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

[cyberyacht]

A few photos of the area.

Probably all out of order, but you get an idea.

View attachment 875229

Is that donkey Hotey that we hear so much about?

 

[jumartoo]

We were awake early, itching to get out on our trip. (I remembered to do Polarsteps as well). Martin brought the motorhome back to our parking area at 7 am and it was packed and we were on our way just before 8 am (our ETL).

The Repsol garage where we pulled in for LPG (GPL) had a delivery truck delivering, so we continued to Molina de Segura where we spent €16 to top up. I'd found a place nearby to get diesel at €1.30 so they got our custom as well.

It was easy access back onto the motorway in the direction of Albacete. We left the A30 at Hellin and came here x country on a good road.

I won the "guess how many" with my guess of 5. A few have since left but others are now arriving.

Our spot, next to the fence for bike fettling.

And my bike awaiting fettling.

 

[jumartoo]

We had a brilliant ride. So easy, and no problems. It was nice to get onto a track with Don Quixote markers so we knew we weren't going to arrive at a gate or fence.

There are a few adjustments to make to my bike, but my first impression is that it's a better fit for me than the blue bike, on which I rode almost 17,000 km.

The riding position is good for my back, but it's lower to the ground with its smaller wheels.

I think I'm going to enjoy my riding even more from now on.

 

[jumartoo]

Is that donkey Hotey that we hear so much about?

Well as Brit pronunciation, I guess it is!

Or was that Don Qwiksote

 

[Littlewheels]

The riding position is good for my back, but it's lower to the ground with its smaller wheels.

Coincidentally l have a Specilized Levo that l love but as l’ve got older my inside leg has shrunk by 2”. I obtained some Mavic 27” wheels that are seriously free running and it transformed my enjoyment and is light and day better than the 29”.
Enjoy your new ride.

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[jumartoo]

Coincidentally l have a Specilized Levo that l love but as l’ve got older my inside leg has shrunk by 2”. I obtained some Mavic 27” wheels that are seriously free running and it transformed my enjoyment and is light and day better than the 29”.
Enjoy your new ride.

I do seem to be much more comfortable on a bike with the smaller wheels. My old bike wasn't suitable to change the wheels (according to the manufacturer).

Thanks for your comment

 

[jumartoo]

We set off on a Komoot planned route. Within 10 minutes of Martin saying, one day we'll come to a locked gate, we came to a locked gate .

We (Martin) then spent quite some time trying to reroute. We eventually decided to set off down a sketchy track. For the most part it was rideable, but we walked down a very short, rough section. We arrived at a junction of big tracks (with big dogs, but friendly and behind a fence) where more route planning was done.

All in all we managed to cobble together a good ride.

Our nearest neighbour here is a Murciano, from Calasparra. He's also got an ebike and .... he's ridden over 22,000 km in 2.5 years on his bike, and he's 75 years old.

I thought I'd done well with my almost 17,000 km in almost four years

Me

Martin crossing a stream

Spot the mountainbiker!

The dogs (I think) one looked more like a bear ...... but

Martin just had to go to say hello.

Viewpoint of a dark sky venue.

And me, again.

Just as we got back to the van, this took off from nearby.

It's been another lovely day in our lives.

 

[gus-lopez]

Yes I recognise Donqui.

 

[jumartoo]

Yes I recognise Donqui.

It seemed very apt that we met him on the route. He kept following us in preference to going in the opposite direction with its owner

 

[jumartoo]

Our near Spanish neighbour is from Calasparra, and we have been given his phone number to contact him when we're back home to go to ride with him .

We had a very easy ride, with no closed areas. One private area allowed access on the track, but no taking photos! Why?? No importa.

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[jumartoo]

Sorry, posting was cut short as I was cooking whilst posting, and also taking time out to speak to Dutch and then German visitors.

We've now eaten our Mercadona Chicken Fajitas, with added onions and red peppers, teamed with Basmati, rice, it was "lush"

 

[jumartoo]

Soooo, our ride went through the village and out on a wide track. It did go through a private area, but it was allowed.

We arrived at the village of Peñascosa and continued on the minor road to the Santuario de Nuestro Señora de Cortes. I took a photo, before we arrived at parking carnage . Sunday, who expects it to be tranquil on Sunday?

Sooo, we continued downhill, missing the walking penetants by careful navigation, to arrive at the parking area for our return route on the via verde.

 

[jumartoo]

The Sanctuario is very special, to the locals and even from those further afield.

Today's photo.

Will be teamed with photos from a previous visit, when I can locate them

 

[jumartoo]

Well blow me down with a feather, it appears it was May 2021 when we were last visiting the Sanctuario.

My photos are from then.

 

[jumartoo]

We've had some great conversations here. Firstly with Federico, our Calasparra amigo.

Then we spoke to a Dutch couple, working from "home" at their own business. And then we spoke to a German couple, with a 4x4 landrover type vehicle. All four were nice people. But all four, like us, are worried that the sheer numbers of motorhomes will call a halt to motorhoming as we know it.

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[daveinspain]

Totally agree with you, that´s our worry too.

 

[jumartoo]

We didn't go into the Sanctuary yesterday, Sunday was a bad day to visit. There were many cars parked, and just down the road there are fields, on both sides of the road, that are used for the fiesta. And a building that's opened up for toilets and a shop. It's always seemed strange to us when we've parked there totally alone, but yesterday gave us a taster of what happens.

We're not riding today. We're heading to Lezuza motorhome area, via a shop, and hoping to find somewhere open for lunch on a Monday.

 

[Jenben]

We are enjoying your travels Judith , we might follow you on your route in the next week or so

 

[jumartoo]

We are enjoying your travels Judith , we might follow you on your route in the next week or so

It's a great area for gentle riding, good for gravel bikes not only mountainbikes.

 

[Mark and Mindy]

Really enjoying this thread, we've decided we won't go back into Europe until we have one/no dogs, its just too hard to juggle things with 1 reactive dog and 1 nervous/anxious dog (brought about by the other's reactivity). However, its giving me lots of ideas and thoughts about where we'd like to go in a couple of years or so.

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[jumartoo]

We're now having coffee in the van at Lezuza, before heading up to look at the castle and Roman ruins. I don't know how much we'll see because it's closed until Wednesday.

We drove in on a very nice, straight, road, obviously the Romans had been there before us.

The castle

 

[Jenben]

It's a great area for gentle riding, good for gravel bikes not only mountainbikes.

Yes we thought it might be ok for our gravel bikes from your photos

 

[Russell's Dad]

I'd found a place nearby to get diesel at €1.30 so they got our custom as well.

What garage?
We are in Los Rodeos visiting friends (Paella festival yesterday) , then going tomorrow to Molina de Segura to stay at the Aire ( its really just a busy car park with motorhome bays and services) until the shops open on Wednesday (Tuesday is a holiday in Murcia).

 

[jumartoo]

What garage?
We are in Los Rodeos visiting friends (Paella festival yesterday) , then going tomorrow to Molina de Segura to stay at the Aire ( its really just a busy car park with motorhome bays and services) until the shops open on Wednesday (Tuesday is a holiday in Murcia).

We went to Froet-Gas. I use Fuel Flash to find the best prices.

It's come down a tad now.

 

[jumartoo]

We walked up to the remnants of the castle and the old Roman village of Libiscosa. It appears the closed bit is the information/visitor centre. Well we walked around the archaeological area unchallenged, anyway.

Billy no Mates, once again.

We have hazy sun, and it's very warm.

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[jumartoo]

I don't often post food photos, but today I will.

Our lunch at the nearest bar to here was pretty good. Just the MDD but tasty.

We started with tortilla tapas and a basket of bread.

Then I had chicken stew. A bit bony, but very tasty.

And Martin had pork in tomato.

Then I had cod, chips and egg

And Martin had Chorizo

One sausage is now in our fridge to add to something for tomorrow's lunch

And added to by a piece of Pan de Calatrava (bread pudding from Calatrava) that I ordered but didn't intend to eat.

Martin had a chocolate and walnut cake, and a coffee.

Total bill, €24.

Bargain.

 

[gus-lopez]

We went to Froet-Gas.

There is one of those at the next exit Following L' eclerc fuel on the ronda sur at Murcia.Always same price as L'Eclerc

I don't often post food photos, but today I will.

Our lunch at the nearest bar to here was pretty good. Just the MDD but tasty.

We started with tortilla tapas and a basket of bread.

View attachment 876882

Then I had chicken stew. A bit bony, but very tasty.
View attachment 876883
And Martin had pork in tomato.
View attachment 876884

Then I had cod, chips and egg
View attachment 876885

And Martin had Chorizo
View attachment 876880

One sausage is now in our fridge to add to something for tomorrow's lunch

And added to by a piece of Pan de Calatrava (bread pudding from Calatrava) that I ordered but didn't intend to eat.

Martin had a chocolate and walnut cake, and a coffee.
View attachment 876881

Total bill, €24.

Bargain.

looks great.

 

[jumar]

There is one of those at the next exit Following L' eclerc fuel on the ronda sur at Murcia.Always same price as L'Eclerc

looks great.

Actually it was superb home style cooking... couldn't fault anything and it was only a couple of minutes walk from the camperstop.
About to say, we will be alone tonight when in trundles a Dutch MH...so that's just two of us..

 

[jumartoo]

At the entrance to the village was a map board and a QR code for mountainbike routes. I now have hundreds of routes on my phone . We only want one. Anyone have idea how I get rid of then all?

Edit

Just thinking, they're on Wikiloc, maybe they're not actually on my phone??

 

[jumartoo]

Anyway. I'd picked a route and WhatsApp'd it to Martin, so today that's the route we took. Easy ?! not particularly easy, but well within our capabilities.

We arrived back to the van, safely, but decided to pack up and drive to the El Bonillo motorhome area. If we get the forecast rain tomorrow, the surface here is better for driving on. We have one, Italian, neighbour.

(We were last here on the last day of our 6 day Don Quixote ride last year. We'd stopped, and eaten in the square. Sandwiches only, but delicious all the same. Martin, David and Kay then zoomed off, leaving me stranded with a bike that didn't want to start!

It was absolutely ages before they stopped and came to look for me .)

All in the past. Tomorrow is another day, and I have some routes in mind that we can do before the, alleged, rain comes.

How else, other than bikes, can we get to explore parts of Spain (and anywhere, really) that others don't get to see?

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