TUDELA

The alarm sounds at 5am and after just over two hours activity we are sitting in the car at 7.21am and off on day one of an eleven week journey. This morning we travel north past Alicante and Valencia, turning northwards as we pass around that city to follow the route of ‘The Mighty Ebro’, towards the town of Tudela in Navarra. Our stay is for two nights is to allow a break in the journey and so that we can explore.

On leaving the Mediterranean coast and as we turn northwards the scenery becomes prettier and eventually the altitude is over one thousand metres.  Everywhere there are yellow New Hollands, red Massey Harrises being followed by green tractors with blue trailers waging a war against a never ending horizon of cornfields. We pass countless cattle complexes and can only guess where the labours of the harvesters will end up. Modernity has meant that the old stone falling down buildings with their terracotta tiles of varying hues have been left – just to fall down.  

Arriving at the modern ‘bed4U’ hotel after listening for ‘mama’ having the odd fit because Spanish roads do not always agree with the authoritarian voice GPS inspired Satnav we turn her off to neglect her until we need ‘her’ again. It is now 2pm and 39C. Later exploring the green fields that Rio Ebro has allowed to be made productive there are White Storks in fields with Red Kites and Marsh Harriers zooming around in a very gusty wind. It was like standing in front of a hot fan oven with the door open.

Fuelled by the Chinese Wok our beds are calling, for in the morning it is another 6am start to see what is about before the heat of another day makes it difficult. While sitting in bed having the first tea of the day we start our birding for there are families of Storks lording it over us from their lofty pylon homes. So our day has begun and the Ebro shines in the early sun. Later on it is Las Bardenas Reales with miles upon miles of wind sculptured strange shaped towering  monuments of layers of stone. Strange it all is. Heading for back there is an excellent view of a first/second year Golden Eagle and then a perched Short-toed  Eagle took off and displayed for us. A beer on the way home was a necessity.

An evening jaunt allowed us to see two hunting Marsh Harriers but the strong wind saw us return early. I am sure that there is plenty more to see but maybe next time!

   

WHERE ARE WE TO!

We arrive in Portsmouth on July 4^th and spend two nights in Chichester before spending a boozy weekend in Hove with our good friends Neal Ball and Robbie Wells, including an evening at The Bluebell Railway for some Real Ale and Brass. 

On 9^th July we are travelling north eventually ending up in Bamburgh on 13^th July where we will be visiting the Farne Islands and catching up with some relatives.  From here we go to Harrogate for a Crime Writing Festival.

Rachel (John´s daughter), Claudio and the grandchildren will be joining us for a crazy week in Yorkshire.  We spend one more week in Yorkshire and then we have two weeks in Norfolk.  Hopefully, with some good days out bird-watching and catching up with some friends.

On 17^th August we head to Rutland Water for the Annual Bird Fair.  We are both looking forward to this as we have never been before and we are booked on a boat trip around Rutland Water with Simon King.

On 24^th August it is Sammi’s (Michelle’s niece) 18^th Birthday so we will be spending time with the Hipwells!

Finally we are spending the first two weeks in September in Woolhope, the village where John’s grandfather was born.

We then return to Spain!

PRELUDE TO OUR TRAVELS

Welcome to our blog for our travels northwards via Tudela to Bilbao. Our route takes us along some of the course of the mighty Rio Ebro where we will see what is flying. One of the towns has nesting storks and that will be worth seeing.

Once in Bilbao there will be a visit to The Guggenheim where there is an exhibition of David Hockney’s work. This area is new to us and in two days it will not be possible to do it justice.

 

We only have four days in Spain before we embark for Portsmouth on 3^rd July, arriving on the following morning.

This year has just ramped away and now it is only six days before we leave home. Most of the packing has been done and the excitement is mounting in anticipation of eleven weeks of travel, visiting locations and people.