Category: Spain 🇪🇸 Andalusia

Once again mainly I relearnt that, too much organisation is never a good thing. As they say, ‘Adventure begins when certainty ends’. Discovering resourcefulness, ability to adapt in all situations, struggle is my friend. If everything is planned certainty will never end. Run with a vague framework. I like that.

Organising my packing system takes a week to perfect (sort of).

I brought some stuff I didn’t use, applies to this trip only:

1. A mug or pot, I used one, but could reverse.
2. Coffee maker.
3. Coffee
4. All cooking equipment.
5. A T shirt.
6. The paper map.
7. Paper map holder.

I probably could have done without the rain fly on the tent. I reckon that’s about it, that would have freed up a lot of space for food.

I could possibly have done with a pair of evening shorts.

Always rely on local knowledge, thanks Tom Kirk, who runs cycle camps based in Órgiva, for telling me about the Alpujarra region of Andalusia, and for putting me in touch with Alpujarra Bikes who sorted my back wheel.

Buying a rack called ‘expedition’ and not really trying it out before the trip is not a good idea if the makers idea of an expedition is getting across the border to Derbyshire from Yorkshire. Grrrrrrrrrr. Bin for that.

Carradice Super C Saddlebags are great, still wish I had bought the Camper long flap though.

Rest of the bag setup was great. 3 litre water bladder in the half frame bag was perfect. I could carry 5.5 litres, I still ran out twice.

Even the front bag system worked, much to my surprise.

The new Sinewave Beacon was great, charged my external battery enough to make me think it’ll be a good investment.

The Reilly Gradient still is a beauty to ride.

Gutted my Keen spd Sandals have broken. They don’t make them the same any more.

I could have done with my GoPro, there were some days I would have loved to have filmed some long sections of my rides.

Blogging with a phone is good.

Bikepacking is frustrating,

• As there is less space I am limited in the amount of fresh food I can carry.
• Practically everything has to come off the bike at night.
• It takes much longer to pack up every morning.
• It’s much harsher on the bags I use, causing more wear and tear.
• Zips are not a particularly good form of closure.

I’ll definitely be going there again. 🙂
There may be more but bed is calling.

As you get closer to Malaga the campsites become a living hell. People have permanent slots, with full on houses in the allotted pitch, full size tv’s, ghetto blasters, music till way after midnight. Now I’m a man of very simple pleasures and going to bed early is one of them, so all this late nightness didn’t sit well.

I still woke up at 7ish packed and got out fast. The campsite was still humming with communal snoring.

I stopped for breakfast.

Early morning roads are the best and the quiet road and cool breeze suited me just fine. I set the Garmin on Malaga and followed it’s directions.

Entering Malaga I looked from side to side seeking a bike shop, one came up on my left, Recyclo Bike Shop, and I swung in.

Talked to Greg who was from London I asked and received a bike box for my return to UK. That’s the hard bit of my day done. Now all I have to do today is sightsee around Malaga till I want to pack up and get to the airport.

Then I went for a coffee at their other shop in the centre of Malaga.

Then I cycled back to the original shop packed up my bike.

A last day made easy by finding an amenable owner of a bike shop.

I’m sort of a day ahead of schedule so I thought I’d do a bit of a loop between Órgiva and Lanjarón then cruise down to the coast and near to Málaga.

The route took me past Beneficio so I was intrigued. I turned and turned again I hiked the bike, I pushed, I lifted, I dragged, I sweated bagnabit I sweated, I swore, I got angry, I got scratched, I slipped and bounced down a slope…. I turned back, and hit the road.

Lanjarón is a beautiful little town, there are some run down bits but, they had put the flags out for me so I liked it.

After coffee, I put the bike on the road and rode to the campsite, got in about 6pm. There were some hills, some of the scenery was great.

I felt a bit gutted to leave my campsite the view the swimming pool the whole atmosphere.

I had been told the pass over Pico Veleta may still be iced over and impassable but I went there anyway and if it was closed I would turn round and ride to Orgiva the long way (that would have been 130+ km and I didn’t want to do that.

I went out of Gűejar Sierra, over the bridge and started a set of climbs of such brutality, 22%, 19% I saw on the signs, thanks Espania like I wanted to know that. I dropped my head and pumped my legs to a slow rhythm, it’s never good to be in so low a gear so early in the ride. 30 km of this is gonna be a bitch. Then I turned a corner, stopped for a coffee and the incline turned benign and it seemed to stick with that for the rest of the way.

There’s a stop point where the cars stop and only walking (and cycling) onwards. It’s 10km and 1000m higher. I shot a cafe solo and carried on. It’s at this point the wind whips up and at points blowing me across the road, I resolutely stuck to the middle as much as I could.

This is the highest paved road in Europe (so they say) the tarmac near the top gets pretty sketchy but I slalomed through.

Then the tarmac stopped and it’s rough and tumble puffing a bit more but still a regular spin on the pedals. I did have to stop rest my head on my handlebars for a moment or two to catch my breath. The last 100m the bike on my shoulder I scrambled to the top.

Proud to be wearing OCC at the top of Pico de Veleta.

This ascent is a mere bagatell to the main event. There’s a gap in the ridge and as you go through the scene is breathtaking.

I could see the path winding it’s way across the landscape. The snow covering the path, I reckon I can walk that.

I started down, the snow cold as it squeezed through the holes in my sandals, oh and they are broken as well.

I thought there would only be a few snow drifts but they carried on… 100m long and so steep I had to lean hard in to stop tumbling down. I saw no other cyclists or traces of their wheels in the snow.

Then it was down down down 100% concentration for 15km so fantastic.

NO REALLY PLAY THIS IS 2 MINS OF FANTASTICNESS

Now if you remember I still had a broken spoke and the back wheel was starting to buckle, that Zipp course 30 rim is strong. I went slowly, no chance.

The path eventually changes to a graded gravel road, my least liked type of road, it’s sketchy, loose, and very dangerous on the hairpins. I talked to a Spanish guy who advised me to go slow, I laughed, but heeded his advice. Then I got the road and it’s just road stuff, nothing interesting here.

I spun into Bubiòn and dropped into Alpujarra Bikes Brian and Lynn, looked after me so well. Brian sorted my broken spoke, trued the wheel, replaced my seat clamp bolt, while Lynn and I talked bikes and living in Spain and I got a cup of tea. Thanks lots guys.

Both Lynn and Brian have not seen another rider come over the pass this year the snow has been so bad. So a first for the year.. and in OCC colours. (And the 3 of us are sticking to that truth)

What a fucking spectacular ride And day

My reward.

I try to make my days off real days off, so as little cycling as possible.

Now this time I lucked in with my camp site. Great pitches all close to flat, a clothes washing basin for each pitch, great receptionists, swimming pool, and spectacular views to leave me speechless.

We are at 1000 meters up and at night it does get cold. I brought a long sleeved base layer and some long johns and was happy I brought them last night.

There are still a few things I brought and haven’t used (or contrived to use).

Mind you they do like to charge for these facilities £22/night.

I couldn’t have asked for a better day, except…

What a start. I also ate 3 small yoghurts, and 3 nectarines.

Sufficiently fortified and with an unknown route to a campsite installed into my Garmin I rode off uphill through the town.

1 kilometre out of town and onto a gravel road. I didn’t tough another piece of tarmac till I rode into the town many hours later.

Oops, that’s not good. I ignored it for the rest of the ride.

Through some spectacular single track.

Glad I wasn’t hurtling too fast when I saw this.

The only sound accompaniment is the swift flowing of water over stones, the water was from the melting snow high in the mountains.

Then into the the mighty Sierra Nevada. A myriad of switchbacks hidden by foliage each rougher and steeper than the last.

Gone is the easy spinning of tarmac and welcome to the pain of each individual slow pedal stroke.

I stopped to check my distance I knew I had been travelling for a good bit, keen to know how far I had done, 5kms…. it’s gonna be a long day.

Near the top I checked how long I had been riding, it was then that I discovered I hadn’t pressed the start button on the Garmin…..I hope the route is recoverable.

At the top the views were spectacular, 2216 meters. No wonder I was knackered. The ride down was soooo good, worth every second of the pain of the accent.

I sped down desperate to lie flat for a second in the campsite………..it was closed, grrrrrrr

Another only 5 km away. I got to a town Guejar Sierra. Bought some water and while filling my water bottles I discovered this.

Finally I got to a campsite and am now pleasantly ensconced.

A slinky cruise into town for the usual breakfast. 🤗

I fired up the Garmin put in Guadix it told me Routing Error. I readjusted and put in a town at the half way point Baza. So off I tootled.

There was a long stretch of bike track along a disused railway line, the route was lovely. I had filled up my water bottles from the hotel tap, now some of you may think this is madness and in retrospect it probably was as it tasted disgusting. I struggled to find a shop but after a good few hours I found a restaurant. I ordered 3, 1.5 litre bottles, a cup of coffee and 2 tapas. Before the girl had brought me the coffee I had already drunk a whole bottle of water. I ordered another bottle, finished my food and went out to empty and fill my bottles.

When I got to Basa. I had a light lunch. Dropped in Guadix into the Garmin, still route error. So Google maps came to the rescue. I followed the phone along a fantastic track. Unfortunately a bit of it was next to the motorway.

I did have to balance my phone between my tri bars on the bar bag, held in place by a rubber band.

Into Guadix, sat briefly by the church in a park. Asked Garmin where a campsite was……..55km. Bollox to that. Bookings.com came to the rescue.

I know, I know, I’m sorry I have so slumped in your estimations. Gone is the hard man image. Now all you can see is a wimp.

That’s closer to the stipulated kms, I hope you approve now James.

Classic cycle tourist room, washed clothes and best use of the floordrobe.

I woke to a smattering of rain.

Off I set with a mind to do only a short ride but life never seems to work like that.

I got off the shelf for breakfast

I looked at the distance to the camp site on the map and decided way too short so I aimed for Albox. But on a mainly road route. Off I set happy as Larry

The route took me along a service road by a motorway. My road stopped here.

6 foot drop into a river bed. Obviously I lowered my bike down and carried on.

Ice cream stops have been the order of the day. Ride a bit stop eat ice cream repeat. Sorry no pictures.

Just outside Albox i looked for a campsite. Hmmmm 30km more I can do that. I rode on mainly along a dry riverbed. The road turned left and started to go up. I thought I would check the distance. The distance on the Garmin was fluctuating between 16 and 46 kms. 16 would be ok 46 no way. I re calculated 46kms it said……bollox to that I am now in a hotel……so expensive ….. I broke like a dried up twig.

But at least I can wash my clothes.

Cold poridge in the room, I washed my shorts and haven’t anything to wear.

I was going to wait for a morning roll. Glad I didn’t.

One of my favourite breakfasts could be a recurring theme.

The route took me off road,

The sun blazed like a demon I saw 35 on a farmica sign.

Happy lunch by the side of the road.

I spent many hours today walking and hikeabikeing it was real tough, and the bike and luggage is slightly too heavy for this type of work.

Today was a day made up of type 2 fun.

I plugged into my Garmin directions for a campsite and headed there. Unfortunately when I arrived someone told me it had closed ages ago. I was deflated. Pulled myself together and aimed up and away from people. I found a shelf.

I got there about 5.30 lay down and slept. I was so tired. No food (I had eaten earlier) lots of water.