It’s forecast to rain later, so we decide to move on . . .
After trying to fix the bikes, with only limited success, we packed up and set off for Huelva expecting rain later. After a ‘big shop’ at the supermarket we took the A-480 and A-471 to skirt Seville passing through flat farmland under an overcast sky with strong winds. There were scattered villages, a few herds of goats and we wondered what was being replanted in many of the fields – could it be olives? The promised big rainstorms arrived as we approached Seville where there were also huge traffic jams due to major bridge repairs – not a particularly enjoyable drive, especially in the very strong winds blowing the van to the point that we were treated to ‘Cross-wind assist’ being reported by the Mercedes system?! After a couple of stops for lunch, coffee, screen wash and LPG we took the A-49 and H-31 to Huelva where we stopped overnight at the free parking area beside the Muella de las Carabelas. The rain had stopped, leaving huge puddles and muddy areas over the carpark and we took an evening stroll to recce the area. Steve then re-created the tuna and tomato dish we’d had at a restaurant – with great success.
Tonight we’re back in the Doñana Natural Park after spending the day exploring Huelva. The Muella de las Carabelas is a wharf with full-size replicas of the ‘Niña’, ‘Pinta’ and ‘Santa María’, Christopher Columbus’ three boats he sailed on his first voyage to the Americas. Behind the carpark there’s the Monument to the Discoverers, a 55m column commemorating the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ first voyage. Built with brilliant white stone it is decorated with figures and scenes depicting American colonisation. This is in the grounds of the Friary of La Rábida. In Huelva we managed to park on the main road (after being guided out of the port are by a Guardia Civil, where we’d mistakenly thought there was parking) and took a walk along the Muelle de Río Tinto. This was a commercial dock used for the trade of material from the mines of the Rio Tinto Company Limited on the Rio Odiel. Originally built by architects Sir George Barclay Bruce and Thomas Gibson in 1876 mineral trains ran on the upper platform with general goods trains on the lower one. The dock until it was abandoned in 1975. The Columbus Monument, at 37m high and lit up at night is a spectacular landmark in Punta del Sebo as you drive in or out of Huelva. Erected in 1929, it is the work of American sculptor Miss Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney.
After leaving Huelva we drove along the south coast of the Doñana Natural Park to stay at Camping Doñana for a couple of nights. This would certainly not be our choice in the busy season – the site caters for 5,000 people in serried ranks of vans, tents, bungalows or other accommodations. At this time of year it’s ideal – we’re parked amongst trees and can only see one other van! A short bike ride brings us to an amazing stretch of deserted beach as far as the eye can see with the spectacularly crumpled Torre del Loro watchtower remains.
