Dodging Processional Caterpillars, Flamingo’s, Ospreys and Sheep herds on the way to the beach.
There are many great things about staying inland in rural Spain; one of them is that you get to put the e-bikes to good use. There are plenty of roads and tracks through the beautiful El Hondo Nature Reserve and beyond. Running, walking, or biking is a joy in this area, which offers a mixture of low and higher terrain challenges. The El Hondo Nature Reserve is huge, of course, as the perimeter road is 56km in length, and approved paths and cycleways criss-cross the lagoons and lakes.
You’re never quite sure what you will get, of course; migratory and regular residents are evident as you pass through the park. Flamingos are present in numbers at the moment, both incredible and graceful whether standing in the shallow water or in flight. There is a large number of species in the water, but don’t worry if you don’t know your birds of prey from your common ducks; there are plenty of information points with pictures and names displayed so the general admirer can quickly identify the species.
There are also numerous viewing platforms offering elevated vantage points to oversee the various lagoons and lakes. However, as we cycled through the reserve, both Ospreys and Marsh Harriers swooped overhead effortlessly, rendering the need for elevated platforms unnecessary. Regrettably, lacking a telephoto lens, I must rely on my words to depict the captivating scene of a family of Marsh Harriers engaging in playful aerial manoeuvres.
This daily spectacle has become a cherished part of our routine as we explore this area through daily walks and runs, a practice we intend to maintain for the duration of our stay.
Once we passed through the estate of the reserve, we ventured into the coastal regions, densely populated with Pine Trees, where we encountered the dreaded processionary caterpillar—a significant concern, especially for dogs, as contact can often be fatal. We observed full nests and processionary tracks, prompting us to warn other dog owners as we proceeded. If you’re uncertain about the risk, I encourage you to research the subject online; it's quite daunting, particularly for dog owners, but it also poses substantial health risks to humans. Fortunately, the issue did not seem to affect the Nature Reserve, as far as we could discern. Information on protecting your dogs from processionary caterpillars is available in our video on the subject here.. https://youtu.be/T6346Y7qIsU
We embarked on a fourteen-mile outward journey of easy riding, traversing minor roads and trails until we reached Playa de El Pinet beach. The electric mountain bikes effortlessly navigated the trails, transporting us to one of our favourite beach spots for coffee.
We are staying at Camping Alannia Costa Blanca, and we have been visiting this site and its surroundings since 2017, and it's always a joy. It's a great place to spend the winter and take a break for a while; constant roaming can be draining, and the benefits of staying in one place and getting to know it have proven themselves many times during our travels.
It's also been a pleasure to meet people who watch our YouTube Channel; it's always nice to say hello. The map below shows the location of the campsite. You can find more information on the website linked below: https://alanniaresorts.com/es/resorts/alannia-costa-blanca
As I write, we have explored over 100 kilometres of the local area on our e-bikes this week. Although public transport options such as buses, taxis, and rail links to Murcia and Alicante are available, the e-bikes have nevertheless proven to be a tremendous asset here. Thank you for reading our blog. Best wishes and safe travels, Helen and Martin.
