Nice and steady does it!
I'll start this post by apologising if I'm beginning to repeat myself. I think of stuff to write on the long hours on the bike then can't remember if I've written it already or just thought it. I'm certainly not going to read all the blog to find out. I now feel justified in repeating myself.
My rest day at the Laroles camp site was much needed, although in theory I should be fitter and stronger after a month of daily cycling I just seem to be tired. Full of vim and vigour (well a bit anyway) in the mornings but ready for a siesta by early afternoon.
When I holiday in a hot climate it seems a natural pattern to grab an hours kip in the heat of the afternoon but that's not an option for me, I think it would do me good.
I left Laroles and unusually didn't have to pedal for the first 15 minutes or so, a wonderful flowing descent but requiring total concentration. Some of the descents on this trip have been amazing, long and fast. Not that I can descend on a bike, survival is much too important to me and an oncoming car on a blind bend would leave no time to correct things.
Some of the drops are vertigo inducing, I approached one sweeping left hand bend aware of a huge void directly in front of me. I didn't dare look, I just concentrated on my line and making the turn. I glanced down once I'd straightened out and shuddered at thought of not making the turn.
Many of the exposed sections of mountain roads are protected by the concrete blocks, fine for cars but for a wobbling cyclists the gaps are easily big enough to guarantee an unhappy ending!
Also on the fast descents the Arm co is at just the right height to catapult a rider over the top, hence my over heating brakes. On some of the long descents I've had to stop several times to allow the front rim to cool down despite trying to share the braking with the back. It's an opportunity to admire the scenary.
Below are a few pictures of my journey through the eastern Alpujarras, some of you may recognise the name of Yegen, the place where Chris Stewart of Driving over Lemons/Parrot in a Pepper Tree fame is based.
Looking south to the Sierra la Contraviesa, the Mediteranian is just over the hills.
The 3000m ridge line of the western Sierra Nevada in the distance.
The typical Spanish burial method.
Taking a rest on a big climb too late in the day!
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