Unscheduled stop 2

We left Cholet with a fully working clutch, or so we thought. Once we entered Spain it was a problem again, so we had to visit another Ford garage, this time in Salamanca on the remote high plains. We managed to reach a campsite just outside the city, where we demounted Muy, ready for a week at least while the thrust bearing and clutch are replaced.

This time we hired a car and visited some local National Parks as well as the centre of the city itself.

Perena de la Ribera

The Pozo de los Humos waterfall, west of the city and near the border with Portugal, which was impressive from the viewpoint.

And even better from close up! Dee is in orange for scale.

We also visited La Sierra de Francia further south and in particular La Alberca and Mogarraz.

Lots of Jamon (Ham) for sale.

Mogarraz is famous for the portraits painted on the walls of the houses of previous residents. The portraits are based on photographs from a local photographer who took the pictures in 1967 to help provide his neighbours with national identity cards.

A very cute but shy kitten!

This is the Pena de Francia at 1700 metres with beautiful views all around. There is a monastery up there, on a pilgrimage route and currently covered in snow! We saw a wild boar (nearly run it over), a mountain goat with baby and some huge Griffon vultures.

We are really enjoying our unscheduled stop in this area - and loving speaking in Spanish again! Between us we manage quite well :).