Aragon
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Navarre and Basque Country…
1. As we continue our progress towards the West…
2. … we take a short break in a wind farm.
3. Around midday, we reach Urbasa Natural Park, a gorgeous karst plateau between 2,400 and 3,000 feet above sea level.
4. After lunch, we go for a walk there.
5. Cliffs…
6. Distorted silhouette…
7. Beautiful blue thistles dot these high pastures.
8. Dense forest at the Northwest end of the plateau…
9. …
We then head Southeast of Bilbao in search of a natural arch, the Oyo de Aizulo, in the Basque Country.
10. After a walk in a light rain, we arrive at the entrance of this magnificent double arch.
11. Its dimensions are quite impressive! Here the lower arch, probably around ninety feet high.
12. And there the upper arch through which you access the site.
13. The same from above.
14. Selfie ! 😉
15. The next day, after the rain stopped, we go discover an impressive waterfall, the Salto del Nervion which, with its 666 feet, is the highest waterfall in the entire Iberian Peninsula.
As a gate now prohibits access to the trail, it’s after an approx. 2 hours hike that we reach the site to discover a completely dry waterfall! Too bad, it must be quite impressive when the Nervion flows there.
The next post will be more “oceanic” with the arrival of VivaLaVida in the Bay of Biscay… 😉
Mallos de Riglos & Bardenas Reales
1. The next morning, we approach the “Mallos de Riglos”, superb red sandstone cliffs..
2. Riglos is the small village built at the foot of these imposing cliffs.
3. We go for a walk in the village…
4. … still deserted this early morning.
5. Towards the top of the village, you can clearly see the impressive height of the Mallos.
6. The church…
7. We continue our way towards West and discover other Mallos, here those of Agüero.
8. Driving towards South-West in the heat of the afternoon, in the village of Uncastillo crushed by the sun.
9. Arrival in the Bardenas Reales desert, one of the few deserts in Spain.
10. It’s over 106°F this afternoon.
11. With the northern access road washed away by a storm some day earlier, only VivaLaVida and 2-3 4WD vehicules managed to pass through the 15 feet deep canyon dug by the water. As a result, the desert, usually really crowded, is almost free of visitors! 😉
12. Some blooming due to recent rains…
13. Other places remain almost without vegetation.
14. Shepherd’s hut.
15. Ephemeral lake…
16. Hi Emile! 😀
17. The iconic photo of the Bardenas Reales!
18. Another shepherd’s hut.
19. A little touch of Arizona, isn’t it?
In the update coming soon, we will change scenery by continuing towards West and the Basque Country…
D5 Creation