Helen Chats 3
Travelling through Spain has been quite a surprise to both of us. We had not expected such a large country with such diverse scenery. We drove just over 3000 kilometers, had only two wet days, a welcome distraction listening to the gentle patter of raindrops on the windscreen, no complaints from us-after six dry winters in a row and the current one going the same way- about not being able to get out of the car and take photos!!
We watched hawks hovering in the air streams waiting for either a juicy treat in the ground or another air stream to help them soar above the rocks and gain an even better view of the ground below.
The rock formations were quite spectacular- some covered in trees and others standing barefaced making silent guardians of the caves and holes just waiting to be explored yet visible from the road.
The landscape constantly changed with the rocks moving seamlessly into mountains and then around the corner into great massive plains of agricultural significance. These great plains of Spain whilst unfenced and unpopulated by either man or beast were impressive and sort of remind us of Australian landscapes. I was reliably informed at one stage that there was rubbish wild oats growing in profusion on the road verge and these would later present a serious fire hazard, unless controlled--and who am I to question farmer Harry?
Every now and then the fields/paddocks/large agriculture spaces were planted with sunflowers, by the acres. Just imagine the brilliance of these beautiful flowers in bloom, hundreds, nay thousands and thousands of happy sunny faces all moving around as they follow the sun!
We saw acres/hectares/dunaams/haras whichever measurement means more to you, of olives-hardly describable as groves-but as far as the eye could see at almost 350 degrees the grey foliage of olive trees, although somewhat strangely pruned. Harry's type of pruning-chain sawed through the middle to encourage low growing branches with quite prolific olive bearing branches the result.
Of course we also saw almonds, orange and cherry trees- all you would expect from a Mediterranean climate- yet unexpectedly prolific. Most of the agricultural land looked to be very fertile [no stock fences proved its value] so it came as a surprise to see so many abandoned farm house and buildings. These had been built in stone and it was a wonder that they had been just left to rot and decay. Signs of small farm consolidation?
There were many road signs indicating the presence of deer and also a strange looking cow that Harry felt was quite definitely a cow crossed with a donkey, as it was so badly drawn -and had proliferated everywhere, but we saw no signs of either on the roads and certainly no sign of the former on restaurant menus.
Amongst the agricultural landscapes we were very impressed by the Spanish uses of alternative energy. Numerous windfarms, and on the way into Barcelona there appeared to be a hundred of these strong silent guardians of the future, silently bingeing power to the people. And just as impressive were the solar panel farms we drove past and we also guessed from their locations that they were small private enterprises. Seeing a country with similar climate to ours making such good use of natural resources was most reassuring. the solar farms were outside of towns and it was indeed strange, but gratifying, to see hundreds of solar panels sucking in power from the sun.
Our days of driving were in huge contrast with each other--one day of vast plains and bare rocks and olives and the last big day of driving when I overturned the decision of Minnie the nav satty tom tom thingo and directed us through a very long and winding road from Toledo to Zaragoza. The route we took was of alpine beauty- hairpin bends and zig zagging roads, mountains on either side and a river meandering alongside the road--which of course must have been filled with fish waiting to be caught and either eaten or thrown back!! Harry's day dreaming here included he and Drew(his son) camping and poaching deep within the forests!! and often between the road and the river nestled amongst the trees would be tiny strips of verdant grass-great fodder for the deer we never saw. This was a day of driving that will stay fresh within our memories for some time--certainly a place to return to and explore.
Our last few hours of driving into Barcelona's airport reminded us of the fantastic quality of roads throughout Spain--we had driven a little over 3000 km in just over 2 weeks-the road surfaces were smooth, even the less significant of roads were easy driving, speed limits were barely adhered to, what traffic there was flowed fast-very fast! and smooth and despite any financial crises in Spain currently, there was much appearance of continued road building.
More to follow about the Southern towns.
And that’s all from him and all from me……
Helen Bryant
We watched hawks hovering in the air streams waiting for either a juicy treat in the ground or another air stream to help them soar above the rocks and gain an even better view of the ground below.
The rock formations were quite spectacular- some covered in trees and others standing barefaced making silent guardians of the caves and holes just waiting to be explored yet visible from the road.
The landscape constantly changed with the rocks moving seamlessly into mountains and then around the corner into great massive plains of agricultural significance. These great plains of Spain whilst unfenced and unpopulated by either man or beast were impressive and sort of remind us of Australian landscapes. I was reliably informed at one stage that there was rubbish wild oats growing in profusion on the road verge and these would later present a serious fire hazard, unless controlled--and who am I to question farmer Harry?
Every now and then the fields/paddocks/large agriculture spaces were planted with sunflowers, by the acres. Just imagine the brilliance of these beautiful flowers in bloom, hundreds, nay thousands and thousands of happy sunny faces all moving around as they follow the sun!
We saw acres/hectares/dunaams/haras whichever measurement means more to you, of olives-hardly describable as groves-but as far as the eye could see at almost 350 degrees the grey foliage of olive trees, although somewhat strangely pruned. Harry's type of pruning-chain sawed through the middle to encourage low growing branches with quite prolific olive bearing branches the result.
Of course we also saw almonds, orange and cherry trees- all you would expect from a Mediterranean climate- yet unexpectedly prolific. Most of the agricultural land looked to be very fertile [no stock fences proved its value] so it came as a surprise to see so many abandoned farm house and buildings. These had been built in stone and it was a wonder that they had been just left to rot and decay. Signs of small farm consolidation?
There were many road signs indicating the presence of deer and also a strange looking cow that Harry felt was quite definitely a cow crossed with a donkey, as it was so badly drawn -and had proliferated everywhere, but we saw no signs of either on the roads and certainly no sign of the former on restaurant menus.
Amongst the agricultural landscapes we were very impressed by the Spanish uses of alternative energy. Numerous windfarms, and on the way into Barcelona there appeared to be a hundred of these strong silent guardians of the future, silently bingeing power to the people. And just as impressive were the solar panel farms we drove past and we also guessed from their locations that they were small private enterprises. Seeing a country with similar climate to ours making such good use of natural resources was most reassuring. the solar farms were outside of towns and it was indeed strange, but gratifying, to see hundreds of solar panels sucking in power from the sun.
Our days of driving were in huge contrast with each other--one day of vast plains and bare rocks and olives and the last big day of driving when I overturned the decision of Minnie the nav satty tom tom thingo and directed us through a very long and winding road from Toledo to Zaragoza. The route we took was of alpine beauty- hairpin bends and zig zagging roads, mountains on either side and a river meandering alongside the road--which of course must have been filled with fish waiting to be caught and either eaten or thrown back!! Harry's day dreaming here included he and Drew(his son) camping and poaching deep within the forests!! and often between the road and the river nestled amongst the trees would be tiny strips of verdant grass-great fodder for the deer we never saw. This was a day of driving that will stay fresh within our memories for some time--certainly a place to return to and explore.
Our last few hours of driving into Barcelona's airport reminded us of the fantastic quality of roads throughout Spain--we had driven a little over 3000 km in just over 2 weeks-the road surfaces were smooth, even the less significant of roads were easy driving, speed limits were barely adhered to, what traffic there was flowed fast-very fast! and smooth and despite any financial crises in Spain currently, there was much appearance of continued road building.
More to follow about the Southern towns.
And that’s all from him and all from me……
Helen Bryant
posted by Harry Clements-Shepherd at
12:38 AM
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