A Couple of Days Ride Outta…….

Daily Stats

Distance 89kms

Time 5 hours 24 mins

Elevation 1606meters

Speed 16.6 kph

Daily Disasters

1. Tent wet as I packed it.
2. Back brake very spongy. Descending from 1000meters with 1½ brakes is not clever or fun. 😬

It was tough getting sorted this morning. I’m still enjoying the hour change so when I get up it seems late but it’s early.  So I packed everything up as I said the stuff I had left close to the edge of the tent had a good spritzing of rain water. So I just stuffed it into my bag.

The Campsite had a supply of full gas cannisters so I replaced mine.

I was on the road at about 9.30. I knew there would be a town with s cafe soon. About an hour later the usual. At coffee Brett did message me telling me about the flooding and that many people had died in the Valencia area. Then warned me of increased chances of landslides.  😬

Then a slow climb up

Eventually hitting the pass. The wind had been buffering me about.

As I started the descent I noticed how spongy my back brake was. This descent is a real twisty turny, switch back ride of such awesomeness. Oh and the views. Well see for yourself.

I can safely say this descent on 1½ brakes adds a frisson of excitement and danger. But I did keep it slow, I do value my life a bit.

As I was nearing the bottom I met my 3rd fellow bikepacker. He was on a robust ride with a pinion gearbox.  He was on a fearsome route, starting at Cadiz,  over the Sierra Nevada mountains then onto Valencia.  Half way up the Sierras it snowed getting about 20cms in half am hour. He decided to spend a little time on road. No pictures of course I forgot as I was talking so much.

I was nearing Baza and the hotel. I arrived at 4.30 checked in, showered, washed all my cycling kit. Researched a cycle shop rode to it. The guy mini bleed my brakes charged me only €10 . I did a bit of food shopping as I was waiting. Cycled back to the hotel.  Rested for 30 mins…… till 8.15 now I’m waiting for my food. Time just disappears.  The waitress brought me some fish tapas as I was waiting so long for my food.

Link to my tracker here

Daily Stats

Daily Disasters

1. Rain
2. Thunder
3. Lightening
4. Rain
5. Lightning
6. Thunder
7. Rain

I settled into my campsite last night and sat under a porch for a bbq, cooked my food there ran to the tent and slept.

Throughout the night I was woken by torrential downpours. Water was spritzing over the tent bathtub sides and onto me a bit. I tried to rearrang the tent but it still wet me.

I have been monitoring the weather apps and assessing if I should ride, eventually at about 8.30  it was rai ing so hard I decided to stay here another day/night.

At 10 the rain stopped. I jumped onto my bike and went into the beautiful town of Cazorla.

Then rode to the supermarket.  As I was getting back to the campsite a few drops of rain fell, I quickly got into the bbq area snd then from that point on, about 11.30 to now 6pm it has rained snd thundered and lightening. Ranging from torrential to severe. There was one section of hail but very shortlived.

I have no idea how bad my tent is now, I’m a little worried.

They say tomorrow will be good.

Daily Stats

Distance 42kms

Time 2 hours 43 mins

Elevation  854 meters

Speed 15.5kph

Daily Disasters

1. Forgot to publish yesterday.
2. Tent footprint t covered in mud
3. Rained all night. 

After the rain all night the grassy ground was muddy, not to bad but packing up was a bit muddy messy.  Mist was swirling and my fingers were cold and numb as I put the bags on my bike.

Straight up into the small town for a coffee and cake.

Then on the road? My timing was perfect as the mist was slowly burning off. Despite this my fingers were still frozen. 

I stopped for a moment to adjust something on the bike and  as I put down I heard a snuffling behind me, and not 5 meters away was a wild boar just standing watching me, I manoeuvred my bike between it and me, my quick draw of the camera was good and I snapped this just before it trotted off.

The route today was flat up down flat. The first part was so pleasant a few towns there was the obligatory toast and tomatoes luckily this was just at the bottom of the climb. Basically yesterday and this morning I followed the valley of the Guadalquivir River and now I had hit the end of the valley and was climbing out. The road zig zagged precipitously up. I kept to a small gear and spun with ease.

Then up snd over the pass and speeding down a switch back road

Finally into Cazorla and to my campsite. I know only snother 40kms today but, well I’m trying to avoid the rain, I have been successful so far, here’s 🤞🤞🤞 for tomorrow.

Daily Stats

Distance 40kms

Time 1hour 52 mins

Elevation 436

Speed 21kph

I eventually rolled out of the campsite at about 9.30am this was a bit confused as I was later informed the clocks went back.

The nearest town Cortijos Nuevos was only about 5kms away coffee, toast and tomatoes were on my mind. But i saw 2 loaded bikes against a wall. And 2 guys coming out of a cafe. I swung in and Helloed them, they readily turned and we struck up a conversation bikes/derailleurs/food/wild camping/campsites/food/how long/From where…. well you know the score. Now this conversation went on much too long for a side of the road talk, I think we didn’t want to break the spell, if I mentioned sitting down for coffee thrn the talk eould have broken up then, so we just talked, such a pleasure.

But eventually Alex and Marin rode off and I went in for the aforementioned consumables. Sitting alone after talking is a sad affair. But I plucked my spirits up stuffed my face and got out on the bike, the sun was shining snd the road was spectacular bordering a lake views to die for.

Then I came roundca corner and nearly bumped into Alex and Marinther were taking pictures of deer that were abundant in the surrounding woods

We rode along together till I got to my campsite. I set up, showered etc and it then started to rain. So I have lain in bed all afternoon.

Daily Stats

Distance 61kms

Time 3hours 16 minutes

Elevation 851 meters

Speed 18.8 kph

Daily Disasters

1. None

I was sad to leave Camping Rio Mundo, a great site and possibly the best showers in the world.

But onwards is beat. I’m stuck in a quandary I don’t particularly want to ride over 100kms and of course the distances between campsites are always 60kms then 100kms.  That’s not to say I couldn’t,  I know I could but I just don’t want to. So I set my route to El Robledo Camping 60kms away.

The route was georgeous rising up to just over 1000meters, then descending through the mountains. It was cool up there, and dull and misty. But coming down the other side the sun shower itself enough to finally get my hands warm.

I’m now in Andalusia (although I already thought I was) the mountain sides are covered in olive trees. It’s usually at this time I pull out my Olive fact, but not today, you’ll have to remember it from last time or research.

El Robledo Camping could not be more of a contrast to Rio Mundo.  It took me 10 mins to rouse the reception. She was very friendly and helpful which made me happy. I am the only camper and it’s eerie. The camping pitches are haphazardly spaced under trees, nothing wrong with this they are good. I opted to go under a caravan awning just in case it rained.

The showers are a good 100meters from my spot. Only one mens shower working although it was perfectly adequate lovely warm water, unfortunately the water didn’t drain away and was a over the whole block when I left. Luckily I didn’t leave anything on the floor. 

The whole place seems rundown and the people running it just have given up. The rundownness looks more than end of season apathy..

My tent and stuff dried out quickly in the strong wind and I’m tucked into my sleeping bag 6⁰ too void for me. Forecast more rain tonight. I’m not moving. Temperature now dropped to 3⁰.  I presume it’ll be colder tonight. I might go find my socks. 

My tracker map still doesn’t like me but here’s the link

Daily Stats

Distance 42 kms

Elevation 991 meters

Time 3hours 42 mins

Speed 11.6kph

Daily Disasters

1. Komoot/ Garmin took me down a route that was so not gravel
2. The route was sometimes so steep I had to get off and walk
3. Komoot/Garmin took me down another route that was so not gravel

It all started so well. Packed up and out of the camping at about 9.15 into town for coffee.

The route then veered away from the times I had been here before. I had taken a bit of time last night to assess campsites that were open, the one I was aiming for was close,  43kms but there were some steep mountains in the way. Nearly immediately I started going up, views were spectacular.

From the top of this first climb the descent was fantastic.

Smooth gravel, views to die for. Then as per usual things took a turn for the worse.  I turned off the main track and encountered what decidedly looked like an overgrown mess. (There is a picture sequence)

Eventually after a considerable effort the tpute joined another gravel road and back to heaven.

I got to within 5kms of the campsite and Komoot took me down a walking track. There is one picture but let me say this step off was the easiest of obstacles.

It took me an hour to complete the last 5kms with possibly only 3 occasions where I nearly died.

All in all a good day. 😀

I can’t get my tracker dots…. it may be my WiFi, but here’s the link anyway. Garmin tracker

Daily Stats

Distance  77kms

Time 4 hours 43 mins

Elevation 897meters

Speed 16.4kph

Daily Disasters

1 Oh yes yesterday they charged me €3.50 to store my bike. Grrrrrrr fleecing buggers.

2 I forgot to buy stuff for lunch so went without.

Despite only being here for half a day to be back on the bike filled me full of joy.

Like Valencia, Albacete had a long park through its center, a joy to ride through. At the end of the park on the outskirts of Albacate there is a park of stunning beauty, nothing spectacular but trees stretching up to the beautiful blue sky.

My route then joined the Ruta de Don Quixote. It’s sort or gravelly it’s long it’s straight it’s boring.

My route eventually veered away from the Ruta and did some proper gravelly routes. Slowly rising to my eventual hight of 1100meters.

I eventually got to the campsite, remembered I has been here before. There was no one around and the chain was wrapped around the gate. It wasn’t locked so I unlatched and walked in. There was a French couple inside who I had seen at another csmpsite a few days ago. I quizzed them they were positive. So I pitched up, then eventually round the guy to pay.

The showers were solar heated and with lots of cloud cover today the showers were volder than desired. I got out and put my puffa on

I have messaged a few campsites to check if they are open so I have some places to aim for.

Daily Stats

Distance 86kms

Time 4hours 13mins

Elevation  745meters

Speed 20.6kph

Daily Disasters

1 Yesterday as I was travelling in the middle of nowhere I didn’t get to buy food so as an evening meal I had porridge and honey

2 Today the nerve/bruising deep in my groin is paining again …. well I shoukd be happy with the week without it.

I cruised out of the campsite just after 9. A tough 5km up then a relatively easy 80kms all slightly down.

I’m now deep in the Castille la Mancha region and there are effigies of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza everywhere.

My route was split ⅔ road and ⅓ gravel it was pretty flat and as always the gravel bits were better.

I got to Alicante at about 3pm, earlier than the usual 6pm.

Remember to link to my every 10 mins tracker here

Daily Stats

Distance 89kms

Time. 5 hours 50 mins

Elevation 1470meters

Speed 15.3 kph

Daily Disasters

1 Big puncture took 2 plugs one fat, one thin. We’ll see if it holds tonight.

I checked the ride profile last night and there was a red climb for 10kms at the start,  even I can work out that’ll be brutal. I started by plummeting down to a river then sharp turn and here we go. 🥵 Oh but the views, I couldn’t help but repeatedly stop and take pictured. The mountain folded in and out at it rose to just under 1000 meters up.

I got to the campsite that has a mini Poleta court. I thought it was only played in the Basque region.  But the campsite has the best laid out pitches. Exactly what I want from a campsite. 

Link here to my tracker page

Daily Stats

Distsnce 53kms

Time 3 hours 31 mins

Elevation  955 meters

Speed 15.2 kph

Daily Disasters

1 Electrics left outside just saved

2 Detour made me late for reception 2 hour wait….. but worth it.

Just as I woke I heard drops of rain dropping on my tent. I leapt up to retrieve my phone/Garmin/Powerpack that were left out charging.

The rain lasted 30mins or so and was light but it threw me out of my rhythm. I consequently slowed and didn’t leave till 10.15.

I stopped for nrunch and ate a sandwich of egg/ham/chorizo and sausage I was looked at peculiarly as I ordered. Oh the irony of sitting outside but being more smokey than inside is definitely not lost on me.

I took a detour in speculation of a nice gravel track, a sort of longcut.  I was rewarded with a gravel route cutting through a canyon. Oh oh oh, so pleased.

Now I remember why I do the off road stuff. The first 2 days were resl tough and as always I start at full pelt. It takes me a deq days to readjust to what effort to put in, pedal speed, metal adjustment to mot trying to go faster. I know you’re say but Mark after all these many trips surely you know…..🤷‍♂️ some people never learn. 🤣

Unfortunately my detour made me 15 minutes late for the camping reception so I had to hang around the bar till 5 when it opened again. The detour was definitely worth it.

Link to the tracking page here