Day 62: Serón (Cycle)

Originally I had a route planned that, like yesterday, would take me up into the Sierra de Los Filabres where there is good mountain passes to be cycled. I would definitely recommend cycling in the Filabres.

However, when I awoke, looked out the window and then checked the weather forecast, cycling up into the Filabres didn't look like a very good idea. Due to low clouds the mountains could not be seen and the forecast temperatures up at the colls were about 5°C and there was a 25% chance of rain from 1pm. So I opted for a low level or, perhaps that should be lower level, cycle: my starting elevation was 720 metres and I climbed to a maximum elevation of about 970 metres.

Instead, what I chose to do was cycle to Basa and back using the Via Verde Guadix-Almendricos (Baza-Valle del Almanzora) (Via Verde del Hierro). Although the riding surface varied, it was an easy ride with gradients typically below about 3%.

I thought I'd stop in Basa for coffee and cake but, yet again I was caught out by Andalucia Day! Everything was closed for the day - even the coffee shops! So it goes!

Twice I had to navigate this ye-olde railway bridge:

And here is a close-up view of its dilapidated state:

I imagine that in the UK the bridge would have been sealed off with fencing, barbed wire and "no tresspass" signs - here no!

And here's a smorgasbord of the riding surfaces I encountered today:
Transitioning from mud that is like concrete to small loose stone chips

Stone chips

A different kind of mud at an old station

Cinder track and wooden bridge

Half-and-half old pavement and sand/fine stones chips

The ride started with the latter old pavement sand/fine stones combination and, naively, I thought it was going to by like that all the way to Basa! Yet again I made an assumption that was wrong! Will I never learn?

Combining today's ride with yesterday's and a ride from Basa in 2023 I have now cycled almost the whole of the Via Verde Guadix-Almendricos. Just need to do the section from Serón to Olula del Rio.

Finally, shortly after departing, I had a very strong gut feeling I was leaving the van in a place which was unsafe - I worried somewhat whilst out on the ride, many a negative scenario went through my mind and so I was pleased to return to find all was well with my home on wheels! Phew. Fortunately, these feelings only rarely occur.

• Distance driven: 0
• Distance cycled: 62 kilometres
• Weather: Overcast early on, brightened up later. T about 10°C. Almost no sunshine, probably less than an hour all day. Strong tailwind outward bound, which obviously resulted in an equally strong headwind for the return journey. FORECAST IS FOR RAIN OVER THE COMING WEEK OR SO!! Hopefully, it doesn't turn out to be so!

Today's route: