I was a little bit worried about the route today as it had a couple of issues along the way and I could not quite get to the bottom of them. This was down to the fact that I only planned the route 2 days before flying out and I hadn't had time to suss them out. This last minute change was a desperate bid to flatten the elevation and reduce my exposure to high ground where the rain would no doubt have been much worse. It was basically pulling the route towards the coast. I am so glad I did this and change the last 5 days.
The first issue was around the town of La Cala del Moral. Wherever I built the route either in Google maps, Strava, RidewithGPS or Komoot they all sent the recommended route inland and up and over a really steep gravel path which added a few miles and about 500 feet of climbing to the day. Some of the road was on street view on Google maps which looked just about rideable on but more for a mountain bike. I really did not want to take Henry off road. He was struggling and needed daily maintenance as it was. I was going to try my luck and see how it went when I got closer and could see it in the flesh, I might even try the A-7 again !!!
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It was an area for cycling, walking and running and really nice. The gravel track was a bit rough but luckily I got through this without any punctures. I think my tyres were better at coping with this sort of terrain as the tyre pressures were probably down to about 70-80. I did a quick thumb pressure check every morning and I could tell they were still within the "acceptable" zone. Anything above 60 was OK but perfect pressure was around 100-110. I really did not want to jinx them and get my hand pump on them. If it's not broke don"t fix it. If I did stumble on to a good bike shop I would get them checked out properly.
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Next stop.... Marbella. I have to say this area is well nice and dead posh !!!
Yes I did stand in the middle of the road to risk my life for this picture !!
The rain cape was tied to my rear bottles for the last 2 days. Never needed again.
They unfriended me and removed me from the WhatsApp group....
Stats for today..... 92 miles, 2,700 feet climbed, about 2,500 calories burned, 13-19 degrees C NO RAIN
I left my keys on the front desk by the entrance door and stepped into the early morning. It was cloudy and dull. If it was going to rain or not was a mystery but my checks on the weather showed it would be cloudy and windy today so I had everything crossed.
Todays route was west - south west - west - south west. Like steps all the way down along the coast. This meant I would have side and cross winds for most of the day. These are energy sapping days and I knew that food was going to be important today. I had emptied the fridge of the food I bought at Carrefour the night before so my stomach was full and I was prepared. I was amazed at how great I felt. My legs felt as though I could have ridden all the way to La Tarifa in one day. These sort of long day after day challenges send your fitness levels to a new high. I had ridden 5 days without a break and totaled about 450 miles so far. I always did a little BPM check by placing my little finger on my wrist to find the pulse and counted to 15 and then multiplied it by 4 to get your heart beats per minute. Mine was about 50 this morning and I felt great. As long as I could get through today I was home free. Tomorrows ride from Sotogrande to the end was only 35 miles and then the ride back north east towards Gibraltar was 30 miles making it a 65 mile day. Piece of cake.... or so I thought at the time.
Ignorance is bliss. If I had know then what I know now about Day 7 I might have just stayed in Sotogrande and chilled out in the stunningly beautiful surroundings of the B&B I was going to end up at tonight....
Here's todays route map....
Outside the apartment I gave Henry the last of the Grasso WD-40 to help him on his way and headed west again on the fabulous N-340.
Within minutes I was pleased to see dozens of other Sunday morning cyclists out for their weekly fix. It is a religion and a Sunday morning ride is a must wherever you are and whatever your faith.
I got chatting to a few fellow cyclists along the way and tried to keep up with the full lycra gangs out to beat their personal bests and others just ambling along enjoying the ride.
About 12 miles into the day I recognised the first issue and I was just about to follow my route map up up and away when I spotted some cyclists taking the A-7 around the mountain hugging the coastline.... Phew, what a relief. Not only had I saved a 500feet climb on gravel I had also shaved about 3-4 miles off the route. Result !!!!
About 12 miles into the day I recognised the first issue and I was just about to follow my route map up up and away when I spotted some cyclists taking the A-7 around the mountain hugging the coastline.... Phew, what a relief. Not only had I saved a 500feet climb on gravel I had also shaved about 3-4 miles off the route. Result !!!!
The route....
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Moral of the story is don't trust technology.... just follow a cyclist.
The guy I followed became a great cycling companion for the next 8-9 miles. He was originally from Hull and came out to Spain 16 years ago for work and never went home. We chatted about the area and what a beautiful place it was all year round. He actually said that this week was the worst weather he had ever seen. Even in winter (Nov-Feb) it was colder but he had never seen so much rain in his life before. I thought " No S41+ I know mate " !!!!
He could not believe I'd stuck with it since Monday and was nearing the end. He lived in Malaga and we cycled through it and chatted about everything from family to Brexit !!! He assured me that my route was a great one between here and Sotogrande and all I had to do was to follow the coast all the way. He did comment that the most stunning bit between Adra and here was the best so it was basically downhill from here on in scenery wise. I knew this would be the case. I just wanted to get this thing done now A S A P. He was such a cool guy and when he turned off to go home we did the old fist punch and away he rode...
Oh my god... 20 miles down, about 80 to go.....
The second area that I just could not get my head around was a piece of land in between Malaga and Torremolinos as street view would not show me and I thought it was possibly a cycle path of some kind. It is called the Parque Del Guadalhorce...
These pics are from the internet...
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It was an area for cycling, walking and running and really nice. The gravel track was a bit rough but luckily I got through this without any punctures. I think my tyres were better at coping with this sort of terrain as the tyre pressures were probably down to about 70-80. I did a quick thumb pressure check every morning and I could tell they were still within the "acceptable" zone. Anything above 60 was OK but perfect pressure was around 100-110. I really did not want to jinx them and get my hand pump on them. If it's not broke don"t fix it. If I did stumble on to a good bike shop I would get them checked out properly.
Torremolinos merged into Benalmadena which then became Torrequebrada which then merged with Fuengirola. It was here that I started to get more than a bit lost. I had numerous stops and checks on the Google map app on my phone. It was then I realised that the ONLY way along this coast was to rejoin the A-7........ so I did.
About a mile further on I was surprised to see a police car come past me without a care in the world. Maybe Sunday rules are anyone can ride on a motorway... cool !!
A convoy of Pro Ukranian cars with blue and yellow flags adorned on their bonnets and flying high from every window went past me beeping their horns and flashing their lights. Everyone beeped back in support of what was going on in that part of the world. Please will someone assassinate Putin. There I've said it !!
I now know why they call this area the Costa del Golf. I counted no less than about 20 large golf courses in this area.
I was now starting to feel the pit of my stomach crying out to say " Hey, I'm empty. Did you not get the memo FEED ME NOW !!!"
I stopped at a really posh supermarket that was no doubt there to service the super rich who owned villas in this area. Most of the housing in this area were very expensive security guarded estates with huge villas lining the streets with huge trees and gardens in their drives.
A pic from internet... I sat on this roundabout eating my lunch.....
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Next stop.... Marbella. I have to say this area is well nice and dead posh !!!
Yes I did stand in the middle of the road to risk my life for this picture !!
Hello N-340 I missed you so much. Glad to be back on a minor road again.
The wind was really strong now with gusts too and was probably about 20 mph. It was a side tail wind.
I was starting to feel tired and to be completely honest I wanted to get this thing done and get home. I decided to get in a tucked position and just motor as fast as I could to the target for the day....Sotogrande.
Estepona....
I looked at my Wahoo bike computer and it said I had done 74 miles. My heart sank as this meant I had
about 24 miles to go. Little did I know at that moment and I had forgotten that my little detours to save a climb early on and through the non rideable areas had shaved about 7 miles off the day so after 90 miles I came into Sotogrande.
What a stunning place.... there was the smell of money in the air. All the houses were up in the hills on security controlled housing estates with barriers and guards.
I headed out of town over the river and up into the millionaires hills....
I knew tonight's accommodation was going to be nice as it was twice as expensive as all the other ones I had booked but it blew me away.
When I got there I was met by the owners 2 daughters who were home for weekend. They actually lived in Battersea, London near where my son Callum used to live !!
They were so understanding and supportive. They insisted on getting me food and coffee and water. They also washed all my clothes for me. If I could have made a wish for the most perfect of welcomes and exactly what I needed at that precise moment it was this. I video called home and I was on cloud nine.
I sent this to my family WhatsApp group saying, I know I said I would never do one of these trips again but I have a great idea..... why don't I just carry on south.....
Strava data here... https://www.strava.com/activities/6891854054
The girls left and I was all alone in this million pound mansion.
I checked my phone for the weather for tomorrow and my smile turned to shock.... I've never cycled in 60 mph winds before. Tomorrow would be one to remember for many many reasons. An early night was needed.... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Stats for today..... 92 miles, 2,700 feet climbed, about 2,500 calories burned, 13-19 degrees C NO RAIN
Quotes for today....
“When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn’t work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.” — Emo Philips, US comedian
“As a kid I had a dream — I wanted to own my own bicycle. When I got the bike I must have been the happiest boy in Liverpool, maybe the world. I lived for that bike. Most kids left their bike in the backyard at night. Not me. I insisted on taking mine indoors and the first night I even kept it in my bed.” — John Lennon, British musician
“One of the most important days of my life, was when I learned to ride a bicycle.” — Michael Palin, British actor
“Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the human race.” — H.G. Wells, English author
“Toleration is the greatest gift of the mind; it requires the same effort of the brain that it takes to balance oneself on a bicycle.” — Helen Keller, US political activist
“A bicycle ride around the world begins with a single pedal stroke.” — Scott Stoll, US author and cyclist
I am raising funds for Cancer Research UK in memory of so many people it has affected but mainly for my mum who died 30 years ago. Love you mum XXXXXXXX
This link takes you straight to the cancer research page to donate, it is safe and every penny goes straight into their bank account.
https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/el-fondo
Thank you so much, stay tuned for Day 7. The last day of El Fondo and possibly the hardest days cycling I have ever done !!!!!!
“When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn’t work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.” — Emo Philips, US comedian
“As a kid I had a dream — I wanted to own my own bicycle. When I got the bike I must have been the happiest boy in Liverpool, maybe the world. I lived for that bike. Most kids left their bike in the backyard at night. Not me. I insisted on taking mine indoors and the first night I even kept it in my bed.” — John Lennon, British musician
“One of the most important days of my life, was when I learned to ride a bicycle.” — Michael Palin, British actor
“Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the human race.” — H.G. Wells, English author
“Toleration is the greatest gift of the mind; it requires the same effort of the brain that it takes to balance oneself on a bicycle.” — Helen Keller, US political activist
“A bicycle ride around the world begins with a single pedal stroke.” — Scott Stoll, US author and cyclist
I am raising funds for Cancer Research UK in memory of so many people it has affected but mainly for my mum who died 30 years ago. Love you mum XXXXXXXX
This link takes you straight to the cancer research page to donate, it is safe and every penny goes straight into their bank account.
https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/el-fondo
Thank you so much, stay tuned for Day 7. The last day of El Fondo and possibly the hardest days cycling I have ever done !!!!!!
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