waterfall….

And limestone caves.

This area of Kosova and its border with Montenegro is home to significant forests of Spruce, Beech and Fir trees.

Just over the border with Montenegro is the village of Rozaje and nearby nested in the forest in the most beautiful camp ground.

These forests are the best I’ve visited in Europe, amazing old growth forests.

It was late September in the mountains so turning cold. But the welcome at Sastanci – Grahovaca was as warm as the fire and the home cooked meal fresh and delicious.

It was hard to find but worth it!

Morocco, back to the beginning and arriving from Spain.

It’s a quick ferry ride from Tarifa to Tanger and a long trek through customs into Morocco.

Many stories proceed a trip to Morocco- tourist touts, poor roads, mad drivers mint tea and the physical beauty of the country.

Tanger being the sea gateway to Morocco one both arrives and departs from Tager. So maybe coming in and out of Tanger is a good time to compare my cautious and naive thoughts on entering Morocco and the utter thankfulness that I had had a month travelling in Morocco ( I could have spent 3).

So after some sickingly sweet mint tea, some haggling with money changers and a very greasy omelette it was into the seemingly crazy traffic and on the road to Tetuan.

Coming up the the Atlantic Coast back to Tanger and the Ferry back to Spain. Asilah is one of the first towns in Tanger province with a small Medinain the old Portuguese fort right on the ocean.

Rubbish on the Moroccan Beaches and in the country side is a sad scare on the landscape and if you read the guides Asilah is about the worst. But Tanger province has made a big effort to clean up its beaches and as you can see in the photos

Cape Spatel is the most north western point of the African continent. The lighthouse is called the Hercules Lighthouse. The Greek legend is that here and across the Strait in Gibralter is where Hercules tore the African and European continents apart and let the Atlantic ocean flood in to form the Mediterranean Sea.

A little south of Cape Spatel is the Grote de Hercules where legend has it the strong man slept while undertaking the slightly daunting task of ripping two continents apart.

While I had been warned about Moroccan drivers I found it the safest place to ride but you need to understand the codes.

Let me share an anecdote.

I use a GPS it’s my guide but it’s not infallible. Coming into Tanger the GPS went to send me down a road the was blocked by roadworks.

As I was readjusting a scooter zipped past slowed down and gave me the slow down and follow me sign. A little way along the rider pointed to the road on the left. Gave a wave and zipped off. The road led straight to the port.

I’m sorry I didn’t see more of Tanger. Maybe next trip!!!!