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

[Helen Ariel]

Cieza fruit blossom ride. It's doable by vehicle, even buses of tourists drive around the paved roads. We were slightly too late for the best blooms.

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What time is best usually? We'll be back in Spain and out cycling in a couple of weeks.

 

[scousebird]

I hope Martin's knee settles down soon.

 

[jumartoo]

What time is best usually? We'll be back in Spain and out cycling in a couple of weeks.

Normally mid Feb to mid March. The year we went it started late, but quickly caught up. This year it seems to be starting early. You should catch a good part of it.

 

[jumartoo]

I hope Martin's knee settles down soon.

Thanks Helen.

 

[jumartoo]

Heaven???

Peavy will never understand

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[davidroxburgh]

Thank you for all your posting and pictures. We have another 6 odd weeks before seeing family in Southern Spain. Your thread keeps me going!

 

[Peavy]

@Peavy will never understand

210 teabags!
But if it's "outstanding", must be worth it
I hope jumar Martin's knee gets better soon.

 

[jumartoo]

I went for a mountain walk today with neighbours/friends. We headed up on a regularly walked and biked route in Sierra Espuña, until we came to an obstruction. The finca owners really didn't want us to continue! From their notice it appears they are fed up with people taking advantage/being inconsiderate so the path is closed until some possible alternative is agreed with the Park officials and the police.

Such a shame . We didn’t try to go on, we about turned and went back the way we'd come.

Once back at the car we did go up to La Santa for a drink before heading home. The church is as stunning now as it was the first time we saw it.

The parking there has made it onto P4N and at lunchtime today there were 6 motorhomes parked, chairs out!

 

[Jays2]

Think the blocking would have been a red rag to me!
But as I get older and wiser ( not sure) I tend to back of.

Chairs out is another situation which is becoming more prevalent and not one we do.

I find being out all day walking or cycling around you do not want to sit in the sun, saying that I have never sat in the sun for very long!

Check out the older population who have, a rhino skin comes to mind.

 

[jumartoo]

Think the blocking would have been a red rag to me!
But as I get older and wiser ( not sure) I tend to back of.

Chairs out is another situation which is becoming more prevalent and not one we do.

I find being out all day walking or cycling around you do not want to sit in the sun, saying that I have never sat in the sun for very long!

Check out the older population who have, a rhino skin comes to mind.

By the time we've been out on the bikes for around three hours or so, we're happy to relax in the van. We don't like to sit in the sun anyway and I don't find camping chairs to be very comfortable.

We've seen the mahogany skinned sun worshippers

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[suavecarve]

Today had been far better than anticipated. Shortly after we set off on a ride, the sun broke through, and it's been a sunny day ever since.

We set off for about 9 km down the via verde in the Albacete direction and then left it to do a loop around. A 700 metre tunnel had us hesitating (we'd not brought torches) but the light eventually came on. An almost invisible track made us use the road instead of following the planned route and we eventually made it to the village of El Ballestero, from where we had one of the nicest rides we've had for a long time. About 9km of winding track, hardly any stones, through olives, Kermes Oaks and a few planted fields. We were both expecting to be stopped by a fence or gate, but the area was totally open.

We were intending to head to the motorhome area of El Bonilllo afterwards. There's free leccy there that we thought we might need for charging. But lunchtime was on us, and the sun has been strong enough to charge the batteries. We'll drive there in the morning now.

We have two more neighbours, both Germans. It's a popular stop off for them.

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At last via Verde that we have a chance of getting on next month ! Thanking you loads

 

[Tigertom]

I recognise the trail with the tree and picnic folk, ridden it many times up and down.
It’s not that one that’s blocked is it…….we’re hoping to be out there in another month.

 

[jumar]

I recognise the trail with the tree and picnic folk, ridden it many times up and down.
It’s not that one that’s blocked is it…….we’re hoping to be out there in another month.

This is the one.

 

[jumartoo]

I recognise the trail with the tree and picnic folk, ridden it many times up and down.
It’s not that one that’s blocked is it…….we’re hoping to be out there in another month.

The trail that's blocked is local to us in Sierra Espuña.

 

[Tigertom]

Yes, I usually approach it from La Charca……I was just wondering where it was blocked.
What would make someone block it, surely there’s very little that can be abused/ vandalised up there.

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[jumartoo]

Yes, I usually approach it from La Charca……I was just wondering where it was blocked.
What would make someone block it, surely there’s very little that can be abused/ vandalised up there.

Sorry, just seen your reply. It IS the trail approached from La Charca. The right hand side trail after the Mirador. There's an old casita, and bread oven up there. We used to ride through it. There was then a detour around it. The detour is now the bit that's well and truly blocked.

Some friends of ours say the finca has been bought by Germans, who have blocked the access. How true this is, I can't say, but if it is true the local Spanish won't let it drop, and will access their long standing access rights.

I'll be awaiting the outcome with interest.

 

[jumartoo]

Although we're home, we haven't been totally housebound. I've had a few solo rides, as well as my walk with friends.

My first solo ride was on a brocolli forage (I came back with a sink full to my surprise, my backpack is very small ) and yesterday I picked lemons up from the ground. It was very windy last week so there are a lot of windfalls.

Today was a bit different. Martin went to help the Vikings (Norwegian friends) try to set up their antique TV. It's not able to pick up HD signals, so on Wednesday he's taking them out to buy a new set. I went for a 5km stroll around the outside of the golf course, then we went to the Port to meet friends for lunch at Viggos.

Viggos was as good as usual and we had a lovely few hours catching up.

First solo ride, along the Guadalentin ZEPA site.

Then yesterday's solo ride.

And today, at the Port. Same old photos .......

Tomorrow the van goes back to the van hospital, hopefully to come back as good as new

 

[jumartoo]

The van is out of hospital and we're about a €grand less in the bank. My bike back wheel was the next to go to Bike hospital. Luckily that repair wasn't nearly as expensive. BUT my Galaxy tab now has a cracked screen amd that repair will cost something in between, but nearer the lower end, luckily!

This does sound a bit like the Goldilock (greylocks in my case) and the three Bears saga

I had another solo ride, photos from there, and tomorrow I'm walking with Vikings in Sierra Espuña (weather permitting).

There are six Vikings heading to walk Hadrians Wall in the summer. Jan and Eli are training.

 

[Peavy]

Little hickjack of your thread just to inform... I found a green tea bag, but it was awful
Would there be Yorkshire tea in Mercadona?

 

[jumartoo]

Little hickjack of your thread just to inform... I found a green tea bag, but it was awful
Would there be Yorkshire tea in Mercadona?
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Green tea is NOTHING like Yorkshire Tea. If I wasn't a polite person I'd tell you to " wash your mouth out" .

We're back home and, if we really need to, we can buy more teabags from the local "English" shop.

Teabags are the only thing we regularly buy that aren't traditionally Spanish

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[Jays2]

I think green tea is an acquired taste!
As we don’t drink tea ( only if that’s all that’s on offer) we drink mint tea, so green tea with its healthy benefits was not hard to change too.
Also not having milk in any hot drink which we learned from an experienced African traveler many years ago also helps.
The reason for no milk, hard to keep without a fridge.

 

[jumartoo]

Our mountain walk today was cancelled. It rained! It was still black in the hills. So Jan and Eli came to do a local walk with me, whilst Martin prepared lunch for us all.

We walked from wet ground onto a bone dry via verde. The almond blossom on the nearest terraces are stunning. The photos don't do them justice at all.

Jan and Eli have had an apartment here from the beginning (2008) and have never walked along the via verde!

On the bike saga, it's all repaired and back together. It had a totally disintegrated hub bearing. Weather permitting I'll try it out tomorrow.

 

[gus-lopez]

Would there be Yorkshire tea in Mercadona?

The only decent tea in mercadona is PG tips

 

[jumartoo]

My bike is repaired, and Martin's knee swelling has reduced, so we were going to try a short ride today. The weather gods had a different idea and, although we have blue skies, we also have very strong winds.

Riding scrapped. Maybe tomorrow or Monday now.

We had just started lunch when Martin spotted this wind blown cloud.

A different shaped cloud to add to our, small, library

 

[MichaelT]

My bike is repaired, and Martin's knee swelling has reduced, so we were going to try a short ride today. The weather gods had a different idea and, although we have blue skies, we also have very strong winds.

Riding scrapped. Maybe tomorrow or Monday now.

We had just started lunch when Martin spotted this wind blown cloud.

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A different shaped cloud to add to our, small, library

We are in Villaricos and last couple of days the wind has been horrendous even with the levellers down. Forecast is 24 Monday though

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[jumartoo]

We are in Villaricos and last couple of days the wind has been horrendous even with the levellers down. Forecast is 24 Monday though

Yeah, maybe a bit of dampness tomorrow (it would be welcomed here by all but the tourists) then it seems its back to low to mid 20's for the next week.

 

[jumartoo]

I think I might forecast a wet and windy (definitely wet) Easter here, like we had a few years ago.

The rain HAS to come sometime

 

[Peavy]

I think I might forecast a wet and windy (definitely wet) Easter here, like we had a few years ago.

The rain HAS to come sometime

Hope you're right
As you may know, ships are being prepared to transport water to Barcelona.

 

[jumartoo]

Hope you're right
As you may know, ships are being prepared to transport water to Barcelona.

 

[jumartoo]

Hope you're right
As you may know, ships are being prepared to transport water to Barcelona.

I think we'll move into the van. We use much less water there. When you have to fill and empty, you are more aware

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