DAY 3 - TARIFA to BOLONIA - Thursday 25 April 2024

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We were very excited this morning to head out on the GR145 (a long-distance walking path that we had planned to follow all day),  joining exercisers, dog walkers and school students along the esplanade.  

Eventually the esplanade gave way to a boardwalk, with the Atlantic to the left of us and hills with wind turbines straight ahead.  There were signs about nesting birds and we passed military bunkers as well as farm animals. 

After that we walked adjacent to the road for a way,  to get across the Jara river.  The path was always separated from the road by at least a metal barrier.  At one stage we had to make a short detour to get around a flooded underpass - remember the warnings from yesterday? 

The little red and white GR stripes (trail markers) led us into a beach side cafe, where we enjoyed chilled Fanta Limones and a sit down.  When we recommenced our walk,  we couldn't find any GR signs.

The tourist office in Tarifa had told us that we could walk along the beach all the way,  so eventually that's what we did.  We had spectacular views along the coast,  enjoying the wildflowers and occasionally surprising nude sunbathers, who may have thought they'd found a secluded spot.

We reconnected with the GR145 for the last kilometre or so into Bolonia. The path had turned into a shared cycle way and gone across the top of the cliffs,  so we'd probably found the most scenic route anyway. 

After checking in to our accommodation in Bolonia,  we explored nearby Baelo Claudia, well-preserved ruins of a Roman town in a magical setting. 

Heading out of Tarifa
A wooden boardwalk took us past an old military bunker
Looking back on Tarifa, the Isla de Tarifa, and the coastal hills of Morocco
Some of the farm animals we passed along the way
A close look at a relic from days gone by
The path went inland for a bit . . .
 . . . before emerging at a beachside bar
The rest of the day's walk was largely along the beach
Following the Atlantic coastline towards Bolonia
Spring wildflowers - a highlight of today's walk
Wildflowers by the beach
Happy to be walking
The surface wasn't always easy to walk on
Flowers at the old Roman town of Baelo Claudia
Some of the impressive ruins at Baelo Claudia. Entry was free for Australians. 
Some of the ruins at Baelo Claudia, just outside Bolonia
Day 3 - Map

Day:                                3
Distance:                       22.11 km
Walking time:               5 hrs  06 mins
Elevation gain:             390 metres
Cumulative distance:  23.53 km

Comments

  1. Murray and Sandra26 April 2024 at 06:54

    Love the wildflowers ... and you're setting a cracking pace even before you get into stride.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Aussie Slow Travellers26 April 2024 at 20:39

    The wildflowers have been amazing. We've recognised some we plant in the garden, such as marguerite daisies and borage. They cover a huge area and range of colours.

    ReplyDelete

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