There's a certain feeling of 'counting your chickens' when you wake up for the last day of a challenge, especially when you're an experienced 9 day walker of medium distance! Today is 14K and the terrain has no nasty mountains or challenges, so maybe we were right to feel confident, we'll see! We had estimated the walk would take 4 hours, so we placed an SOS with JSSS for a 10am pick up at Binimel-la, because, as we found out when we started 9 days ago, Binimel-la is in the middle of nowhere!
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| 18th June 2016, 6:09am - Day 10 - Stage 4.2 |
Here we are on the 'alternative' trail at 6am in the morning, the sun isn't quite over the hills yet and it's nice and cool. We've walked the main road in and out of Fornells twice already, so, for a change of scenery, we are taking an alternative route suggested in the book, which follows the coast line from Fornells heading west and goes around the resort of Platges de Fornells before re-joining the main Cami route again at Cala Tirant.
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| 18th June 2016, 6:17am - Day 10 - Stage 4.2 |
From this gorgeous 'volcanic - moon scape type' route, we get beautiful views along the coast and in the distance we can just see the lighthouse at Cap de Cavalleria - the book suggested having a detour to the lighthouse, but we decided to do that as a separate trip in a few days time. You can just see the lighthouse on this pic.
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| 18th June 2016, 6:18am - Day 10 - Stage 4.2 |
The sun still hasn't rose over the hill just yet, so everything is nice and cool and we have the whole place to ourselves. The landscape is very rugged and we have to be careful where we place our feet as the stones are quite sharp - there is a worn path so most of the time it is ok.
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| 18th June 2016, 6:26am - Day 10 - Stage 4.2 |
The sun is now over the hill and lighting up the volcanic rock - in the distance is the resort of Platages de Fornells, from there we will head south and re-join the Cami.
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| 18th June 2016, 6:27am - Day 10 - Stage 4.2 |
Even though the place is mostly baron volcanic rock, it's amazing to see how nature will somehow exist in the meagre of conditions.
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| 18th June 2016, 6:29am - Day 10 - Stage 4.2 |
When you are wearing just sandals, you have to be careful when the rocks look like this - one wrong footing could mean a severely lacerated hoof!
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| 18th June 2016, 6:36am - Day 10 - Stage 4.2 |
The end of the beautiful coastal path - we're so glad we chose the alternative route. We now need to weave through the streets of the resort while everyone is sleeping off last nights excesses. We didn't see a soul!!
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| 18th June 2016, 6:50am - Day 10 - Stage 4.2 |
The big tree on the round-a-bout marks the point we re-join the Cami at Cala Tirant and head west and north towards Santa Teresa.
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| 18th June 2016, 7:01am - Day 10 - Stage 4.2 |
Leaving Platges de Fornells behind us along a beautiful board walk especially made for us - oh and I suppose other walkers.....
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| 18th June 2016, 7:13am - Day 10 - Stage 4.2 |
Here is Elvis graphically demonstrating the effects of walking up hills with a heavy back pack in the beating sun..... well, maybe she is over egging it just a touch!
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| 18th June 2016, 7:13am - Day 10 - Stage 4.2 |
We noticed that this walk was full of little surprises, we would turn a corner or come over a brow of a hill and see a different vista each time. This view back over the miles and miles of undeveloped countryside. The Cami mentions that this area has some of the most beautiful undeveloped areas on the whole island. We saw lots of beaches - mostly empty - don't know if that is because they're so remote - or was it too early?
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| 18th June 2016, 7:14am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
Look where we are - the start of Stage 5 - which for us is the last stage. It's all going too quickly!!
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| 18th June 2016, 7:16am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
Still smiling - We head inland through some lovely countryside for a few miles before heading back to the coast.
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| 18th June 2016, 7:29am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
Heading north now towards the fork in the road to the lighthouse at Cap de Cavalleria - more gorgeous natural coastline and a beautiful walking day.
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| 18th June 2016, 7:30am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
The landscape changes from shale and rock, hills to fantastic beaches and coves.
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| 18th June 2016, 7:44am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
Spot the fantastic safety barrier, Menorcan 'gate' style. I'm not sure I would trust it to stop me tumbling over the edge! Shortly after we took this picture we were over taken by a group of mountain runners - so we're not the only adventurers foolish enough to be wandering around this time of the day!
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| 18th June 2016, 8:24am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
This might not look like much of a picture - but this is a 'dig' for Roman remains at a Roman military encampment - this island has some amazing history. Rather than I write what it is all about, I've included a picture of the site information (next picture) if you're interested. You can 'double click' any of the pictures to see them full size if you're struggling to read. This is at Cala Del Port de Sanitja (the name derived from the ancient Roman villa of Sanicera), there's a road to the lighthouse from here, but that's for another day. We head South and West from here towards Binimel-la.
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| 18th June 2016, 8:25am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
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| 18th June 2016, 8:25am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
Looking back towards Sanicera, you can see a British defence tower from 1800. In this small area alone they have discovered; a wine storage room from the 1st and 6th century, a Christian basilica from the 5th century and a Muslim mosque from the 13th century. We made a little pile of rocks - from Hodgie and Elvis - 21st century.
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| 18th June 2016, 8:30am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
This is an 'over-magnified' picture on maximum zoom of an osprey! I (Keith) watched it with my binoculars (i.e. I 'binoculated' it) for a few minutes - truly marvellous. This apparently is the best spot for ospreys on the island.
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| 18th June 2016, 8:48am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
Heading along a chalky white path with a breath taking view just waiting for us at the top....
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| 18th June 2016, 8:52am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
The beautiful Platja de Cavalleria, note the path has changed colour to reddish earth and below us are the steps leading to the gorgeous beach. If we weren't in a hurry this would have made a lovely stopping point - but we don't want to keep JSSS waiting!
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| 18th June 2016, 9:03am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
Note again the change of colour of the path - back to chalky white. We are heading up probably the last climb of our adventure.
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| 18th June 2016, 9:06am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
From the highest point is a lovely view back over Platja de Cavalleria. From here it's as they say 'all down hill'.
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| 18th June 2016, 9:16am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
This is the last sign post we'll see on this trip - only 1.5k to go - anyone would think we're ever so slightly pleased with ourselves!
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| 18th June 2016, 9:21am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
Some little chap following us along the path.
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| 18th June 2016, 9:28am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
Still more fantastic views to the north behind us, it's hard to believe we've come all the way around there....
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| 18th June 2016, 9:34am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
Just behind that structure on the left of the path is the end of the stage - the end of our trip. Not far to go now.
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| 18th June 2016, 9:36am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
The last post of the walk for us - Stage 5 post number 127. Just round the corner, over the wetland walkway and up the long path to meet Steve/Janet at the road.
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| 18th June 2016, 9:49am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
Wait one second - what's this!! A welcoming committee! In the distance we can see Marion, Ann (hiding her face behind an ipad), Janet, Auntie Lil, Ron and Steve. At this point we picked the pace up and tried to look like it was all just a breeze...
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| 18th June 2016, 9:53am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
Here we are at the end point with our wonderful welcoming party. Suzanne is brandishing the very interesting 'one black sock' look!
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| 18th June 2016, 9:55am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
Time for a celebratory glass of fizz. Cheers everyone (except Ann who still has an ipad stuck to her head :)
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| 18th June 2016, 9:55am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
Elvis has never been known to refuse fizz - and this feels like it has been well earned!
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| 18th June 2016, 9:56am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
Cheers everyone!! Thanks so much for all the support and encouragement we have received throughout the last ten days, especially Janet and Steve whom without, the actual logistics of parts of the walk would have been more complicated.
We've absolutely LOVED our Menorcan Cami adventure. The scenery has been amazing, so varied, so beautiful and we feel so very privileged to have 'walked' this incredible island. We feel a real affinity with Menorca, almost like a special bond exists between it and us which will make our visits in the future extra special.
A before and after shot. Here we are on Day 1 at 7am, just about to set off.....
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| 18th June 2016, 10:08am - Day 10 - Stage 5 |
and here we are again 10 days and 185.4km later in the exact same spot!
After this photo was taken I (Suzanne) said to Keith, " how about in a couple of years we do it again but next time clockwise....... Watch this space!!
