4AN250B Southern Spain Extreme
After we have done the usual welcome briefing with handover of the bikes the evening before and enjoyed a nice get-together, we finally start today. The weather is still a bit restrained, but that doesn't bother us. No rain means good weather and the atmosphere is heated. It goes directly into the mountains around Malaga, where the first curves and panoramas give an outlook on the next few days. In between, we make a detour to the beach, where we taste a huge paella and various other delicacies from the sea and vegetable garden with a unique view of the sea. A perfect start to the tour.
After a restful night in the first-class hotel, we start the second day of driving. It starts cool, but again with a heated atmosphere. First we go to the height of the Sierra Tejeda, where the peaks are still slightly sugared and we even have snow remnants on the roadside. But pretty quickly we go back to the narrow and very winding roads that lead us back towards the sea all morning. At a pleasant 23 degrees we enjoy the fruits of the sea, which are prepared for us on a rustic fireplace of the beach restaurant and let our souls dangle a bit with the sound of the waves. But it's mainly about motorcycling, so back to the mountains of the Sierra Nevada and the whole afternoon we inhale one curve after the other. Exhausted and after the last crossing of the Sierra, we reach our beautiful hotel for the night and end the evening with a warm soup, tapas and typical Andalusian cuisine. What a day. We are already looking forward to tomorrow and fall into our pillows. Good night.
A new morning greets us with the first rays of sunshine, and with the white sky ahead, we put on warm clothing. We first head north over the Sierra de Baua on small, winding roads. After a coffee stop, we head straight back in the opposite direction, heading over the narrow Las Menas Pass into the Sierra de los Fillabres, where we fortify ourselves with a few bocadillos for lunch. This is followed by several more secluded passes with no traffic, and the absolute highlight of the day is the Tetica Pass. If that's not enough, we find a few small back roads towards Almeria, briefly glimpsing the seemingly unreal landscape of the Alhamilla. Once back at the hotel, we refresh ourselves and then enjoy an excellent dinner in a small, fine restaurant nearby, while we consider what to do with tomorrow's rest day. But more about that tomorrow...
Today we have a day to recover from the exertions of the last few days. And what better way to do that than to have a good time on the motorcycle? After a late breakfast, half of the team hits the saddle to take advantage of the offered sporty option and ride through the backcountry to Mojacar for lunch on the beach. Wonderfully varied routes at a brisk pace and surprisingly little traffic on a national holiday. A great ride. The other half of the team sets off on their own and visits the fortress and the Moorish quarter in Almeria. Of course, a detour to the beach is also included. In the early afternoon, we meet back at the hotel and spend the day's test with good conversation and a delicious oriental dinner. Tomorrow the tour continues north.
Today we have a long day of riding ahead of us. So we're starting earlier than the last few days and riding briskly north over the Garcia Pass, taking our first coffee break in Arboleas just before the most winding and narrow section of the day to refuel energies. Now that this pass is behind us, we've earned a quick stroll through Velez Rubio and some delicious bocadillias. But the afternoon also has a lot to offer. We'll pass wonderful reservoirs, drive through sprawling olive groves, and evrn dabble in advanced mathematics. After this long day, we've truly earned the boot beer upon arrival and the excellent dinner at our traditional hotel.
This morning surprises us with snowfall and frosty temperatures. So we decide to spend some time by the fireplace in the saloon of the old Parador. Afterwards, we set off on a route modified to accommodate the lost time, along beautiful roads through fascinating landscapes. For some reason, we feel like a spa and wellness retreat, and in the early afternoon we arrive at the beautiful old castle hotel in Mengibar, where we immediately put this plan into action. Today we've experienced a lot and have interesting stories to tell, and we end the day with an excellent dinner.