I headed out just after sunrise delayed a bit by pumping up tires. I've had a persistent issue with one puncture that the sealant fills but when it gets poked just right it leaks again. I decided to put a plug in and that fixed it for good.
My plan was to take the main road toward Granada to the starting town of Camino Mozarabe Stage 11, Moclin. It is just a few k off the main road. I was then going to follow the yellow arrows back to Alcala la Real.
At that time on a Sunday morning N-432 was deserted and I made good time on the mostly downhill. Approaching the Moclin area is a striking scene. Huge outcrops with little towers on top. Just before the turn off to Moclin I started climbing. After the turn the single lane road became straight and went straight up. There was a lot of double digit gradient.
Moclin is a very pretty town situated in a stunning area. As I rode into town I saw some cyclists and asked where I could find coffee and they directed me down a street. There was a bar open in the main square and I sat with my coffee. A couple of women hikers sat at the next table and since I heard English I asked if they were doing the Camino. We started chatting and they were just out for a hike. They were Dutch and one of them had been living in San Francisco while her husband was a diplomat from 2020 to 2024. We decided it was quite possible our kids could know each other because they when to high schools quite near to each other at the same time. She also had a house in the area.
When I left the town I saw the yellow arrow pointing down a dirt road that I read was quite steep so I took the road to where they met. I then took the dirt road from there. I very quickly found the road far to steep and the gravel was far too loose for my bike. I had the keep the bike to a walking speed or I would start accelerating out of control. I could not stop on the loose gravel. I was greatly relieved when I came out onto a paved road.
This had me reconsidering my plan. There was significant dirt road ahead. When I came to the next dirt section I decided to stay on the road and take a long way around. This took me up a very big hill with some great views.
I decided I would abandon my Camino plan and mapped out a new route. Leaving the Camino was adding over 300m of climbing but I went through the interesting, but barless, town of Limones. Lots of hills, in fact, all day I was either going up or down. There was no level cycling on the day.
When I merged with A-403, again not busy on a Sunday, I climbed a very long hill which took me to the highest point if the day and a long range view of the Alcala castle. I was a little gased at that point and really needed some food. Fortunately, I found some Blocks emergency energy in my handlebar bag. That was a lifesaver.
I turned off at a completely unmarked road to the town of Ribera Baja. This town was in shaded trees. Unfortunately, no bar.
Soon I joined the road I had been on several times this trip back to Alcala.
I was desperate for something to eat which I got at the only open bar near my place. I spent the rest of the day lunching, napping and building Ikea furniture. I'm pretty tired today. I'll see how I feel in the morning.
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