Tarifa or bust

The last day started with a piece de resistance of chaos, Evan's bike was left at the previous night's hotel. The good news was that it is a hire bike, the bad news was that his saddle and pedals were attached to it and there was no spare bike. One of the guides had to relinquish his bike and the long day of biking became increasingly complicated with regrouping.

However, the first 25 miles were biking at its best, beautiful, undulating and not too hot.

At the coffee stop there was a stunning view of Gibraltar and even better, yummy cake.

As a wise man once said, however you feel now on a bike will soon change. After a fabulous morning of happy bunny biking, a long flat stretch gave me too much time to get increasingly grumpy about having to go back to work, teaching the next 5 Saturdays and the added disincentive of an insultingly crap pay rise.

Ho hum, I gave myself a good talking to and the hills soon gave me some painful effort to concentrate on.

The regrouping faffing continued and unfortunately the traffic increased as we got closer to the coast. One of the best aspects of this trip has been the beautifully empty roads so cars are an unwelcome return to normality!

The last but one regroup was at a mirador with an incredible view of the African mountains and a delicious cornetto (yes food again!)

And yet another regroup...

And finally we arrived at the beach in Tarifa, 82 miles and 1665m of hot climbing today.

And just to finish the day, the inevitable and essential hubby with a drink photo...

Final conclusions:

A much harder, hillier trip than I had anticipated 

I really, really like Spain

I am still in love with biking, phew

I am knackered!

Geeky totals: 912.4 miles and 64629 feet of climbing

Ronda

When I read the trip details I thought today would be a nice, easy 37 mile morning pootle to Ronda with a lovely afternoon being a tourist. Well...

The 'pootle' involved 1297m of climbing in 30 miles through stunning scenery.

This is the Caminito del Rey, apparently the world's scariest footpath. 

Coffee stop included kitkats, an indicator of what was to come in terms of calorie expenditure. It was a fabulous climb with tree trunks protesting throughout.

Lunch was at the top and we could see Ronda below.

The speedy descent was followed by the now obligatory challenging navigation down cobbled streets. The hotel is fabulous, full of quirky artefacts and a free bar!

Rusty and I sauntered off to do the planned tourism part of the day and when we heard thunder, headed to a bar.

The storm was more of an apocalypse with a flash flood pouring down the street and through the ceiling of the bar.

When the hailstones started, I was even more relieved that we had finished cycling early.

Once the drama was over, we finally did the tourist stuff and Ronda is definitely worth visiting.

Back at the hotel now before heading out for dinner, the table is of course a surf board...

Only one day left of this epic trip and it promises to be a suitably tough finale - perhaps I should slow down on the white wine? Nah...

Lovely hotel but...

2 flights of stairs and this climb to bed not exactly what knackered tree trunks need!

El Churro

I was a bit worried about today as it looked like another long, hilly pedal in a furnace. An earlier brekkie with eggs started the day well, but frustrating faffing meant that we still didn't leave until well after 9.

The ride to coffee was lovely and I was a happy bunny, but anticipating problems later.

The tree trunks happily pottered up the 1st big climb, but Chrissie the guide asked me to 'regroup' at the top as one of the group had got lost and the support van had to turn back. I decided I would carry on (I'm so bad at being told what to do!) so politely declined and found my own water and lunch...

My garmin behaved itself beautifully and I found my way through a big town where lunch was supposed to be. I wasn't looking forward to the promised big climb after lunch, but my alternative cornetto lunch seemed to be effective and the views were fabulous.

The last part of the ride was spectacular but the descent was one of those hanging on for dear life rides.

For once I arrived before Rusty as he and Evan were doing a tourist drive to see the amazing rock formations (we are in a huge rock climbing area). Poor Evan had heatstroke yesterday so he was Rusty's official navigator for the day.

The hotel is perched on the side of a cliff and I very happily replaced lots of calories in the terrace restaurant.

After 73 miles and 1562m of climbing, I am now writing this reclined on a sun lounger... Zzzzz

Spectacular view

Olives, olives and more olives

Allegedly an 'easier' day today of 53.5 miles but yet another 4193 feet of climbing.

No eggs for brekkie again but the body was reasonably cooperative as we pootled off into Andalusia. The tree trunks only had to manage 10 miles before the coffee stop in a beautiful town square.

All you can see for miles is olive trees in perfectly straight lines, with a brief bit of excitement as a hare ran along the side of the road. 

My cycling companions were instructed to smile but I think these are more like heat induced grimaces!

The lunch stop was halfway up a particularly cruel hill in Zuheros, another spectacular hilltop village. It's not easy forcing screaming legs up a 10% incline straight after tortilla, salad, bread, cheese and chocolate!

Fortunately the road then headed down and I managed warp speed 36.5 mph down a smooth road before up we went yet again.

Tonight's hotel is a converted olive farm in the middle of nowhere.

It is far too hot out there, so a cold beer in the cool bar seems like a sensible thing to do..