Spain - Day 8: Near Isaba to La Mina

There was Big storm last night. No not that one. Another one. One which managed to rip three of our tent pegs out of the ground. I got wet trying to fix it but had to wait until morning to find the third peg. It had been thrown a long way. but the tents had held up and apart from me nothing got wet.

The plan today is to walk to Zuriza... but it seems a bit short.

Mornin' stroll - not a care in the world

It's definitely getting more Pyrenean the grassy bits are getting rockier at the top. This we guess is the real start of the beginning of the foothills of the mountains. Looks impressive no matter what you call them. Big and rocky and definitely a lot of upness to them.

Big grey things - Mountains

It's just a short hop to Zuriza so the plan is to have a rest day. A rest afternoon if you like. It was in the plan - rest for the wicked. A day every week, is what I promised. At least that was the plan. 

Unfortunately , we weren't really tired. 

Warning signs (ignored)

The weather as you can see is bubbly - but we weren't so worried. We hadn't seen the forecast and hadn't we survived the storm last night. I mean what is a bit rain anyway. 

So we walked. We got to Zuriza and weren't impressed. Nothing really wrong with it. We just felt sort of guilty really. So we had lunch in the campsite. Bought some provisions and continued. The day was looking good. We were feeling good. Who needs a rest day.

As we walked the mountains started to bloom. Lots and lots of blue flowers, covering the sides of the mountains. They have names but calling them would only detract from their splendor. And possibly highlight my botanical ignorance. 

Blue flowers

We walked on, on towards La Mina. Now, we knew that there was nothing there. Just a place with a name. The end of a road. So we thought as the weather is nice, the views beautiful why not camp in the mountains. Look at the stars. 

We found a spring and sat down to refresh and refuel a bit. Jelly snakes coated in sugar - bitter and wonderful. I went exploring - somewhere with a view to spend the night. I found the perfect spot. High above the spring, flat(ish) with a wonderful view down the valley and of the surrounding peaks.

The family by the spring

They went to have a look - 'too exposed' was the response. No point in arguing: three to one. So off we set. walking down into this beautiful valley. We found a flat(ish) spot near a stream. We ate - swatting mosquitoes - too close to the stream.

Then to bed - early, but we were sick of the mosquitoes. Too close to the stream.

Dream (apart from the mosquitoes) campsite

 The views were terrific. Surrounded by mountains. Finally.

The terrific view

There is a saying that 'in the mountains you can't see the weather coming'. Hmmm, heard that before. Well, we'd been in the tents about 30 minutes when all hell broke loose. Thunder, lightning, wind and rain. Tents sweeping from side to side like a stroboscopic fantasy.


Lying in a small tent, on a big mountain, counting the time between the flash (at least we're still alive) and the bang (but maybe not for long) to see how far away the storm is - not a pleasant feeling. Especially when you don't ever get to 5.

We lay there waiting to die. 

After about 30 minutes we sensible (and scared) adults decided it was time to move. We packed our stuff, then the tents from the inside out. Thunder, lightning, wind and rain.

Once we were pack, it stopped. But we were scared and walking at a slight run down the valley. To the relative safety of lower ground. Cursing myself for camping 'Exposed'. Like having your bottom hanging out of your jeans - its really not necessary.

We got to La Mina - the book was right. Nothing.

Well not quite nothing - mud, cow shit and one tent.

We started putting up the tents as full darkness arrived and the storm came back or another storm came along. Thunder. lightning, wind and rain. The weather although miserable was consistent. We dived into the tents and tried to sleep.

An hour, or so, later, out of the pitch black lights started sweeping across the tents. I looked out to see some very wet people looking for somewhere to pitch a tent. They were the leaders of a big groups which were littered along the path, up the hill side, like a big chain of Christmas lights. They had waited longer than we to make a run for it and were paying now the price.

Note to self: camp as low as possible, run early and run fast.

There was no room at the inn and over the course of the next hour they past us. Cold, wet but alive.