The Rain in Spain.....

Overflowing dam at Margalef

Me on Lluis (5b) at Margalef

We headed south again, Blanca-bound, but decided to break the journey with a week in Margalef - an area renown for its hard climbing. There was loads evidence of the chaos created by Storm Gloria that had dumped three days of rain on the area after giving the Costa Blanca a pasting previously. Fallen rocks, flood damage, seepage, the overflowing dam - all very impressive. I managed to amuse myself on the cliffs mostly developed for 'beginners and children' - they forgot to add - 'and old folks'.
The town of Margalef is an interesting spot, ancient houses, narrow alleyways and all built into the cliffs.

Alan droning on again

Then it was onto the Blanca to a tower-block in Margalef overlooking the blue Mediterranean. Alan James arrived for a five day flier with the intention of getting a few routes in, but more importantly starting work on the next Costa Blanca book, due out in a couple of years, and training me up with drone flying to get pictures of the more inaccessible crags. It was a hectic few days, with up to four cliffs a day visited - but he is back in stormy Blighty now and peace has returned.