Day 14 - extra

Day 14

Today was largely one for getting from A to B but started promisingly.  After the first twisty sections we settled into long straights with some interesting bends every time we hit a hill/cliff/mountain.
The final miles were through a wind carved canyon with more impressive cliff dwellings (wonder what their house insurance is like).
By now we are used to meeting oncoming cars on tight bends and (usually) watching them swerve when they see us.  In 13 European tours, until today, they have always swerved away from us.  Today the driver thought that swerving towards me would be the thing to do.  Fortunately we managed to miss each other.  While checking out what had happened to me in his mirror (something a lot of drivers don't know they have) he almost took John out !
Other than the 'mesa's and canyons the land today was almost totally agricultural, to an extent not previously observed in Spain.
We finished the day, to John's delight with our traditional drive thru a pedestrian precinct to get to our hostel where we were greeted by princess Layla.

Day 13 - apartment

Day 13 photo extra

Day 13 - Tour 13

We took the higher road along the southern fringe of the Sierra Nevada's, this was a lot twistier and slower than the lower route. Much of the remainder of the day was however 'making progress' roads.
We waved to the cowboy and I turned off into Fort Bravo, but we agreed it would be daft to buy an admittance just for lunch, so we pressed on.
‎The final 25 miles was regrettably another GLT with the very variable road surfaces keeping our speeds in check.

When leaving home I remembered to pack my Scotoil but neglected to pack the filling tube, so I have been using John's chain oil, which has now run out.  A portion of the day was spent looking out for large filling stations.  After a couple of failures, we finally tracked down a Repsol station that was able to fill out needs.  Or chains are now satisfactorily lubed.
Tonight's touch of luxury is that John and I can have separate bedrooms in our 3 room (and 2 balcony and sit-ooterie) apartment. 😀

Day 12 - Dinner

1st course -assorted nuts (free) plus beer
2nd course - chicken & ham vol-au-vent, without the pastry (free) & beer
3rd course - pork & chips (free)
4th course - beer & pizza
😀😀😀😀

Day 12 - more pics

Day 12 - The Infinity Road

The day did not start to plan - more rain!   So we took our time over our breakfast 2 cups of coffee (seriously that was it, 2 cups of coffee and a dunking biscuit).  By the time we were ready to leave patches of blue sky were showing and the road was drying nicely after the first few miles.
The start of the day, the roads were at their best as we snaked along the south of the Sierra Nevada.  The crossing over the pass was extraordinary.  As we crested the summit we witnessed an Infinity Road (like an Infinity pool but with tarmac rather than water).  It was almost impossible to see the edge of the road and the eye was drawn seamlessly over and onto the flat plains 2000 meters below!
Most of the rest of the day was spent on 'making progress' roads, as John christened them (I would have said straight and fast, incl some motorway).  What the roads lacked in interest, they more than made up for in scenery.  They're were times in the day when I thought we were either in a massive quarry or huge sand dunes. But other times they were breathtaking mountain roads, cultivated plains and occasionally even views of Malaga and the Mediterranean (it was so warm that I considered going the 5 miles to the coast and diving into the sea - in my bike gear) We also passed HUGE wind turbines, pv cell and solar collection farms.  On one of our diversions from the main road we passed along huge birch lined (and tree tunnels) road and some occupied cave dwellings. Some of the modern ones looking quite grand with their (reinforcing, I guess) facade walls.
Our lack of breakfast was made up for by the tapas that we were offered for lunch with our Cokes. At € 3.50 for two cokes and two plates of meat (or fish) could someone remind me why leaving the EU is a good idea.

Day 11 - My Fair Lady - part dos

After being assured last night the it hadn't rained in these parts for 5 months, we can verify that the rain in Spain falls mainly in the southern mountains.
We woke up to rain and general panics over getting the rain gear, which was left with the bikes (200 meters away) and how grippy world the wet cobbles out of the village would be ?
We modified our ride last night to omit the visit to the sunshine resorts/nightmares of the South coast and thought further revisions may be required due to the weather.  In the event we stuck the original modified plan!
The rain continued well into mid afternoon but with the low clouds being stuck in the bleak mountains and escarpments (which were very impressive) the roads and our crotches remained damp all day. The coefficient of friction twixt tyres and roads was greatly diminished.  For a few miles I had been worried about 'rear end movement'  in the event I should have been more worried about the car that came round the hairpin sideways, in a 4 wheel drift, straight towards me.  Fortunately my exit plans were not required !
During the day we also witnessed a car taken out by a truck, a car that had slid off the road into a deep ditch and a big diesel spill.  All in all,  a fun day, but too wet to disrobe to take layby photos.  Instead you will have to make do with a photo of our bar snacks (much better than a bag of peanuts and included in the price!)
We have now arrived at our only two night stop, so time for washing, clean clothes, and tomorrow, a ride without panniers 😀

Day 10 - village art

Day 10 - accommodation extra 2

Day 10 - accommodation extra 1

Day 10

We bade farewell to Dougal and Esther, the honeymoon couple that we shared last night's hotel with and set off.
The olive trees and prickly pears (now I know why they are called that) soon gave way too large orange plantations, and the haciendas into flats signalling that we were approaching Seville.
After passing the outskirts and admiring the man practicing his dressage on the dirt verge and waving to the paraponters we started heading towards some fine roads and the high sierras.
The road up and through Zahara was nothing short of magnificent and we paused at the summit to watch a skateboarder set off down the mountain!!
We got a good view of his first couple of hairpins and he earned our total respect.
More superb roads followed although the day was completed by 'another' ride through pedestrian alleyways in our fabulous white painted little hillside town.
A walk, a few drinks and some food and early bed.
An English couple who have lived in Spain for the last 30 years are the only other residents in our little Posada.

Day 9 - My Fair Lady

Before I start, tonight's Wi-Fi password, for anyone in the area, is KPfmH6tpt7XXDHR6um4X.
Right, anyone that says the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plains is a liar. It was bloody hot and dry today.
We also encountered our first Sierras but not until we had completed many bum clenching fast straight miles.
However that was followed by some sublime twists and turns and a road that made yesterday's 'not a road' seem like a silky smooth motorway.  Fortunately some good roads again followed.
As mentioned, it was bloody warm, in fact it was a 2 ice cream day!
Tonight's Posada is large and luxurious but it does look like we will be trying to find somewhere to eat, as we have not found anywhere yet.  It was bad enough trying to find some beer. The landlord of the first bar we were in refused to pour us large beers despite both our excellent mimes and a translation (and plea) from the local policeman at the bar.  John thinks that maybe he wasn't a Rossi fan !
My helmet today officially became a two-er. This time the conker was still attached to a tree (low hanging branch, tight right hander.)
When the countryside is not a barren parched wasteland it stems to be covered in millions and millions of recently planted olive trees (note to self, sell shares in olive producers)'

Day 8 - Hotel photo extra

Interiors of tonight's abode

Day 8 - transitions

With a full 250 miles to cover we were grateful to only have 2 GLT's.  The first was the opening 35 miles which we covered at an average of 26mph.  The second only lasted 7 miles but introduced a new road classification 'Used to be a road' !
With the exception on the 40 or so miles being used by every local sports bike owner 😀 (and presumably police speed traps)😠 the day was largely one for John to try out his cruise control.
We are now sitting, locked in to our deserted (but magnificent) hotel.  The good news is that we have found the beer store.  John's sense of honesty says that we need to go for a walk to find a bar, and someplace to eat tonight.

Day 6 - extra