The Cami De Cavalls - DAY 7, 15th June - Mao to Es Grau (Stage 1 to Es Grau) Total Distance 10km

After a lovely nights sleep at our temporary 3 night base at Hostal Isla in the centre of Mao, we were up early for our breakfast and keen to get going. Except... Hostal Isla doesn't do breakfast in the usual fashion! It's actually more like a morning café for the workers and guests (only us two guests at that time of the morning). So the option was coffee and croissant or .....croissant and coffee! It was a little odd at first but after a minute it was quite interesting seeing all the characters coming in saying hello - having breakfast then off to work. Nobody could understand what we were doing there in full hiking 'get-up' !!

Today would normally be the first day of the walk (hence stage 1 in the book) this is because it is normally easy to come from the airport and set up in Mao as your base - ahh but those people don't have JSSS do they :) So, this would normally be day one and stage one - and to help the novice walker get used to the course, today is the easy stage 1 of a mere 10km. Today is also a special day for us because while we are walking the Elves' seniors are arriving from home - Ann, Ron and Lil are on their way. The plan is for us to do the walk - JSSS will pick us up at Es Grau (the end of the walk) and whip us away to a British Legion fundraising tea where we will be let loose on all kinds of cake (and tea). If that isn't an incentive then what is?

15th June 2016, 6:36am - Day 6 - Start of Stage 1

After breakfast we got out on the road at 6:30am - and we were treat to a beautiful sunrise over the port - really lovely, so we took a long time taking it all in! There was no one on the roads except a very jolly street cleaner that Elvis was chatting away to. Normally, these streets are so full that it's difficult to get along, but today we have it all to ourselves.

15th June 2016, 6:38am - Day 6 - Stage 1

The road above the port with the sun just coming through.


15th June 2016, 6:40am - Day 6 - Stage 1


Looking back along the port with the sun just catching the front of the buildings along the port - I love it !!.



15th June 2016, 6:48am - Day 6 - Stage 1

This building caught our eye about half way along the main port road. The building is named 'Pedro's Boat', but looking at the stone near the top, it is named in the original stone work as 'Electrica Mahonesa'  - maybe an electric sub station of some sort. But, more interesting is the familiar looking statue on the top of the building. Does it look familiar - it should.... see the next picture.

15th June 2016, 6:48am - Day 6 - Stage 1

Doth my eyes deceive me or is that the statue of liberty?? What makes me wonder is that the other statue of liberty (the one in New York) was erected in 1886. The date in the stonework of this building is dated as 1892. Only 6 years later. However, what doesn't seem to fit is the statue of liberty standing on a electrical sub station? 

15th June 2016, 6:52am - Day 6 - Stage 1

One of the many colourful fishing boats in the harbour.

15th June 2016, 6:58am - Day 6 - Stage 1

This would normally be the first board you would see on the Cami  - if you did the walk according to the book. We've probably walked passed this many times without looking at it - from now on we will give it a familiar nod as we pass. 

15th June 2016, 7:15am - Day 6 - Stage 1

Having walked all the way around the port (through an industrial looking loading bay too) we are now on the opposite side of the harbour, looking back over to Mao.

15th June 2016, 7:30am - Day 6 - Stage 1

Unfortunately a lot of the walk was along a fairly busy road the ME3 (not when this pic was taken). That's Mao in the background. A little bit further along this road and we take a left onto a much quieter road with lovely views and towards the little fishing village of Sa Mesquida.

15th June 2016, 7:51am - Day 6 - Stage 1

This is the last part of today's walk on the road. We are now back to familiar territory, cliffs and sea - this part of the island has a lot of dramatic coastline and is not as touristy.

15th June 2016, 8:02am - Day 6 - Stage 1

We saw some osprey and kites along the way and also this strange looking duck. I believe it may be called a 'Mute Duck' but I don't know why!.

15th June 2016, 8:12am - Day 6 - Stage 1

Looking back along to Sa Mesquida. The prominent building is of British design and like most things built by the Brits has origins of war - this one is a defence tower built in 1799. 

15th June 2016, 8:13am - Day 6 - Stage 1

If you look carefully, you can see the path going over the cliff in the distance. A beautiful breezy walking day - and again - look no back packs!!

15th June 2016, 8:15am - Day 6 - Stage 1

The Cami's most famous post!! Perhaps. It was a long time coming though but that was because the first hour of walking was on roads - the cami posts are usually only used on the paths and tracks (we're starting to sound like experts eh?)

15th June 2016, 8:15am - Day 6 - Stage 1

Back to the beach and what a lovely little spot - just leaving Sa Mesquida beach.

15th June 2016, 8:16am - Day 6 - Stage 1

The walkway is to protect  the purple glassworts and tamarinds but mainly because this area is prone to flooding and this low area is generally wet lands. One thing nice about a walkway is that it's very difficult to get lost!!

15th June 2016, 8:31am - Day 6 - Stage 1

Climbing the cliffs that we spotted earlier. The walk along the cliffs was superb with lots of birds of prey flying around too. 

15th June 2016, 8:33am - Day 6 - Stage 1

At the top of the cliff  - a good spot for a celebrational selfie :)

15th June 2016, 8:35am - Day 6 - Stage 1

Another Hermann's tortoise crossing the path.

15th June 2016, 8:41am - Day 6 - Stage 1

A panoramic view looking back over Sa Mesquida from the high point.

15th June 2016, 8:44am - Day 6 - Stage 1

Once we get over the top of the cliff, we can see our destination, just behind those cliffs lies the little village of Es Grau. Elvis by this stage has almost broken into a little canter because she knows there's lots of cake behind them thar cliffs.

15th June 2016, 9:10am - Day 6 - Stage 1

One of the hazards of walking first thing in the morning through paths that cut through trees and bushes is you often end up with a face full of spider (and all the trimmings)! Keith was nominated lead walker after Elvis got one in the mush.

15th June 2016, 11:12am - Day 6 - After the finish of Stage 1

Unfortunately no pictures of the finish or all the cakes - you'll just have to take our word for it, they were AMAZING!! We met JSSS and Ron at Es Grau as planned and then we were whisked away for a fabulous afternoon tea at Dolly's house (see above pic) for lots of fantastic cakes, pies and tea. We met lots of lovely people who were interested in the trip - so far. Dolly was a fantastic host and I've promised her that I will volunteer to be her butler any time :) She said I can move in :)