Following a little pre-trip research, I had a target in mind of a wildlife reserve called the Aula Natura de la Marjal de Gandia. However, today having been kicked off with a spot of  pilates -by Francine rather than by…

This trip through to Spain in August was inspired by several things. In no particular order, they were: to experience some proper Spanish summer temperatures; to see something of the Jalon fiesta (it’s a week long); to help our host…

When we were here at Jalon in Spain in early May this year, we spotted a pair of Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) beside Las Salinas, a lagoon in Calpe on the coast. I was a little surprised because the water…

After yesterday’s scare with our engine-shaped warning light in the car, today when I started the car all appeared to be normal. I’m going to be nervous for some time. As this is our first visit in the midst of…

Today was always going to prove interesting because we would be travelling through a large chunk of Spain for the first time. As it turned out, it proved a lot more interesting than expected. We’d chosen our routes to and…

After a day recuperating in the Marais Poitevin with Mike, today we were on the road again heading for the Pyrenees. Our target was a little walled town called Navarrenx towards the western end of the mountain chain. We set…

We are no strangers to the Marais Poitevin since it one of our regular stopping points in France, both to visit friends and to hunt dragonflies. It’s a flat, rural landscape perfect for exploring on bicycles which we normally have…

And now for something completely different. I had originally booked our usual ferry to La Belle France for June, plus the normal week or two either side. However, my subsequent deciding to stick around in the UK to get a…