Looks good that area
It's autumn in Spain, we're on the road again
- Thread starter jumartoo
- Start date
Brilliant, my idea of a great trip.
OP
OP
This morning everything was dripping wet with condensation. I could hear it dripping onto the roof and, at first, I thought it was raining or at least foggy, but no, it was just moisture laden air.
By 10.30 it was sunny and we were ready to go. We rode along the via verde in a westerly direction. All the tunnels that had lights lit up on our approach (we'd got headtorches jic) not like last time when they stayed dark and our lights struggled.
From the last tunnel we then took a, new to us, track alongside a small river, crossing a shallow Ford, and climbing up to a small village (La Hoz). There was a few kilometres of quiet road (AB 519) to Peñascosa, which has a motorhome service point, next to the weighbridge and the Internet mast, but no official parking. Just down the minor road towards the cemetery there's ample flat, gravelly, ground for parking.
From there, a wide track took us through a Finca and into Robledo.
We were back at the van just in time for lunch
which for us is around 2 pm.
The Spanish (or Catalan) neighbours are staying here again also. He borrowed our ladders to clean his solar panel earlier and tomorrow he's going to Riopar and to see the waterfall at the start of the Rio Mundo. I expect it to be quite stunning right now.
Along the via verde and the last tunnel.
Road bridge and viaducts on the via verde
The Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Cortes. We didn't visit today, we were there in March.
In La Hoz
Peñascosa
Church in Robledo
By 10.30 it was sunny and we were ready to go. We rode along the via verde in a westerly direction. All the tunnels that had lights lit up on our approach (we'd got headtorches jic) not like last time when they stayed dark and our lights struggled.
From the last tunnel we then took a, new to us, track alongside a small river, crossing a shallow Ford, and climbing up to a small village (La Hoz). There was a few kilometres of quiet road (AB 519) to Peñascosa, which has a motorhome service point, next to the weighbridge and the Internet mast, but no official parking. Just down the minor road towards the cemetery there's ample flat, gravelly, ground for parking.
From there, a wide track took us through a Finca and into Robledo.
We were back at the van just in time for lunch
which for us is around 2 pm.The Spanish (or Catalan) neighbours are staying here again also. He borrowed our ladders to clean his solar panel earlier and tomorrow he's going to Riopar and to see the waterfall at the start of the Rio Mundo. I expect it to be quite stunning right now.
Along the via verde and the last tunnel.
Road bridge and viaducts on the via verde
The Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Cortes. We didn't visit today, we were there in March.
In La Hoz
Peñascosa
Church in Robledo
OP
OP
OP
OP
It's cold here (van heating was on earlier). Moving on today to the free, with leccy, motorhome area inside the gates of a bullring. You need to send an email to get the gate code. Martin did that yesterday evening and got the code by return. He then received a further email wishing us a good stay, and giving us information of local things to see, places to eat, where the bread shop is, etc. This village is tiny, so someone is progressive. Reports on P4N for last week during the storms said that the police came to check is all was OK and handed over a bag of muffins. Will they do the same for us??? Trouble is Martin's not eating cakes, and I never do. I wonder if we can ask for a bottle of olive oil instead 
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- Sep 7, 2017
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Sounds very progressive, where is this?It's cold here (van heating was on earlier). Moving on today to the free, with leccy, motorhome area inside the gates of a bullring. You need to send an email to get the gate code. Martin did that yesterday evening and got the code by return. He then received a further email wishing us a good stay, and giving us information of local things to see, places to eat, where the bread shop is, etc. This village is tiny, so someone is progressive. Reports on P4N for last week during the storms said that the police came to check is all was OK and handed over a bag of muffins. Will they do the same for us??? Trouble is Martin's not eating cakes, and I never do. I wonder if we can ask for a bottle of olive oil instead
That sounds great. Expect the unexpected sometimes
OP
OP
It's here. Blue dot in the centre.
It wouldn't suit a lot of people as the village isn't a tourist trap. We like this area because the biking is extensive and easy.
suavecarve
LIFE MEMBER
Thanks for another journey. You are spot on for where we are aiming this March and 3 out of the 3 aires have already made it onto our updated map.
OP
OP
It was forecast to be a grey, cool day today, so we decided to have a knee rest day. Sods Law that the sun has made an appearance.
Never mind. We've walked into the village, up to the windmill and then into the square. The church and old theatre and town hall are nice buildings. There was a parcel delivery van parked right in front of the theatre. We thought he was leaving, the engine was running, but he kept getting a parcel and disappearing again. We went into the church and he was still there when we came out, but lucky for us, he left shortly afterwards
We're taking advantage of the leccy to airfry a jacket spud each (potato Peavy ). It does work off the inverter but an hour is a long time to be running it.
Town Hall (ayuntamiento)
Old theatre. We ate there on the last day of our first Don Quixote bike ride. They now do a menu del dia, then we only got a sandwich, but each one would have fed two. They wrapped half up for us to take away!
Never mind. We've walked into the village, up to the windmill and then into the square. The church and old theatre and town hall are nice buildings. There was a parcel delivery van parked right in front of the theatre. We thought he was leaving, the engine was running, but he kept getting a parcel and disappearing again. We went into the church and he was still there when we came out, but lucky for us, he left shortly afterwards
We're taking advantage of the leccy to airfry a jacket spud each (potato Peavy ). It does work off the inverter but an hour is a long time to be running it.
Town Hall (ayuntamiento)
Old theatre. We ate there on the last day of our first Don Quixote bike ride. They now do a menu del dia, then we only got a sandwich, but each one would have fed two. They wrapped half up for us to take away!
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- Sep 7, 2017
- 1,392
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Thanks, looks good.
OP
OP
It's cold and grey this morning but, if it doesn't rain, we're wrapping up and going out on the bikes.
We've seen snow forecast in various parts of Spain for next week. We'll be watching the weather closely and deciding on our direction of travel.
We've seen snow forecast in various parts of Spain for next week. We'll be watching the weather closely and deciding on our direction of travel.
For those out there who have asked where or how we decide on the bikes routes we take, below is a route I planned for today...its mostly off road, suitable for MTB. Hybrid or Gravel bikes.
Once planned with the Komoot app on my phone, I then send it to Judith who uploads it to a Garmin Bike GPS..I also do the same on my device..
The route is followed with turn by turn instructions and on completion it remains stored on our phones or tablets...
Once planned with the Komoot app on my phone, I then send it to Judith who uploads it to a Garmin Bike GPS..I also do the same on my device..
The route is followed with turn by turn instructions and on completion it remains stored on our phones or tablets...
OP
OP
We donned many layers and went out. We didn't get wet but we did get quite cold at times. The ride was along a lot of Don Quixote marked tracks. One part of Martin's planned route was no entry, but that was just a detour that went through a farm and back out onto the main track, so we stayed on the main track.
The end of the ride was more undulating through some forested areas and then we passed the golf course and some lovely cabins in a small area of trees.
We'd just got back to the van and the guy from the Spanish van next to us asked us if we'd come through the village, and did we know if there was a ferreteria (hardware store) there. We'd actually just seen one and gave him directions. He then asked if we spoke English. He's Scottish and we were conversing in Spanish. His Spanish is excellent, his wife/partner is Spanish and doesn't speak any English.
Martin asked him what he needed from the ferreteria. He'd come away without a cable for his computer so he wanted to buy a Spanish plug to rewire a cable he had. Martin found one in his "spares" box and donated it.
They live in Huelva and are travelling around looking at properties, possibly in Murcia, so that they've not got so far to travel to get to other parts of Europe. We'll have another chat before we part ways.
Basic
The first bit of blue
My Wikiloc route
The end of the ride was more undulating through some forested areas and then we passed the golf course and some lovely cabins in a small area of trees.
We'd just got back to the van and the guy from the Spanish van next to us asked us if we'd come through the village, and did we know if there was a ferreteria (hardware store) there. We'd actually just seen one and gave him directions. He then asked if we spoke English. He's Scottish and we were conversing in Spanish
. His Spanish is excellent, his wife/partner is Spanish and doesn't speak any English.Martin asked him what he needed from the ferreteria. He'd come away without a cable for his computer so he wanted to buy a Spanish plug to rewire a cable he had. Martin found one in his "spares" box and donated it.
They live in Huelva and are travelling around looking at properties, possibly in Murcia, so that they've not got so far to travel to get to other parts of Europe. We'll have another chat before we part ways.
Basic
The first bit of blue
My Wikiloc route
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- Sep 7, 2017
- 1,392
- 5,577
- Funster No
- 50,394
What a coincidenceWe donned many layers and went out. We didn't get wet but we did get quite cold at times. The ride was along a lot of Don Quixote marked tracks. One part of Martin's planned route was no entry, but that was just a detour that went through a farm and back out onto the main track, so we stayed on the main track.
The end of the ride was more undulating through some forested areas and then we passed the golf course and some lovely cabins in a small area of trees.
We'd just got back to the van and the guy from the Spanish van next to us asked us if we'd come through the village, and did we know if there was a ferreteria (hardware store) there. We'd actually just seen one and gave him directions. He then asked if we spoke English. He's Scottish and we were conversing in Spanish
Martin asked him what he needed from the ferreteria. He'd come away without a cable for his computer so he wanted to buy a Spanish plug to rewire a cable he had. Martin found one in his "spares" box and donated it.
They live in Huelva and are travelling around looking at properties, possibly in Murcia, so that they've not got so far to travel to get to other parts of Europe. We'll have another chat before we part ways.
View attachment 976301View attachment 976302View attachment 976300
Basic
View attachment 976308
The first bit of blue
View attachment 976306View attachment 976307View attachment 976309View attachment 976305
My Wikiloc route
OP
OP
It's been sunny, but cold today, but not daunted we donned our three layers (one a duvet jacket ) and went riding. What a difference the direction of travel makes. Yesterday was flat and fast, today was undulating/hilly and, because of hills, there were some water washed channels at times.
We made a few mistakes where the tracks weren't very clear, but we got back onto our route. One track was very overgrown with small trees and bushes and we had to fight our way through (see photo)!
We saw a fast fox and lots of unidentified Eagles and some Red Kites. All in all it was a ride worth doing.
It appears we have two more days of sunny, cold wind, weather before it turns wet again, with snow at fairly low levels. We've got to make our travel plans later.
I challenge anyone to ride this bit!
) and went riding. What a difference the direction of travel makes. Yesterday was flat and fast, today was undulating/hilly and, because of hills, there were some water washed channels at times.We made a few mistakes where the tracks weren't very clear, but we got back onto our route. One track was very overgrown with small trees and bushes and we had to fight our way through (see photo)!
We saw a fast fox and lots of unidentified Eagles and some Red Kites. All in all it was a ride worth doing.
It appears we have two more days of sunny, cold wind, weather before it turns wet again, with snow at fairly low levels. We've got to make our travel plans later.
I challenge anyone to ride this bit!
OP
OP
We left El Bonillo this morning and had a lovely drive to Tomelloso where I shopped in Mercadona. We then filled the LPG (choice of two stations near each other) and then drove to our present spot at Argamasilla de Alba. It's one of the fenced and gated pay areas in the network of this region. €6.05 to park, with extras to pay for as and when you want/need them.
We arrived here at lunchtime, so we ate, chilled out and then we've been for a walk into the town. It's another place that's part of the Don Quixote trail, but there's not much more here. It's a typical working town.
It's onion picking time and on the way into the town we passed a warehouse where deliveries were being made. There's a slight onion smell around there.
We're hoping to get a ride tomorrow before the weather turns wet again.
There's a church somewhere behind the trees.
We arrived here at lunchtime, so we ate, chilled out and then we've been for a walk into the town. It's another place that's part of the Don Quixote trail, but there's not much more here. It's a typical working town.
It's onion picking time and on the way into the town we passed a warehouse where deliveries were being made. There's a slight onion smell around there
.We're hoping to get a ride tomorrow before the weather turns wet again.
There's a church somewhere behind the trees.
OP
OP
So do we. We prefer them to the ones geared up for tourists.
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Lenny HB
LIFE MEMBER
- Oct 18, 2007
- 58,272
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- Carthago Compactline
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- Since 2008 & many years tugging
Boil them for 15 - 20 min first.
We wake to 5°c this morning...this could be our final settled day as storms are a coming.
Our home Region of Murcia is going to get a hammering again, as are other regions..
We watch the forecast and dodge the best we can, however where to head for us becoming less obvious, at some time this week we will have to find a safe place and sit it out.
Even travel days after the current spell of stormy weather can be challenging...some roads in some areas will be impassable due to water run off or debris...even mud slides are commonplace...but this Municipality has very few mountainous areas...so this helps greatly...extra layers today for our proposed ride...
Our home Region of Murcia is going to get a hammering again, as are other regions..
We watch the forecast and dodge the best we can, however where to head for us becoming less obvious, at some time this week we will have to find a safe place and sit it out.
Even travel days after the current spell of stormy weather can be challenging...some roads in some areas will be impassable due to water run off or debris...even mud slides are commonplace...but this Municipality has very few mountainous areas...so this helps greatly...extra layers today for our proposed ride...
We are also keeping an eye on the weather forecast for our weekend getaway.
A bit of cooler temperatures are welcome (at least, we do
), it was about time...
Say safe
A bit of cooler temperatures are welcome (at least, we do
), it was about time... Say safe
OP
OP
We are also keeping an eye on the weather forecast for our weekend getaway.
A bit of cooler temperatures are welcome (at least, we do
Say safe
Cold and bright we can live with. Wet
OP
OP
Again, we had another nice ride. First alongside the, dry at the moment, Rio Guadiana and then alongside the Canal de Peñarroya to the Castillo de Peñarroya where we stopped for a break. Motorhome parking overnight is allowed in the pines, but we're not tempted this time.
The ride back took us down an unsurfaced road (rough track) with very old signs for Lorca to Santiago. Just when that route was created we don't know, but we have seen a few signs in the Murcia region also
Riding alongside the dry Rio Guadiana
We passed fields of, what looked like, abandoned melons, butternut squash, red peppers and the, not yet abandoned, onions. We didn't do any foraging
The ride back took us down an unsurfaced road (rough track) with very old signs for Lorca to Santiago. Just when that route was created we don't know, but we have seen a few signs in the Murcia region also
Riding alongside the dry Rio Guadiana
We passed fields of, what looked like, abandoned melons, butternut squash, red peppers and the, not yet abandoned, onions. We didn't do any foraging
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Great pics and I’m enjoying your cycling tours! Inspiring me! 
Not looking forward to the weather tomorrow and Thursday (Amber weather warning for 80mm of rain) and I’ve got some extra supplies in to weather the storms in Malaga! Mrs Carpmart is off to Malaga airport for a flight back to the UK in the morning! I’ve booked her a taxi as we are not riding the motorbike in the weather that’s forecast…
Stay safe everyone.
Not looking forward to the weather tomorrow and Thursday (Amber weather warning for 80mm of rain) and I’ve got some extra supplies in to weather the storms in Malaga! Mrs Carpmart is off to Malaga airport for a flight back to the UK in the morning! I’ve booked her a taxi as we are not riding the motorbike in the weather that’s forecast…
Stay safe everyone.
OP
OP
We've got rain forecast from tomorrow. We've changed our planned route and we're heading east instead of south west. This keeps us on a good road network in all directions in case we decide to head home (it's forecast even wetter there though). I hope you don't get too much rain at Cabra
- Sep 7, 2017
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- Funster No
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What a fabulous ride.
OP
OP
What's the saying? "Red sky at night, shepherd's delight". It doesn't seem to mean that in Spain, unless the experts have got it wrong.
Just now, featuring our German neighbours.
Just now, featuring our German neighbours.
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