Weather today was overcast but dry with temperatures reaching 20C.
The ride today was east and then north into a valley reaching down from the high Sierras to the white village of Trevelez the highest village in Spain at 4850ft.
Some rode the entire route while some were car assisted part of the way and some had a lift all round. Today's main meal was a picnic at Trevelez.
I had originally intended to ride the entire route but a problem with my chain which took a while to fix forced me to get a lift to 11s at Pampaneira. This was probably just as well as after yesterdays exertions a similar amount of climbing today would not have been good for my back.
Phil, Mary, Ernie, Jim, Gill and Ann did the entire route. Richard, Mike Avryl and myself had our bikes loaded on Ian's 4 by 4 as far as elevenses. Eileen and Elizabeth and Nicola had a lift all round and Alan and Liz walked in the local area
At Pampaneira our host Ann took us on a walking tour round the village including a weaving shop and views of local chimneys which looked like they had hats on.
After elevenses we all rode on together with Ian stopping occasionally to check everybody was ok and didn't need a lift. We rode through more white villages before heading north up a valley cut into the high Sierras. We reached 5080ft before descending to Trevelez.
The picnic was all set up ready for us on a green beside the river and bridge. After lunch there was a little more climbing before cresting a ridge and a long whooshing descent down 2800ft to the Orgiva valley. We stopped for tea at a bar in Torvizcon. Then another long descent to Orgiva Bridge. Here I joined Mike and Richard for a lift from Ian up the long climb from the valley floor to Lanjaron and then up the hill back to base.
My ride even with the lifts was 38 miles and 3854ft of climb. Nobody doing the full route had a bike computer but my estimate is 57 miles and 5800ft of climb.
Note that anybody interested in a cycling holiday in the area can find details at Ian's website at www.torolocospain.com
Edwin
Posted by Edwin
at 8:22 AM EDT
