Today I started out above Jaen and since this was to be my longest ride I wanted an early start. Unfortunately, I woke at 3am and could not get back to sleep. It was easy to be out the door as soon as I saw the sky lighten up.
I had to open the giant front gate of the hotel and soon I was on the main road. This road had a lot of signs telling people there were cyclists and to be aware of cyclists. I think that is an indication there have but problems in the past (problems equals squished cyclists). There was a shoulder and it was painted green with little bicycle symbols but it was only about as wide as my handlebars. It was often also covered in loose gravel. Fortunately, the traffic was light and the majority was headed in the opposite direction toward Jaen.
I had a short climb and a long descent into Los Villares. It was fully light but the time I reached the top. I was hoping to get some water and coffee in Los Villares but it only thing that I could find open was the gas station convenience store. I had to settle for a cold Machado (made with real coffee).
The real climb began just as I came into town. 11km/600m/5.7%. That's a decent climb. The views were spectacular. There were a few cars and while they did detract it was more than acceptable. I got passed by one cyclist near the top. I saw his shadow before he blew by. Little skinny dudes have a big advantage on climbs.
At the top I turned off the road which continues to Alcala la Real and took a smaller less traveled one toward Martos. I had a long descent on a narrow windy road so I was using a lot of brakes. After the big descent the rest of the day was rolling climbs and descents.
In Martos I found a coffee and a snack just before I got on the Via Verde del Aceite a rails to trails trail. In the old days these trains carried the olive oil. Now all the tracks have been converted to trails. This one goes 73km west from Jaen. I've been on other sections west of here on previous trips. The scenery, by the way, is endless olive groves on rolling hills. It's a lot of olives.
This section of the trail is considered paved but most of it could use some repaving. Sometimes the surface got a little slow. The trail is certainly well used. It took me all the way to a bike route in Jaen.
I sort of noodled around in Jaen. It is far from a grid and has a lot of routes that can result in a lot of climbing. I was stopping and looking at my map a lot. In the fancy part of town I stopped for a coke and coffee. I really didn't want to leave.
The last climb out of town to the hotel was ... unwelcome. I had been sitting enjoying relaxing and it was getting hotter and I would have like to sit at the cafe and have a few beers and a shower in Jaen. I think this ride would be nicer starting/ending from a Jaen hotel. Mostly, I choose the one out of town because it was easier with the car.
There was a bike trail as soon as I left town which was good but it did add distance to the road which had become quite busy.
After a shower I drove back into town to play tourist for the afternoon. I had lunch a Casa Pepe which was quite good. I ordered the rabo de toro (ox tail) which became my favorite dishes last year. I don't find it everywhere but when it is on the menu I order it. This one was very good but the bones had been removed. I kind of like the bones.
Jaen is pretty nice. A lot bigger than Alcala. Over 100k. It has a very long history.
Tomorrow I'm taking a rest day. I will walk somewhere. Will look into walking up the mountain beside the hotel.
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