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

[jumartoo]

Our ride today we've done once before. Sooo, we knew exactly what bit we could miss out this time. All the rest was rideable, even for little, old, me, except for a 100m or so along a channel. I'll still look at how we can miss out one section if we ride it again, and if I recommend it to certain friends. It was loose and stony, and "unpleasant".

Otherwise, it's a great route that takes in so many different parts of northern Murcia. Mountains, mill ruins, an archaeological site (the bit we missed out today), fruit growing areas, vegetable growing areas, a few villages, then a ride through a gorge to get us back to the "scary" ride through the town .

Winter seems to have arrived today, and our three layers of top clothes weren't sufficient. We were intending to sit out at a bar, somewhere on the way back, keeping an eye on the bikes, and have lunch. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.

Thank goodness for Mercadona Lentejas.

The beginning of our ride through Fuentes del Marques.

Then up past a new urbanisation (not completed yet) and down to the river.

I was tooooo slow with the camera for the water crossing.

A Shepherd, and his flock, made us wait for a few minutes.

Before we spent the next 40 minutes avoiding the hard bits, pushing one, impossible to ride bit.

To then, eventually arrive at the gorge of the Rio Quiopar.

And home, to warmth and food (and drink).

 

[jumartoo]

So far this evening we are down to four motohomes, and none of the other three are anywhere near us! One's a Brit as well but we've not had chance to speak.

Tomorrow we're heading slightly homeward, in the direction of Lorca. I've had a hankering for some time to try a ride from the village of Coy, that has an artificial beach where we can park. Will it be a mistake/mosquito or fly ridden, time will tell.

We also hope that one of the bars there will be open and serving food at lunchtime

 

[Jays2]

You will both have to ride with less battery power, that will warm you up!

 

[jumartoo]

You will both have to ride with less battery power, that will warm you up!

It may be easier to wear four layers, rather than only three

 

[jumartoo]

It may be easier to wear four layers, rather than only three

So today we wore an extra layer, and the sun shone on us as well.

We'd driven to the village of Coy, between Caravaca and Lorca, and a bit to the left. We were here some 10? years ago when we took part in a regional urban/terrain orienteering event. We've never ridden our bikes here, but my chance finding of their artificial beach, and some recent Wikiloc routes I'd found, combined to give us a final day before we head home tomorrow.

Parking
Riding
And, as it turned out, our lunch in the village was

The owner was more than welcoming and the food we had, basic, freshly cooked, was lovely. Just what we wanted.

The coffee liqueur we were given at the end of our meal was "lush" but we couldn't drink the teapot full! (The owner had asked us beforehand if we were leaving by car!)

The best day of our mini trip, all in all.

Foodie fotos will follow. They're on my fone!

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[jumartoo]

And our lunch

Basic, freshly cooked, and tasty, very tasty!

Salad

Potaje (potato and beans and chickpeas) and delicious!

Then we both had lamb. And the best lamb (Martin, as a lamb aficionado) has eaten in Spain.

Martin had a dessert. Flan de queso and he also had a Cortado coffee.

Photo taken half way.

Then our teapot of coffee liqueur.

A wonderful day.

 

[Mikey RV]

Our ride today we've done once before. Sooo, we knew exactly what bit we could miss out this time. All the rest was rideable, even for little, old, me, except for a 100m or so along a channel. I'll still look at how we can miss out one section if we ride it again, and if I recommend it to certain friends. It was loose and stony, and "unpleasant".

Otherwise, it's a great route that takes in so many different parts of northern Murcia. Mountains, mill ruins, an archaeological site (the bit we missed out today), fruit growing areas, vegetable growing areas, a few villages, then a ride through a gorge to get us back to the "scary" ride through the town .

Winter seems to have arrived today, and our three layers of top clothes weren't sufficient. We were intending to sit out at a bar, somewhere on the way back, keeping an eye on the bikes, and have lunch. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.

Thank goodness for Mercadona Lentejas.

The beginning of our ride through Fuentes del Marques.
View attachment 831969View attachment 831968View attachment 831967

Then up past a new urbanisation (not completed yet) and down to the river.

View attachment 831973View attachment 831972View attachment 831971

I was tooooo slow with the camera for the water crossing.

A Shepherd, and his flock, made us wait for a few minutes.
View attachment 831974

Before we spent the next 40 minutes avoiding the hard bits, pushing one, impossible to ride bit.
View attachment 831975

To then, eventually arrive at the gorge of the Rio Quiopar.
View attachment 831978View attachment 831979
View attachment 831976View attachment 831977

And home, to warmth and food (and drink).

Impossible bit to ride, there is a loverly flat piece of concrete beside you.

 

[jumartoo]

Impossible bit to ride, there is a loverly flat piece of concrete beside you.

You ride it, I'll film it

 

[Mikey RV]

No problem next time I am in Spain.

 

[Jays2]

€45.89 for the meal?

looks lovely

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[jumartoo]

€45.89 for the meal?

looks lovely

€28 without tip

 

[Jays2]

That was A bargain!

As a poor communicator in Spanish , plus 1/2 of the couple are vegetarian we tend to miss out on eating out.

Maybe I am just FOMO?

 

[jumartoo]

FOMO?

???

Being vegetarian in some of the small villages in Spain can be difficult. Although there's always eggs and chips

In the bigger places there's much more choice.

 

[jumartoo]

This guy, and his horse, walked by yesterday evening. We've just seen that he was a neighbour of ours overnight.

 

[jumar]

No problem next time I am in Spain.

9" of lovely flat concrete....walking on it would be my limit...wouldn't want to damage my bike trying, or come to think of it....damage me..

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[Jays2]

FOMO
Fear
of
missing
out!

 

[jumartoo]

We had a lovely sunset tonight from our terrace.

 

[jumartoo]

The next 7 days weather forecast for here . We are going to have to go searching for shade again.

 

[Littlewheels]

Stop it……….

 

[jumartoo]

We had a day at home today. I went and did some shopping and Martin had another stab at some rewiring in the camper to charge his new ebike in the van garage.

We'd then invited our Norwegian friends to come for lunch, and they were the first to sample our airfryer cooking. Everything was eaten so it seems

Tomorrow we're out for a birthday lunch. Monday morning we're preparing the van to go away again on Tuesday, visiting our new doctor to update our prescriptions, then we're invited to the Norwegians' apartment for lunch.

It'll be nice to get away and stop eating so much

We had a different sunset tonight. No two are the same.

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[jumartoo]

Yesterday was a different day for us. We went out for a meal with other guiries, invited by Funster (not a regular poster) Barrackslass Irene, for her 60th birthday, today.

We really enjoyed it.

Today, was a day of two halves (and the second half is yet to be savored).

We've almost got the van ready for travel tomorrow. Just some bike repairs to do to leave one of our bikes for our Dutch neighbour to use whilst we're away. (There appears to be some problems with a tyre, so, I'm hoping all will be well soonest). The Dutch neighbour is now taking Martin, wheel, and tyre, to a garage with an air point. We're invited to a Viking lunch in about an hours time, I so hope they get back sooooon.

 

[jumartoo]

But this morning we had a few "jobs" to do.

One of them was to renew our (Martin's mainly) prescriptions at the local health centre.

We met our new doctor, who didn't speak even one word of English with us (we can't complain about that) but she's sending me to the hospital for tests for my tinnitus. I'd have preferred another nasal spray, but ....

Then, our paper health centre docs had expired, so the receptionist couldn’t make me an appointment at the hospital for an ear test, so we now have to go back, next Monday, to renew our paper.)

The receptionista told us we don't need an updated Padrón to do this. Await the next installment

Anyway, we're going for a short trip away, beginning tomorrow morning, and the first stop at a free motorhome parking at Velez Rubio (Almeria region) will, hopefully, see us meeting Dutch friends (ex Funsters) Famedebree where we'll take them on a suitable bike ride.

Watch this space .....

 

[CAB96]

View attachment 832286

What's Martin doing, getting in the way of your van picture

 

[CAB96]

And what do you classify as cold anyway

 

[jumartoo]

And what do you classify as cold anyway

Four top clothes layers. Cold enough for us!

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[jumartoo]

After our few stressful days at home, we've left again. We'd had contact with ex Funsters, the Dutch FamdeBree, who were in the area and who we could meet up with for a catch up.

To our surprise, just after we arrived, Martin was hailed by a Brit (Welsh) voice. Keith and Sandra were here also. (More ex? Funsters)
Anyway. We ended up riding, with just the two of us. Keith may do the same ride, tomorrow. We were so glad we didn't all go out as a group of, very, mixed abilities, because I've now uprated my Wikiloc route from its previous easy (just what was I thinking at that time) to moderate.

Even though I was a bit wobbly on one of the descents, overall the route is lovely and it goes through some stunning rocky terrain.

And when we returned, we had the pleasure of meeting up and spending the afternoon with, Wilf and Yvonne.

It's been a very hot day here, especially for November, but the nights are cooold.

 

[Jays2]

Basically on your experience on the wikiloc experience we have now paid for the app, along with park for the night, must be getting soft in my older age!

In a wetter more northern area, really appreciate the extra daylight travelling south in the winter give us.

Hopefully just before Christmas, as only allowed 90 days!

At the moment.

 

[jumartoo]

There are ten official places here and we have one, unofficially, squeezed in between us and Wilf and Yvonne. Inland, in November more vans here in one night than we've seen here in all the years we've been in Spain put together.

I hate to think how rammed the coastal areas will be, and the busy time is yet to come.

 

[gus-lopez]

Irene, for her 60th birthday, today.

Happy birthday Irene Barrackslass & I hope you had a lovely day.

The receptionista told us we don't need an updated Padrón to do this

Here when we renew the paper is stamped & valid for the 4 year period & is only superceeded by the card when/if it turns up. If it has run out after 4 years definitely need a padron here.

It's been a very hot day here, especially for November,

I know it is ridiculous temps at the moment for the time of year. Far too hot for me on the roof today working in a T shirt.

 

[jumartoo]

This morning we said adios to our Dutch and Welsh friends. With hope we'll meet up again sometime soon.

We drove for an hour to the village of Pueblo de Don Fadrique, and where we've stayed and ridden from before.

Today we rode the same route, but this time we had some autumn colours. We really need to try a different route. Next time maybe?

We saw autumn yellow and gold, and lots of pines with mistletoe! The fields of lavender are now, again, dormant. We must see them at their best, sometime.

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