A Couple of Days Ride Outta…….

As I paid I pointed the direction I thought I was going. Of course it was the opposite way.

I one today was going to be a bit spikey and that’s exactly what it proved to be just under 2000m of climbing in 76kms no wonder I felt a bit knackered. 

The day was georgeous, hills and more hills minimal traffic. The roads had view points all along. You really cannot stop at every one or you wouldn’t get anywhere. The views were fantastic. In my new relaxed campaign I’m leaving at about 9am. Very little is open at that time, I searched for a cafe in 2 towns, it wasn’t till 11 and the 3rd town that I found a cafe, actually recommended by a woman I met at the top of a hill.

The road twisted and turned and finally I came to the turn off for Jimera de Libar where my camp site was. There were signs pointing to it so I assumed all was good. Deep down into a valley away from the main roads I was excited as most campsites are near main roads and are loud. I was looking forward to perfect tranquility.  I saw the flags flying out side. But as I drew up to the entrance the gates were closed. I heard someone inside.  I shouted hi, he shouted back Closed. I was crestfallen. 

But I know this can happen and I had already assesses the next campsite 27 kms away. So I sat down and had some lunch and set off up, up, up.

Into Ronda.

Set up in the campsite…. Next to a road.

I popped into Gibraltar,  rode to the lighthouse, had a coffee then rode out. While at the lighthouse a lady asked if I wanted her to take some photos. I gave her my phone and she bossed me around, over here, turn to the side, over there.  She seemed in a frightful hurry because she ran off to join here friends. I was sad I didn’t get to hear any if her story.

The border crossing I got stamped put of Spain then stamped I to Spain.

There were lots of cyclists out today, groups, individuals, slow, fast. Although I didn’t talk to any I did feel as if I was part of a collective. No other tourists though.

Because of this rather casual start to the day. I selected a close campsite. Always up.

I got settled in. Washed clothes,  had lunch @ 2.30. Then relaxed. I have eaten so much today. And 2 decaf coffees as well, really pushing the boat out.

I checked my bike setup, I discovered I think that my saddle is moving back as I ride. A week ago I shifted it forward now its slightly back. I moved it forward again, and put a bit of carbon paste on the rails hoping that will stop the slide.

Paul rode into the campsite. He’s been living in Girona and on his first bike tour. He seems to be enjoying it. He camped in the slot next to mine. No picture though. 🤷‍♂️

I have readjusted my route to a bit shorter. I’m feeling lazy and trying to take it easy.

On my week off I asked Becky and Iain if they could take a bag home for me. A bit bigger than a rugby ball and about 3kgs. The difference is so much lighter. I’m hoping on my ride back from Greece….. starting 25th May to be even lighter. I really am excited about that 🥳.

Waking up way before the alarm that was set for 6.30, which was also too early. Readjust for 7.30 tomorrow.

The campsite was quiet, but the main road it was next to had constant traffic throughout the night.

The route today was a bit convoluted it hugged the coast but I had set Komoot for a gravel route so it gave me about 20% gravel of the 100km route with dome 12% gradients, one of which was a bit too technical so I tactically dismounted.

I stopped at a patisserie so a early ride stop, then had coffee, toast and tomatoes as elevenses. Finally having lunch at about 2 with a couple of rolls with cheese and salami.

Eventually on the last climb I met Stephan a German guy who had ridden from Cologne. He was walking up a hill with his heavy loaded bike, 50kgs he told me. I stopped and walked with him.  Its great to chat a bit.

A week with my lovely niece her partner Iain and their 2 beautiful children Willow and AJ. I was totally knackered. No cycling 2 kids is real hard work. I take my had off to Iain and Becky for doing a great job.

I packed slowly. Then at 1pm I rolled out. My Archies app had only one campsite 600m along the road. I could hardly believe this so searched Garmin and found another 10kms away, ease myself back into the cycling.  But stupid Garmin took me on the most converluted route 27kms into the mountains folliwing ‘popular routing’ I suppose.

The hills were great, I have readjusted my saddle (again) and this time it felt ok but 27kms is not enough to judge. Tomorrow’s 100kms will be testing.

The campsite just off the main coast road Camping La Buganvilla is very pleasant, but an exorbitant €26 a night. And the worst showers. Just change the shower heads guys 🤦.

Loved my camp spot. I worried the kids would make noise late. Ut practically exactly 9.30 it was peace and quiet, a little piece of heaven.

The brewery would have been spectacular but the haze obliterated it all.

The good thing about labouring up hill last night is that the morning is all down hill. I got to  Algámitas Town, the cafe was booming I sat for my coffer. That ritual is so good. Then as I left I saw a Churos van

Unfortunately the wait was so long I left before I got to the front. But they did look delicious. 

The ride was fantastic cutting through mountains and gorges. Views to die for. Then as I was riding in a reverie a guy rode up next to me, he spoke Spanish I spoke English he told me he was English. 

Lee lives in Malaga we had a great conversation, but he was carrying light and I struggled to keep up. Eventually I turned off and he carried on.

10kms out of my destination I checked exact directions/location. Grrrr this added another 5kms to my route, a very up and down and convoluted extra 5kms it was too. But I arrived just under 6 hours, a tired man. To be immediately set upon by my Great/niece and Great nephew.

A warm welcome great to be here 😀

The road was flat and uninspiring for the first half of the day. A haze covered the sun making it hot but not sunny.

I stopped for coffee at a cafe with lots of cyclists. There also seemed like football supporters having a morning coffee, I saw no beer being swilled. They gave me the most uninspiring toast and tomatoes I have ever had.  Then I got to a bakery and bought some bakery treats that I smashed into my pocket they immediately crushed into one blob.

Then on to Morón de la Frontera, a town celebrating the chicken with lots of these rather scary statues, but i did like them, throughout the town. The cheese slices I bought yesterday had melted into a solid mass and awkward to cut, the rolls I picked as something different were dry. Not the best lunch.

Gradually I got to the mountain areas, I had picked out a campsite, well the only one. 5 kms up hill with long sections at 11%. I nearly got there but 500meters from the top I got off and walked.  The amount of people is small but there is a group of school children. Fingers crossed for a quiet night.

Luke and I stayed up talking and putting the world to rights.

I’ve had a great week being back in Oxford. But the 01.15 taxi (great taxi ride thanks Ismail at 001 taxis) to the coach station, the 01.50 coach to Gatwick, perfect timing to check in at 04.00 for my 06.10 flight to Seville. 

Everything went exceeding smoothly. 

Also a massive shout out to Mark at Bike Zone for a fast and comprehensive tuneup of my Reilly Gradient she is riding like a dream.

The flight landed at 10.00 and I was up and riding at 11.30. A short route to Camping Villsom on the outskirts of Seville. Via 2 Decathlon stores looking for cooking gas, and a couple of supermarkets.  But I am fully loaded now and ready for an earlyish start tomorrow morning.

After last night’s shinnanikins I finally got to sleep 1 or 1.30. Then woke at about 7 and riding at 7.50. I was hoping for an easy day today and when way things started it seemed it would be. Mostly down hill. Then the Komoot curse hit me and I was diverted off road. Walking, walking so much walking.

I got some food, I topped up with water.

And what a contrast to yesterday’s lunar landscaping I had lush, verdant grassland. This carried on for most of the day. Lots cultivated.

I had in my mind that I wanted to get about 50kms from Fes making an easy ride in tomorrow morning. But last night still heavy in my mind I struggled to find a camp spot, also in this area there are so many people,everywhere men on donkeys, men looking after sheep, children everywhere.  So I took the heavy decision to ride to Fes and rock a 3 night stay.

No sooner had I made this decision than it started to rain, it went from bad to torrential. I had already done 95kms 1111m climbing at a slow 14.5kph. So the next  28kms 439m of climbing at 13.3kph in the rain were purgatory.  I stopped numerous times and just looked at the road ahead. And the Raid I booked was only for one night…  impossible to find, nowhere to store the bike.  I was shivering with  (contrasting) cold. I finally ate still in my cycling clothes at 7.30pm.

I knew today was going to be a spikey day. I’d seen the profile on Komoot. And I knew I was close to the bottom of the 1st climb.

It was blowing a hoolie when i awoke and as a consequence I didn’t cook breakfast I had the aforementioned,  5 dates and a Kiwi fruit.

Practically all my packing I can do inside the tent but footprint and the tent itself obviously has to be done outside. The footprint I fold snd roll my tent poles in to protect the poles, this was done fairly efficiently, but the tent, I usually fold and roll, but this was impossible so I use the age old just stuff it in the bag method, to my surprise it worked.

About 15mins into my ride I came to a town, not marked on my map, this does seem to be a recurring theme, best I write to Garmin or Komoot or both.

I bought some water in the town then the road went up it topped out at 1440 meters the ride really wasn’t that spectacular but definately tiring. But as I got over the pass the views were just spectacular.

My route turned off the road and onto a rough track and from then on it was just gravel.

Numerous occasions I stopped and walked, the combination of not being fully fit and some real tough climbs, possibly not fueling enough may have had an influence.

I climbed 2 and a half high passes….. there are more tomorrow (a little lower I think) I started to search for a camp spot at about 3.30 but was just not satisfied, there were so many people/kids with sheep hanging about. So I just kept riding. I was very tired at this point. As I was walking a man was coming down with a donkey. I asked if I could camp under some trees. He’s said they were not his but I could stay on his property, we walked back, found a spot.

He brought his brothers out to see me and gave me some bread and soup…. classic end of day ramadan meal.

It’s about 7.30 and i’m tucked in the tent, it’s raining and blowing a gail the tent is intermittently flattening onto my nose, its going to be a windy night.

Then at about 11, 2 guys shone a light and woke me, they said you can’t sleep here in Arabic/French. I told them I had permission from the house owner…. they said not here.  They checked my passport then disappeared but I could hear them talking. And at about 11.45, 7 police turned up…. I wasn’t well pleased. They demanded I pack my stuff up put it in their police car and that I sleep near the local police station. So 12.30 I’m unpacked again by the police station in Bad El Mrouj.

In the car the policeman said there were marajuana gangs about…. kidnapping and stuff. Despite my gruff, unhappiness all the police and all concerned were,  friendly,  helpful and accommodating in this aspect they really do get full marks.

Nador is a town in transition. I get the feeling it wants to be a resort but it really needs more money, a lot more money, injected into it.

A fitful nights sleep. As always I easily slip into my old ways and switch the phone on and fall to sleep with netflix, I hate it but somehow return to it over and over again. 

But I was up at 7ish and eventually got on my way at about 9am. As i was walking down the stairs i met my host with another apartment guest just arriving, she was from London but living in Paris, we had a brief conversation on the stairs.  I’m intrigued why/how people decide to come to Nador. It definitely does not have the reputation of Tanger or Marrakesh.

The route leading out of town in a  south westerly direction. It was pretty quickly into desert type landscape.

The route was flatish, the wind was behind me. I made good headway. Taking surreptitious sips of my water as I rode. I thought I had designated it as a road route, but Komoot likes to sometimes take me from one road to another by rough tracks. This one was about 30kms long and really desert beautiful.

I eventually got tired and stopped at a small shop that had some cover I asked the guys at the shop if it was OK I rested a while…… an hour later I awoke and ride on.

I hade a reasonable amount of water but when I saw a large drum looking like it dispensed water I ambled up, tunded the tap to get a dribble but it kept dribbling and I filled my ‘dirty’ water bag ready to filter into one of my bottles.

Then 30mins later I was done. 🥵. I searched out a camp spot and pitched the tent. There’s a bit of cloud cover. Here’s hoping it doesn’t rain, it could be a dirty walk back to the road in the morning.