Wenn du das erste Mal im Jahr einen Kuckuck hörst, und du hast Geld in der Tasche, hast du das ganze Jahr Geld.  So said the Hausfrau as we heard our first cuckoo of the year today.  This as we took our first walk of this Spring along the banks of the Guadiaro.

When you hear the first cuckoo, if you have money in your pocket, you’ll have money all year!  Sounds good to me, and I did have some on me.  But more valuable than money was the sheer joy of our wander through the springtime flowers and blossom between Benaoján and Jimera de Líbar in the Serranía de Ronda.

It’s a well-trodden route, but none the worse for that.  As we took the two-hour stroll beside Mr Henderson’s Railway and the still swollen River Guadiaro, we were astonished at the still evident devastation that had been caused by the winter rains and floods.  We also had the feeling that the blossom and spring flowers were a bit late this year, but, no matter, for it was, as ever, a lovely walk.

After two hours we fetched up at Bar Allioli near the station in Jimera where we quenched our raging thirsts on Estrella Damm and partook of the sumptuous buffet lunch on offer.  With accompanying music from Marcus Myers and a good natter with friends and acquaintances the three hours till our return train back to Benaoján and our parked car passed quickly by.

Then a quick drive up the hill and we were soon back home in time to pass a pleasant evening on the terrace before dinner.

©  Paul Whitelock