Day 30: South of el Campello (Cycling)
Plan B was executed today. Primarily this was because the forecast for very strong winds at "Les Antenes Conselleria Medi Ambient" were reduced to a more acceptable 27 to 59 km/h (roughly 17 to 37 mph). Over the past few days they'd been predicted winds to be between 60 and 100 km/h!
When I departed basecamp the temperature was roughly 16°C. I was heading into a headwind, which I thought I'd be battling for most of the 38 kilometres (roughly 23 miles) I'd have to travel in order to reach the summit of Les Antenes.
Indeed, it was mostly a headwind but, surprisingly, when I reached the lower slopes of the main climb (approximately 5.4 km with an altitude gain of roughly 550 metres), there was hardly any wind at all. I was very pleased about this because the climb is hard enough without having to contend with headwinds, especially when the gradients for final 3 kilometres are so steep (many 16% to 20% ramps).
On arrival at the Les Antenes, elevation 1178 metres, the temperature was roughly 10°C.
Photo: "antenna and Nazi insignia". Also, elsewhere at the summit, Franco got a mention!
And here's a view looking east, where I'd be heading, after the descent, to climb up through the pueblo Tibi and beyond to it's port/puerto.
On arrival at the port/puerto, elevation 725 metres, the temperature was roughly 13°C. I can also report that the climb was heavily wind assisted. No complaints about that!
Then it was mostly downhill, with some short climbs and a good 13 kilometres or so of poorly maintained singletrack, which severely curtailed my downward velocity! Better to curtail than to crash!
Towards the end of the ride I came across a place-name roundabout and, since it has been quite some time since we had a photo of such a thing, here is the latest one:
Finally, on my return to basecamp, the temperature was about 18°C, elevation approximately 22 metres.
- Distance driven: 0
- Distance cycled: 80 kilomtres.
- Weather: Some cloud in the am, becoming increasingly cloudy in the pm: Indeed, it very much did look as though it could rain at any time, but it didn't. Phew! Quite windy at times.
Today's route: