Saturday 28 April. Rest day and Walks.

Weather today was again warm and sunny all day with temperatures reaching 24C.

Today was a rest from cycling with 2 walks scheduled. Phil, Mary, Richard and Eileen went on a longer walk up a gorge and higher into the mountains. The rest of us went on a shorter walk in the local area guided by our host Anne.

We took in old Moorish irrigation channels and the modern ones and stopped for coffee at the house of Mike a friend of Ann's.

We had lunch laid on beside the pool back at base followed by some relaxation by the poolside.

In the evening we went down to town for a meal and flamenco night.

Phil awarded some prizes including Ironman or lady of the tour which went to Ann Kelly for riding all the hard rides and numerous lengths of the cold pool. Awards for infectious enthusiasm went to Avryl and Mike.

Edwin

Saturday 28 April. Walking a track

Saturday 28 April. Lunch by the pool

Friday 27 April. Ride to Castell de Ferro

Today the alternative options were a car ride and sightseeing on the coast at Almunecar or a long ride with numerous climbs to Castell de Ferro on the coast and back again. Ian again provided vehicle backup enabling riders to do just part of the route.

Weather was again very good and mainly sunny except for some cloud building up on the higher mountain ranges. Temperatures reached 26C near the coast.

Mike, Alan, Liz, Elizabeth and Eileen were driven by our host Ann to the coast. Nicola went for a local walk.

Phil, Mary, Jim, Ann, Gill, Ernie and Edwin set off on the long ride with an early 8.30 start. Richard and Avryl had a lift from Ian to do the middle part of the ride.

To simplify the geography there is a main massive of the Sierra Nevada range south of Granada. Ann's place where we were staying is on the southern foothills at about 2750ft. We descended from there to Lanjaron at 2100ft and then down into the valley to Orgiva Bridge at 1100ft. Then a long long climb up over one of the coastal mountain ranges called the Sierra de Lujar up to 3500ft and then a long descent to the sea.

Towards the top of the Sierra de Lujar climb we rode up into the clouds and cycled through the mist to a bar near the top for elevenses. We were joined here by Richard and Avryl who were driven up with their bikes by Ian and after seeing the length of the climb they were very glad to avoid it.

After elevenses there was a very long twisting descent down to the coast at Castell de Ferro where we enjoyed our packed lunches near the Prom.

After lunch another long climb up over the Sierra del Carchuna. We stopped part way up at a bar for a drink and a break. Then on up to 16 big windturbines at the top followed by another twisting descent. Part way down the narrow descent we were held up briefly by a very long lorry with 2 enormous wind turbine blades as its load, trying to get round the sharp bends.

Back down to the coast at Motril Ian guided us through the city stopping at various junctions. Then another climb through pineforest.Then down to Velez de Benaudaila and a stop for tea where our group of hungry cyclists demolished everything put in front of them. Richard and Avryl were car assisted from here. The rest of us continued with more climbing round Embaise de Rules lake and its dam and then down to Orgiva Bridge. Here Gill and Ernie loaded their bikes on the car.

Phil, Mary, Ann, Jim and myself remained. We rode up to Orgiva and with my back not doing any complaining I really wanted to do the whole ride. However a short way above Orgiva my chain snapped for the second time on the holiday. As we were running late I decided to take a lift back to base.

My mileage for the day was 64 and for those doing the whole route it was about 68. In terms of feet of climbing in a day this was the second hardest ride I have ever done with 7752ft of climb. For those doing the entire route it was about 8500 ft of climb.

Edwin

Friday 27 April. Gill, Ann and Ernie on the first climb

Friday 27 April. Richard, Jim,and Phil and Mary on descent after elevenses

Friday 27 April. Held up by Wind Turbine Blades

Friday 27 April. Edwin and Ann on a Climb. Picture by Ian

Thursday 26 April. Rest day and walk to Orgiva.

Weather today was sunny and warm with temperatures reaching 23C.

Today was a rest day with no cycling planned. Most of the group went on a walk down the valley into Orgiva, either there and back or getting a bus back.

I had a total rest sunbathing beside the pool and blogging and reading. Everyone returned by mid-afternoon and had a relaxing tea beside the pool. Ann, Nicola and Phil braved the still cool temperatures of the pool.

The evening meal was on the patio looking out over the valley as the sun set.

Edwin

Thursday 26 April. Collecting lunch packets on the patio

Wednesday 25 April. Ride to Trevelez.

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

Wednesday 25 April. The group riding up from Pamaneira

Wednesday 25 April. Picnic at Trevelez

Wednesday 25 April. Walking tour of Pampaneira.

Wednesday 25 April. Richard approaching the Crest on the way back