Day 87: Villanueva de Ávila (Cycle)

At eight o'clock the temperature outside the van was 2.7°C and inside it was 4.7°C.

At 10 o'clock, as I set off for today's ride, the temperature was about 9°C and the sun was shining. From the get go I was climbing, so I was mostly warm. Well, almost, whilst the sun was shining on my back and lefthand side, so they were warm, meanwhile my right hand and foot were feeling the cold.

Eventually, I turned southward and the warmth of my righthand side soon caught up to that of the left!

The second climb of the day was an officially named climb. Here's a photo taken on the climb:

And, coincidentally, this photo of a stone "sign post", the road and the "saddle" of the climb's end, was taken a distance of pi to 2 significant figures from the summit!

Finally, the summit arrived:

Where a mast can be found:

On the descent, I took this photo of snowy summits ...:

... before a short climb to the second puerto of the day (Puerto Puedro Bernard):

There was then a long descent and a short traverse of a section of flatish valley road before the BIG climb of the day, which I drove up yesterday.

Yes, it was return to Puerto de Mijares. According to my Garmin (navigational aid) the length of the climb is 22.1 kilometres, the average gradient is 6% and the total ascent is 1489 metres (actual, the length and average gradient are pretty accurate, but the Garmin "over eggs" the total ascent. The elevation gain from start to finish is approximately 1100 metres. There are few minor descents on the climb, but definitely not 389 metres worth!).

Anyhow, upwards I went and, with 12 kilometres to go, I took this photo showing the "saddle" where the puerto resides:

And this one was taken approximately 200 metres from the pass, looking back from whence I came:

Ah, the summit:

Just ten kilometres of descent to go!

Even on this final descent, undertaken at about 3pm, it was necessary to wrap-up, because although the sun was shining the air was still cold. In the sun, out of the wind, it was toasty warm!

It is worth noting that there was very little traffic on the roads, perhaps a dozen or so vehicles in total! And the road surfaces are mostly good.

• Distance driven: 0 miles
• Distance cycled: 86 kilometres
• Weather:-
  • General conditions: Wall-to-wall sunshine, some clouds later.
  • Temperature: Quite a range, 4.7° to about 18°C dependent on time of day and whether climbing or descending.
  • Wind (Beaufort): Base camp: Light airs. At Puerto de Mijares: Gentle to moderate breeze.

Today's route: