Day 64: Retamar (Drive/Cycle)

... So, having checked the latest weather forecast, I decided to execute my cunning plan, which was nearly derailed by snow! Yes snow. It didn't even cross my mind that snow could become an issue today, even though my driving route was via Collado Ramal.

I set off at about 11.30am, with a view to arriving in Retamar for about 1pm. With my arrival expected to coincide with the start of forecasted fine weather, i.e., not raining and, hopefully, with some sunshine.

All was proceeding to plan until we arrived at the Collado Ramal ...:

... which was Cerrado (closed) to traffic:

What surprised me most is the sign indicating whether or not the Collado is open is located at the pass!

When I first arrived at the Collado, second in a queue of vehicles, the person in front of me, having spoken to the person enforcing the closure , made a u-turn and proceeded down the mountain towards Serón. So, like a sheep, I followed suit!

At least until I noticed that the vehicles that were behind me had not followed suit. So, having travelled approximately 1.5 miles, at a safe place to about turn, I returned to the Collado and, as I surmised, some drivers were waiting for the road towards Almeria to re-open and I was going to do the same.

At this point, it was about 1pm: lunch time! So, I heated up some lentil and vegetable soup. Just my luck, the road was opened before I'd finished eating it!

Keen to get down the mountain I abandoned soup eating and set off. Too hasty, at the first left hand bend, two drawers were heard flying open! I'd forgot to check that they were securely closed! So, at the next convenient place I stopped, closed the drawers, quickly finished my soup, and set off again.

On reaching the bottom of the mountain, there was an "orange council" vehicle, blocking the road preventing vehicles from driving up to the Collado.

Eventually, I arrived in Retamar, didn't like the location I had intended to park, so set off to try an alternative, which I duly found a short while later, by this time it was approaching 3pm!

But,the temperature was about 18°C, it wasn't raining and occasionally the sun made an appearance, so it was time for a bike ride!

I went for a quick 50 kilometre ride on mostly flatish roads to Faro de Cabo de Gata and back. The only real climbs were two, roughly 1.2 kilometres long climbs, each with an average gradient of 10%.

All-in-all, an adventurous drive followed by a lighthouse dash by bike! Just what one may expect from one of my cunning plans?

• Distance driven: 65 miles
• Distance cycled: 49 kilometres
• Weather: When I left Serón it was 8°C and raining. At the Collado it was 0°C with intermittent light rain. At Retamar it was 18°C with the sun occasionally making an appearance but, more importantly, it wasn't raining!
• Location: Google Maps

Today's route: