Ronda to Pantano del Chorro, 63 km
We met some fellow mtn bikers a couple of days back who were doing the route the other way and they gave us the run down on the next few sections, some were muddy, big rocks and clay so we decided to take the rd alternative, small country rds leading to the same destination.
We climbed 500 metres out of Ronda, a chilly morning but sweat dripping off our faces onto our knees going up the hills, this is the area the bandits used to hide in many years ago, then jackets and neckwarmers on going down to El Burgo, lunch in an olive grove, through to Ardales in time for the late afternoon 'Cruzcampo' beer in the sun then onto a campground near a lake 6 km before El Chorro. Gorgeous sunset looking at the wind farm, there are a lot of wind farms in Spain.
El Chorro to Antequera, 40 km
Stunning ride through an awesome gorge to El Chorro.
We saw a u tube clip of the most dangerous cliffside walkway a few years back, it was at El Chorro. It has just been completely rebuilt and opened at the end of March but we read bookings were full for 6 months. We were going passed so biked in to ask and they let us go with the next group which was great. Very well done, very safe, we could see the old path beneath us. A train went through the tunnels while we were there, we walked about 2 hours going down into the valley behind. Lunch then a huge climb, then down, then another climb into Antequera to arrive at 6.30pm
Nice hotel, full of antique furniture, then wandered around the plaza, everyone comes out at night to socialise, there are no quarter acre sections near any towns that we have seen, it is all attached houses/apartments with park benches and plazas to visit. We are starting to fit into Spanish time, dinner out at 9.30...
Antequera is a very old town with a white sea of houses, a castle, 32 churches and a countryside covered in weird carstic land formations in the Torcal natural parque which we visited the next day.
Antequera to Casabermeja, 49 km
We needed a cycle escort to get out of town! ( photo) The streets are so confusing, then rode 12 km up the otherside of the Sierra de Chimenea to the Torcal parque, spent a couple of hours wandering around, late lunch then went too far down the very steep descent through a village and missed the turn off we wanted. Signs in towns are not great. So we continued until we found a place to stay in another little village. It had a bath, very welcome on a chilly evening after another full day out.
Casabermeja to Ventas de Zafarraya, 58 km
Slightly off our planned route we made our way to a lake for a very late lunch passed gorgeous fields of poppies and in time to see the sheep being herded home. Then a massive 12 km climb in low gear to the top of what looked like a mountain range, switchback after switchback which took a few hours. We thought we were heading over a pass but amazingly there was this massive plateau at the top taking us into the Granada province. The hotel in the town was full so we had to bike another 6 km to another very local pub/ hotel with beer and tapas to end the day. Legs a bit shaky after another big day.
Hi R and T , just finished both new blog reading , what a marvelous trip you have done , great photos , not too keen on that high walk , must of lost my nerve ,in my young day probably bike around it !!!, great weather here in thew last few days but winter is coming and so is spring, life here is as usual, the 2 babies are doing great , never thought I would see the day where we are now ,6 gr ,grand ch. Kayla is playing rugby at Milton 2 day mum Libby and Eva have gone also I see Roger has replied to ya blog , Im trying to tell all of them to do the same , Brendan rang the other night hes seems OK , yes hes stopped his smoking , after much persuasion to get him started on pills rct ect , I say to him well done
ReplyDeletethat's it for now , love ya blogs
see ya love dad and mum,