Amazing ride this morning! Still on California time I was up an hour before I rode over to Churreria Pepe in the dark. I had plenty of time for coffee and churros before it was close to being light enough to see. I need to find a 6am place in everywhere I go!
On the way to Pepe's my tire sprayed a generous amount of sealant on my leg. I heard hisses throughout the day but the tires were fine when I finished.
When the sky started to get light I headed out and by the time I got to the end of the street lights I could see. With every final up back into town there is a down leaving. Once I hit the river it was uphill to the top. There were a few flat-ish section and some rollers but mostly uphill.
From the river there was a 100m climb to some rollers along the resoviour. The level road along the dam was the worst surface of the day.
Then the main climb began with olive groves on both sides. As the view got better the olives went away. Higher up it was more forested. There was nothing crazy steep but I briefly saw 9% and there were extended sections of 6-8%. There were also a few short downhills going up.
At the top there was a several kilometer flat section with acorn trees and fields like the Iberico pigs get. I saw no pigs. I was wondering if I should skip the town and turn around. This would have been a mistake. The town was quite cute and there was a bar was open. I had a cafe con leche and a Coke.
A cyclists was at Bar El Niño and another came shortly after me. A few groups rode past and I saw more heading into town on my way out. I saw quite a few for a Tuesday morning. I did not see any on my climb or descent. That's a little odd. Usually if there are other cyclists on the road I'm riding they pass me going up and I pass them going down.
From La Venta del Charco to the dam I saw one car. I did have to brake a lot for the tight turns. And there were a few uphills.
All in all, this was an A+ ride. Highly recommend. Total cars encountered for the ride was maybe 10. Surface was very good and there was coffee at the top. The scenery was spectacular and the morning light was gorgeous.
At the hotel I packed up and drove to and past Jaen to the country hotel for the next two nights. Tomorrow I do a big loop up the mountain and around and through Jaen.
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