I didn’t want to leave Grazalema, you could live here. The craft store-tourist information store guy was riding his bike through and now lives here, you could see that. Leaving Grazalema you ride through cork forest.
YOU CAN SEE THE CORK BARK REMOVED & THE TREE STILL LIVES
Im heading to EL BURGO, its a cyclist paradise. Ive seen only one local touring cyclist. There are lots of lycra riders on fancy bikes, always friendly.
WHEN I SEE THESE SIGNS I KNOW I PICKED AN AWESOME ROUTE. WHEN THE OTHER CYCLIST SEE ME WALKING THEY ALWAYS ASK IF IM OK (I think?).
GOAT CROSSING AT THE PASS
My bike needs not just higher & lower gears, but disk brakes. I blew a tire in Portugal when my rims over heated. Considering where I am and the potential to blow out a tire and crash, I take it easy going down.
WHEN I PULL ONTO THESE ROADS ITS LIKE A ROLLER COASTER, THE BIKE JUST TAKES OFF WITH ALL THE WEIGHT IM CARRYING. IVE STOPPED 3 TIMES ON EACH HILL, JUST TO LET MY RIMS COOL OFF
Coming into YUNQUERA was this beautiful tile sign.
LIVING IN THE HILLS THE ROADS FREQUENTLY WASH OUT, LOOK CLOSE AT THIS PHOTO, THE ROAD IS MISSING PAST THE GUARD RAILS. THEY WERE WORKING ON THE ROAD ALOT.
THIS PARQUE NATURAL SIERRA DE LA NIEVES was spectacular, there are no roads through it, only around it. Its so mountainous that I don’t think they could get a road through it. I rode 8 miles downhill to start my day leaving Yunguera. I stopped and talked to Swiss couple who were touring. We both agreed cycle touring is the best way to see a country. They had come up about 3/4 of the way up when I met them. When I told them I was traveling for a year, she that was her dream to do someday. I am staying at the HOSTAL MARBELLA in the town of FUENGIROLA $40 a night not like camping for $10 a night. I heading down to the beach right now. When camping its difficult, to leave your valuables and jump into the ocean. The hotel has a room safe, so Im leaving everything here and going to take advantage of the opportunity. Its nice having a day off the bike, Im feeling it.
June 6 2013,
Here in Fuengirola its like a little UK, there are English people & Pubs everywhere. I was so over whelmed with the UK thing I went out for fish & chips.
Im getting ready to ride to MALAGA, birth place of Piccaso.
COD FISH & CHIPS WITH THE HOUSE SPECIAL OF MUSHY PEAS!
Having my bike is so much freedom, I can explore greater distances than I could if I was walking. I rode to the Castle (yes they have a castle here).
I GOT A HAIR CUT, IT WAS GETTING A LITTLE WILD
I thought this was in interesting pedestrian bridge next to the castle.
I haven’t figured out how to separate blogpost and photos, so the photos are in with all the other Spain photos HERE
Something cool about my photo program if you click the I tab on the bottom right of photo it gives you a map of the location the picture was taken. This will help as I get older!
POST CARD NOTICE, I love sending shopping for, writing post cards. As a collector I tend to buy only nice ones. Well, in Morocco I spent $150 on post cards & postage. Im not working , so that is a lot. Steve drove me to the airport, handed me $25 and said send post cards. I didn’t think about till it started adding up, thanks steve. If your a post card person and would like to receive numerous post cards, email me and we can arrange a way for you to help. Sorry but reality is what it is.