Comments on: 203. Dream beneath a desert sky – Pechina Canyon, Almería, Spain

By: Roads

Roads — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:53:06 +0000

Thanks, BB. Yes, indeed -- the scenery here reminded me very much of West Texas, where I had the pleasure of exploring McKittrick Canyon in the Guadalupe Mountains on a geological (not running) trip once. Beyond these hills lies the Tabernas area where the spaghetti westerns were filmed. Huge open vistas, mesas and the desert stretching out for ever. It could easily be New Mexico. If you're keen to run here, then that can be arranged -- either at the time of the Almería Half Marathon at the end of January, as here, or in the (much harder) annual race each December. That event follows a circuit ascending steeply from Pechina along the road to Los Baños de Sierra Alhamilla, and then back down to the village through the canyon. That sounds gruelling. Antonio has run and survived it, as reported here: Subida a los Baños de Sierra Alhamilla. Many thanks again.

By: ebwrite

ebwrite — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:41:28 +0000

Roads, the photos remind me a great deal of Palo Duro Canyon near Amarillo, Texas — hopefully I’ll get to run through Pechina some day. So many canyons, so little time …

By: Roads

Roads — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:12:52 +0000

Thanks, Peter, and I’m glad you enjoyed this article.

Many of the new golf resorts along the Spanish coast have unsold properties now. Let’s hope they don’t spoil the canyon with development.

By: peterK

peterK — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 13:47:46 +0000

Great and very interesting article. Not much in favour of a golf course, though.

By: Roads

Roads — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 11:20:15 +0000

Yes, Sweder -- a memorable day indeed, and one which was remembered in the legs for several days to come. Thanks also for the loan of your scenic panorama of Pechina Canyon as featured at the foot of this post. You captured this desert perfectly. From several hundred metres ahead of me. Many thanks again.

By: sweder

sweder — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 13:35:08 +0000

Ah yes, and I was there, wobbly legs negotiating perilous drops and unforgiving boulderlettes along the dry river bed. What fun! Even more so when it ended in the smokey wee bar in Pechina.

My kinda sortie, that.

By: Roads

Roads — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 12:09:08 +0000

Many thanks, Rana. I loved Sevilla. It’s a fantastic city — the hottest in Spain in more ways than one.

The Almerían desert lies in another part of Andalucía, around 400 km and a four hour drive to the east. The area lies just inland of the southeast coast, in the rainshadow of the Betic Cordillera. And if you’ve ever watched any of those Clint Eastwood films, the scenery will be very familiar to you.

By: Rana

Rana — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:18:52 +0000

Beautiful! When I was last in Spain, in Sevilla, we didn’t have much opportunity to leave the cities (no cars). I shall have to make an effort to visit this area next time!

By: Roads

Roads — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 12:14:31 +0000

Thank you, Antonio.

Golf courses in the desert — that would be completing the Californian dream. Or nightmare — depending on how you look at it. Let’s hope it never happens to your beautiful and rugged landscape..

Saludos desde Londres… y muchas gracias !

By: Roads

Roads — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 11:11:38 +0000

Hi, Silver Fox — it’s good to hear from you, and thanks for the link and the great idea. I’ll take your advice.