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

[jumartoo]

Today was a totally different day. Less sun, but hardly any wind.

The last thing I searched before I got out of my bed was Wikiloc routes from here. I saved, even though I almost discarded, a route from 2013. We rode it this morning and it was, possibly, the nicest route we've done for a long time. We did have another route we wanted to do, but it had a third more climb. It's there for another time.

There was one part of today's ride that originally crossed, what is now, ploughed fields, but a gravel track has been made around the fields. I suspect the wind turbines weren't in situ in 2013 either.

We've seen our first large number of Almond trees in blossom. Spring isn't too far away now

We're breaking our own rules of not overstaying in one place and staying for another night, but we're not affecting anyone here, and everyone that passes has a "hola" a "buenas" or a wave.

There were some nice clouds. The rainbow ones before we left and the other on the ride.

On the via verde.

Almond blossom and .... old farm.

A "different" house.

And a photo of a nasty piece of plant. Millions here. Not good for bike tyres, dogs paws, bringing into the motorhome on the soles of shoes.

People passing have warned us for the bike tyres.

 

[cyberyacht]

Perhaps the Guardia use them for 'Stingers'

 

[jumartoo]

Perhaps the Guardia use them for 'Stingers'

Wouldn't be a bad idea. Thousands of the spiky bushes ready for action!

 

[scousebird]

Love the pic of the house - very unusual.

 

[jumartoo]

Love the pic of the house - very unusual.

We thought it may have been built on an old water tower. Or, maybe, that was the design from start to finish

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[jumartoo]

Haha we could be stuck here. They're digging up our exit!

He moved it, to let us out

 

[jumartoo]

We left Seron via the service area next to the Cepsa garage. We had a conversation about whether it belonged to them, or not. We think not, but it's a great service point.

We then drove to Baza. Picked up some diesel at €1.30.9 and then I shopped in Mercadona (instead of Lidl). We were then heading to Quesada, at the edge of the Sierra Cazorla y .......... parque natural. We stopped for coffee next to the Embalse de Negratin, then backtracked slightly to go to the newly opened (not yet finished) motorhome area at Bacor.

I'd previously found a Spanish TV video about a sculptor who lives in one of the caves there. Rafael Moya. I wanted to check out his work from outside, and above.

So we did.

One of the sculptures. With a recent addition

Then some of the cave houses, and some more of Rafael's work.

 

[jumartoo]

The TV video I'd seen about the sculptor of Bacor.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DmBI3OLoLNmI&ved=2ahUKEwjhgvfA5emDAxXRT6QEHT5ODaoQwqsBegQIExAE&usg=AOvVaw32cy_Af4CP9KdJSo2BY6GC

 

[gus-lopez]

And a photo of a nasty piece of plant. Millions here. Not good for bike tyres, dogs paws, bringing into the motorhome on the soles of shoes.

People passing have warned us for the bike tyres.

We have loads here.

 

[jumartoo]

We have loads here.

We haven't had a problem, as far as I'm aware, around our area.

They are pretty nasty though if you stand on them in bare feet

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[jumartoo]

Our night at Bacor was quiet. Just us and a German PVC. They're building a swimming pool next to the parking area so we imagine it will all be finished when the pool is up and running.

We needed gas so weve driven a lovely route (we've done it before) over to Quesada. Today it was quite foggy in patches. We got the gas though. It's a petrol station with motorhome services and washing machines, with easy access off the A315 bypassing Quesada in the direction of Torreperogil.

We may try the new motorhome area there next! There are also two new pay areas nearby. We'd like to try them as well.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Well as we haven't ridden today we don't have to re-charge our bikes...but....we have decided to re-fuel two cyclists instead....
So off we trot to the town to get some well earned scoff....you can tell I'm married to a Yorkshire lass...
We chose well and ordered some home cooked delights..
A Large mixed Salad. Share
B Spaghetti carbonara. Judith
C Cocido. Typical chickpea stew...Martin
D Steak and Chips.Judith
E Ham, Chorizo egg and Chips.Martin
F Natilla. Cold custard with a biscuit...Nice..Martin.
G Bottle of Red Wine. Share
H Coffee. Martin

A brisk walk back to motorhome to get out of the wind ...

The recovery walk was Free...the meal...13€ a head....well stuffed now...View attachment 855870

Chips look great!

 

[jumar]

Chips look great!

They were...as was the whole meal...when you see Gran cooking in the kitchen, you can guarantee some home made delights..,

 

[Helen Ariel]

They were...as was the whole meal...when you see Gran cooking in the kitchen, you can guarantee some home made delights..,

Too often end up with palid, soft chips in restaurants. How hard is it to do a chip?! Should be day one of restaurants school!

 

[Peavy]

Too often end up with palid, soft chips in restaurants. How hard is it to do a chip?! Should be day one of restaurants school!

Yeah, most are frozen, like the croquetas

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[jumar]

Yeah, most are frozen, like the croquetas

Correct...but when you get served fresh, home made Croquetas....

 

[Peavy]

Correct...but when you get served fresh, home made Croquetas....

Yess

 

[jumartoo]

We pulled in at Torreperogil and didn't stay. Parking under pines in winter isn't good. A good place for summer shade though.

We then drove the short distance to the next area. At Sabiote, under the castle walls. It was cloudy and grey, but we were greeted by the owner/manager? and supplied with a door mat. €7 for an overnight parking spot, with water on pitch and access to the service point. Leccy is €3 extra. There will eventually be showers and toilets also. We wish them well, and think they will do well.

We donned our jackets and went for a stroll.

Blue skies are now returning, the next few days are forecast sunny, but cold, then back to 20°+

 

[jumartoo]

Another quiet night. Just where do the doggy barking doomstayers stay when they make their comments about dogs barking all night


Anyway, we left our overnight spot and parked in a town en route to our present spot. We got the bikes out and had a road ride. The tracks are very muddy.

The road ride was OK.

We then skipped one of our favourite motorhome areas (Géneve) in favour of visiting a new area at a village we once rode through from the aforementioned parking.

The new area at Bienservida has eight marked parking spots with water and (free) electricity. There is ample space for about 25 more (if they park sensibly). We're one of three here atm. Dutch to the left of us, Germans to the right


Here's hoping for some good riding. We know we can do the Gèneve ride we did before, from here and back.

The sun is now shining brightly, and the next few days are forecast to be even better

Peavy just how should we pronounce the name of the village Géneve? We're pronouncing it the French way, but know that can't be right. Is it a hard or guttural G to begin?

 

[jumartoo]

The village between Génave and here (Villarodrigo) was where we stopped for coffee on our ride a few years ago.

An older guy (maybe our age ) sitting alone at a table was playing music. We said (between us) it wasn't our cuppa!

He walked across and answered us in perfect English.

He was a local, but left to work as a DJ in one of the popular tourist islands. I can't remember now which one he said. He worked there for 30+ years, and told us some interesting stories about the "guiries", mainly Brits!

He was a very interesting addition to our ride (he showed us some lovely photos). I hope we meet him again in the next few days. We can try to fit a trip to the same bar, at a similar time, to one of our rides

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[Peavy]

how should we pronounce the name of the village Géneve?

You should pronounce it like if it had a "j".
Like "jamón" or "jefe"
I found this entry in Wikipedia, is a voiceless uvular fricative

 

[jumartoo]

You should pronounce it like if it had a "j".
Like "jamón" or "jefe"
I found this entry in Wikipedia, is a voiceless uvular fricative

So not a hard G like in Gata de Gorgos?

So like "he (with a g somewhere in there) ... ne ... ve .. ??"

 

[Peavy]

So not a hard G like in Gata de Gorgos?

So like "he (with a g somewhere in there) ... ne ... ve .. ??"

That'll be it

 

[jumartoo]

That'll be it

Thank you

 

[daveinspain]

The letter G followed by either an i or an e is pronounced as the spanish J, unless you are in Calalunya or the Communidad Valenciana, where is is pronounced as a soft G. Confused? Most people are!

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[jumartoo]

The letter G followed by either an i or an e is pronounced as the spanish J, unless you are in Calalunya or the Communidad Valenciana, where is is pronounced as a soft G. Confused? Most people are!

Yes, but when we stayed in the Alicante region, Gata de Gorgos was (and still is I expect) pronounced with hard G's.

It was the G followed by the é that got us pondering the pronunciation.

 

[daveinspain]

Yes, it´s only the G followed by an i or e that changes, otherwise it´s a hard G as in Gata de Gorgos.

 

[Peavy]

Yes, it´s only the G followed by an i or e that changes, otherwise it´s a hard G as in Gata de Gorgos.

Best explanation from a non native
It's difficult to explain sounds that do not exist in english.

 

[jumartoo]

Best explanation from a non native (
It's difficult to explain sounds that do not exist in english.

We are normally pretty good at pronunciation nowadays. We have been caught out in the past with such places like Cehegin in our own region and even another nearby town called La Parroquia. We once asked a guy the way to La Parro ... quia, rather than La Parroquia.

It's all good fun and we have a laugh with most locals.

 

[jumartoo]

Now Peavy as a member of the Morning Funsters NMC (Nosy Mares Club) I really need to ask you how, when and why you learnt such good English.

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