"A Year in Spain" My "last gasp" attempt at posting (informative info).

[jumar]

Getting hotter...shade helps...I washed the bike ready for a monthly service....this includes a chain swap, I do this frequently...every 1000km...saves on component wear....chains are cheap...
Bike 5 and 6 ordered, mine is in Germany being expertly assembled and despatched to our Dutch neighbours...they don't know yet...well I did say look out for a packet....our keyholder will collect and put in our apartment....I think...
jumartoo is having a new bike too...but manufacturers say January....
14000km virtually trouble free is pushing it....well that's what you do if it breaks.
Push bike...where did that come from...anyone know?

 

[CAB96]

Last night's sunset through the trees. No stunning red sky!

Then today's, lovely, easy ride. It was a 2009 route that we followed so we were a bit unsure whether the tracks would still be accessible, but they were. Colours were today's theme. Firstly, some still yellow Sunflowers, and then the red/green/and blue of the land, plants and sky on a particularly nice part of the route.

The black animals weren't bulls, but cows, and not at all aggressive, even though a few had very small young with them.

We'll have to move on tomorrow. Where? Not decided yet.

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Certainly a contrast of colours!

Lovely photos.

 

[jumartoo]

We have silly weather here. Over 30° in the north of Spain. Who forgot to turn down the thermostat??

After three days sitting and sleeping, comfortably, in the shade, our time to recharge the van's batteries has arrived. So, we've driven for 2+ hours towards Teruel and from where, tomorrow, we might get into a tiny bit of Spain with lower temperatures. Anyway, the van's system is now good for another few days.

We're parked at the moment under some trees, next to a small river 60km north of Teruel. We've enjoyed the area east of there before, and it may be one of the areas with lower temperatures, so that may be our route tomorrow.

Watch this space

 

[jumartoo]

In the last hour we've had a drive past, numerous times, by a car with two male occupants. They also parked up and strolled past us. Sooo, now the sun is dipping we're going to move to the official motorhome area of Cella about 40 km away and in the direction of Teruel. Just in case.

We wouldn't rest well, all night, anyway.

 

[jumar]

In the last hour we've had a drive past, numerous times, by a car with two male occupants. They also parked up and strolled past us. Sooo, now the sun is dipping we're going to move to the official motorhome area of Cella about 40 km away and in the direction of Teruel. Just in case.

We wouldn't rest well, all night, anyway.

Got this feeling we were being sussed out...not in the mood for a fight, so an extra 40km drive wasn't too much to ask...now on official parking in small town, with two other vans for company....Checking out locations with a daytime temperature less than 30°c...got a few ideas from previous trips to this area...

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[Peavy]

I agree is better to move when not feeling confortable. It has happened to us also a couple of times Well done

 

[scousebird]

I agree is better to move when not feeling confortable. Well done

Yep, so would I.

 

[daveinspain]

Yes, always better to move if you feel threatened in any way.

 

[jumartoo]

I agree is better to move when not feeling confortable. It has happened to us also a couple of times Well done

Yes, always better to move if you feel threatened in any way.

It's the first time in many years that we've moved elsewhere because of an uneasy feeling.

Once or twice to get away from noise, but we normally never feel threatened in the places we park.

It was very quiet here in Cella

 

[Peavy]

It's the first time in many years that we've moved elsewhere because of an uneasy feeling.

Once or twice to get away from noise, but we normally never feel threatened in the places we park.

It was very quiet here in Cella

I agree too that, here in Spain, is more likely to move because of the noise than because feeling unsafe.
We are constantly chasing the quiet places.
One of the quieter places we've ever been with the motorhome is Ejulve, now that you are close to Teruel.
Tiny nice village (nothing special though), but the silence... never felt that before. It was perfect.

One of the reasons I follow your adventures, is the ideas you have here from places from the not so touristy side of this country

Saludos.

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[jumar]

It's the first time in many years that we've moved elsewhere because of an uneasy feeling.

Once or twice to get away from noise, but we normally never feel threatened in the places we park.

It was very quiet here in Cella

We had to move because of the consequences....if anyone tried to pinch the bike that jumartoo rides it would have been totally brutal to say the least, and afterall, I'd just cleaned and serviced it...that brings me into the picture...

 

[jumartoo]

We slept well last night and had a slow start this morning. We wanted to do some bits of shopping, before heading off into the Maestrazgo area. We decided to head for Fortanete, where we know of a shady place near an Ermita. On the way we stopped to look and take photos of another Civil War bunker and trenches.

At a Col, we saw motorbikes arriving from our right, so, after some discussion, we about turned and headed over the wide road that we'd seen them on. This road was heading to the village of Valdelinares, with the possibility of a detour to a ski area.

The wide road soon decreased in width, and surface, and I sat there quietly looking at the lovely scenery. Martin eventually said "you haven't said it yet" and my answer, before he'd finished was "I'm so glad you chose this route"

We drove up to the ski area and, due to ongoing work for the coming ski season, (we presume), the parking areas were barriered off.

So we came back down to the town, and we're parked in as much shade as possible, just past the Ermita.

We've had lunch, Martin is taking a siesta, and we'll explore the village later, when it's cooler.

So the first photos are taken at the Civil War trenches. Then some on the move, heading up to the ski area, and the last from our present spot at Valdelinares.

 

[jumartoo]

Our village, although Trevelez in the Alpujarras normally takes the award, is apparently the highest village in Spain, and its near neighbours are in the next three positions.

The 5 highest villages in Spain | Fascinating Spain

If you want to get away for a couple of days to the mountains and nature, why not do it in one of the highest villages in Spain?

fascinatingspain.com

We have a ride planned for tomorrow.

 

[jumartoo]

Our ride today was very good. Almost perfect, except for the last bit coming back on a road. Hardly any vehicles on there, and a lovely gorge, with associated scenery, but a road nevertheless.

The scenery on the mountain part was subalpine. First we rode through the village and then took an official signed road, but unsurfaced. Just gravel. Lots seem to drive it.

We looked down to the village below us, and where we'll drive through when we leave here. Linares de Mora. Looks nice.

Obligatory photo

We stopped at a picnic area, just before we got back here, and Martin could hear a cat mewing. In fear it was trapped (and being ex rescue) he had to go to look for it. It's a lovely, grey tabby, that obviously lives around the barbecue/picnic area. It wasn't thin, so it gets food somehow.

We're now at the "other" ski area. One that's not closed for parking. It even has a sign for buses/campers. Full 4G Internet is another plus.

I'm out later with my litter picker. All is good, except something has emptied out litter from a bin. I'm going to put it all back

 

[Just smiffy]

I'm out later with my litter picker. All is good, except something has emptied out litter from a bin. I'm going to put it all back

That’ll be the grey tabby cat….

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[jumartoo]

That’ll be the grey tabby cat….

He/she'd have a long walk, uphill, then!

 

[jumartoo]

I've tried to be all "techy" and I've posted on the Morning Thread first, thinking I could copy and paste on here. I'm sure I should be able to, but it's not working. Sooo, I'll write it all again.

 

[jumartoo]

We had a good night at the 1700 official parking ski area.

We left it cleaner than when we arrived.

Martin went out this morning, as the fog was clearing, and he took the following photos.

 

[jumartoo]

We then drove to our present spot. The village of Mosqueruela has a motorhome area. You pay online 3.50€ (and get a lovely message back from the Tourist Office saying gracias). It's a nice place if shade is necessary, but we're on a mixed pitch . We've actually been in two different spots. We're here alone so we can pick and choose. We left the van "cooking" whilst we went out for a ride (more about that later) and then we've moved to somewhere that will have more shade whilst we need it ourselves.

Soo, first spot, shady as we arrived but sun whilst we were out. Trust Martin, he has my old orienteering compass to help.

Then

Now

We then rode out through the village an onto a lovely track. This was an "easy" Wikiloc route, but from 2018. We stopped at a junction, to look at fungi, and a sign saying that we were going on an official drovers route, but we eventually stopped at a double fenced area, with signs saying PRIVATE and NO ENTRY. An electric fence and a barbed wire one, were one too many.



We turned back.

So we returned to the village and had a ride through. And I took some photos.

And the last one is Martin, rescuing a ladybird from the old laundry.

p

 

[jumartoo]

So, last night we decided we'd have another night here and DO another ride.

We set off in a totally different direction and rode down to the Barranco Las Truchas. There's a recreation area there and a camping area and so the track was wide and rideable (driveable). From there though our route got rougher and narrower until it became a narrow, stony dry river bed between cliffs. We decided to turn back.

Stone walls, and stone buildings were a feature of today's ride, then some alpine like scenery near the zona acampada.

We then searched for another short route to link to our out and back, and we found a very different route. There are some eccentrics in this region, I think some have welding talents.

Where we decided to turn back.

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[jumartoo]

Yesterday morning we left our shady parking and drove to Vilafranca via the Puerto de Mosqueruela and the statue there.

We then shopped in Villafranca and spent the day in the shade at the old lavavdero. We then went to Albocàsser and one of the motorhome areas on the "Punt Net" (network of areas). We thought it was going to be less than quiet, as kids were playing football on the pitch behind us, but when it went dark, and the lights turned off, they all headed home.

This morning we fuelled up the van with the most expensive fuel so far this trip, and drove to Salsadella, where we'd found an easy ride to do. We've stayed there before, but it disappeared from P4N, to reappear as a grey water emptying point only, but, as far as we could see, its exactly as its been for years. The donkey mural is still there and so are some parking areas (one has been lost to an electric recharging point).

The ride went OK, just a few, very short parts of water washed track. We arrived to the Punt Net at Cervera del Maestre (with its castle), and a very good area it is. Unfortunately it doesn't have any shade.

We're now in the trees above Saladilla at a picnic area but we're going to move back down to the official parking later, when the sun goes to bed.

At the Col.

the fuente/lavendero area at Vilafranca

On today's ride.

Cervera del Maestre

 

[suavecarve]

So, last night we decided we'd have another night here and DO another ride.

We set off in a totally different direction and rode down to the Barranco Las Truchas. There's a recreation area there and a camping area and so the track was wide and rideable (driveable). From there though our route got rougher and narrower until it became a narrow, stony dry river bed between cliffs. We decided to turn back.

Stone walls, and stone buildings were a feature of today's ride, then some alpine like scenery near the zona acampada.

We then searched for another short route to link to our out and back, and we found a very different route. There are some eccentrics in this region, I think some have welding talents.

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Where we decided to turn back.
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I ve just been doing more of my humungous map planning for Spain and have realised it is as bad as France for trying to do too much and keep to a small area.
Owing to us leaving on 29th Feb for a month, the weather of Valencia is our aim, going over the Biaritz way and taking a week or so to hit the region and get our timing right for the Fallas before up the coast to return
I am finding some magnificent places (and am yet to tap into your resources yet)
I think, but dont know, the 2nd photo of the house with slate type roof, is an ice house with many just below you at Agres

When I get chance to go through this thread and map it out (for me) and your other threads, you will be getting your own colour so I know where to reference it to

Map as it stands (which helped us decide on Valencia region or where you are now)

I have all the Via Verdes, the equivalent Beaux Villages, some gorges, all the Wild Swimming places from the Wild Swimming in Spain book, quite a number of "Balcony" or "Dangerous" roads, Viewpoints of magnificent standard, a few noted aires and occasional waterfall of decent standard. I think we might be taking the motorbike this time and trying to work out if the bikes are coming as well as I can see several revisits at better times of year

 

[jumartoo]

We went to the laundrette today. The next village to where we stayed overnight at the donkey mural parking. We drove down there late afternoon and the building was casting a shadow.

We were at the laundrette early, and Martin was outside awaiting the opening at 9 am. It was all automated and the shutters went up, and the doors opened exactly on time.

After we'd retrieved all our gear we had a stroll around the town/village of Sant Mateu. A place we've driven past over the years but never visited. It was very nice, not at all touristy, but getting ready for celebrations today and then Valencia Day tomorrow. So the shops will be shut and we're down to our last dregs of red wine and one can of beer. How did we let that happen?

We're now at Morella. Under the best bit of shade, that no one was using when we arrived. We'll move into a "proper" parking area later.

It's quite busy here, a mix 50/50 of Spanish and tourists.

Where we go/what we do tomorrow is to be decided, but it's still silly temperatures here atm +/- 30° so we're still seeking shade.

 

[jumartoo]

Last night I managed to get between the motorhomes on the upper level, to take a photo of the sunset. Just why they wanted to be there was, to me, a mystery, because they weren't even looking at the view.

Anyway. After lots of deliberation. Checking the "silly for the time of year" weather forecasts, we decided on a plan. We'd go to a camping and be able to put out our toldo (canopy) and make our own shade. But first, we'd park in the motorhome parking of Valderrobres, do a bit of shopping, cos we were out of the Valencia region, get our prescriptions filled at the farmacia, go to the bodega, and do a ride I'd found from the nearby village of Cretas, that came through here.

All went to plan. The ride was very, very pleasant. We checked out Cretas, and its nice parking area. More later.

We then returned, and went to the campsite. Hardly any Internet signal was the first downer, and the lack of shade and the dust was numbers 2 and 3.

So, we went back to Cretas. The shade wasn't good enough to compensate for, again, a lack of Internet signal, so we left. A few kilometres along the road we stopped at our present spot. A parking, with shade, at the Ermita de la Misericordia, where we have a full 4G signal .

Will we spend the night here? Or will we go to an official parking. Time will tell

Last night's sunset, Morella.

The bridge from near the motorhome parking, Vallderobres.

And crossing the bridge, amongst too many tourists, on the start of our ride, which went against the no entry signs, so we got off and walked.

Our ride took us to Cretas. A lovely village, with a lovely official area, when it's not soooo hot. All places are preparing for fiesta on Thursday.

We then bypassed the next village, Torre del Compte, because a coach had just discharged its occupants.

And you know the next bit, and so we are here, or rather we're now at the other side of the parking as the trees are casting shadows there now.

But earlier... first phase shade!

The way in!

And pizza al fresco, with a sample of the bodega wine.

 

[jumar]

Great night's sleep, not a sound, no traffic noise, no owls, dogs or other vocal disturbance whatsoever...great ride...full jumartoo appraisal to follow this short summary....
Now parked in a wonderful location under a huge Pine.... adequate shade for most of the afternoon....had light cold lunch....a little local red, which doesn't compare with our local Murcian favourite.....weather still looks grim...29°/30° degrees every afternoon which in a tin box is somewhat uncomfortable..

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[Peavy]

in a tin box is somewhat uncomfortable

Indeed.
We're struggling to find different places to go every weekend (must be 1 or 1'5 hour maximum away from base camp). There's no place to hide from the sun.
I'm really looking forward to some winter, this is too much, even for us.
Saludos.

 

[jumartoo]

We ended up spending the night at the Ermita, and a very quiet night we had. This morning we went back to the official motorhome area to leave the van so we could go for another ride.

And ... what a lovely ride it turned out to be. It was a Wikiloc route from 2016 so we were prepared for changes. Apart from one PRIVATE sign near the end we had no problems, and, I must admit that we ignored that one sign as it was on a track in the middle of nowhere.

We rode through a couple of villages (both looked really nice). We also dropped down to a river valley. Sooo beautiful, in this arid area.

Last night's poor sunset (I nipped out whilst we were watching James Martin, cooking in Vigo ).

And on today's ride.

Then we came upon a strange structure in the middle of, absolutely, nowhere. It appears to be a maze . Martin went to check it out.

 

[jumartoo]

Just beyond the maze we saw another strange feature. This one we never did work out.

 

[jumartoo]

We then had the lovely part of the ride, down to the river, and riding alongside it.

We rode through two villages (Arnes and Lledo) and both looked really nice.

We found a few shady spots that we kept in mind, but we wanted to come back to this place. I remembered it from some years ago. The views are lovely, and even better there's shade and now the breeze has got up and made it even more pleasant.

 

[jumartoo]

A bit of a surprise, on here, and for us. This morning we decided to drive home. We felt our trip had had its best times, and we were definitely treading water trying to find a good mix of shade and good bike rides.

However, this thread will continue. It IS a year in Spain. So, it won't be too long before we're out and about in a different direction. I'll also post from around our home coasts and mountains.

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