GR221 Camina Per Mallorca. Day 4 - Soller to Deia

This morning’s faff was complicated by the fact that last night we had persuaded Rafael that this morning rather than walk to Porto Soller, we all wanted to experience the tram. As they only run once an hour, timing was everything, needless to say in the last few minutes before the tram reached our embarkation point there was a lot of shouting and not a little panic and strange looks from locals passing by.

Today was to be a ‘short day’ a bit of a rest day after the hard day yesterday and another one tomorrow. So we wandered around the port area, the old town and meander around the harbour past the beach, the bars and hotels up to the Lighthouse on the Cape at the entrance to the harbour.

 From here it was a very pleasant walk through trees and low scrub and rocky outcrops, and the inevitable fruit and olive trees until we reached the road near to the big farmhouse Muleta Gran. Walking along a small road we soon came to and crossed the MA-10 to take a track passing a large house/restaurant , the path from here leads along a good track passing through farm and woodland until we hit the MA-10 again, following the GR221 signs through a small village we ended up on the road running between Deia and Cala de Deia. We waited for the tail to catch up and headed down to the Cala, a lovely little beach, cliffs, boat launch ramp and bar.

While Phil, Bob, Mary, Pete and Rafael went swimming, Sandy sat on the beach, Andy and I headed for the bar and a wonderful couple of hours were had by all. But, we had to pay for our leisure, as between the Cala and Deia was a long, winding hill to climb. It was a slow walk.

Eventually having seen Robert Graves (WW1 Poet) House/Museum and his Grave at the Church we left the Canucks at their hotel while for Rafael Andy Pete and I headed to the Refugi de Con Boi.   

Pete, Andy and I shared a two bunk room, Rafael was in another. Again, clean with excellent facilities and great food. In fact the evening meal of meat balls and potatoes stew was, for me, the best meal of the week without question.

Later over beers, we discussed with Rafael the next day’s walk from Deia to Valdemossa and onto Esporles. Andy was suffering with his knee (a pre walk injury) and although he wanted to complete the highly rated first part to Valdemossa, he was unsure of being able to walk the second part of this section. We also brought up that at dinner in Soller Mary and Sandy had expressed a wish to spend some time in Valdemossa doing the kind of things ladies do when there are shops and art galleries etc. to look at.

Finally, subject to agreement with the Canucks, we agreed that we would all walk to Valdemossa and probably get a taxi from there to Esporles.