We had coffee at Danny Aiello's (AKA the 6am bar). While there the entire post office came in for breakfast. An hour and a half earlier and the entire police force comes in. Danny's got a good business. Mike likes his coffee the best; I do not disagree.
We aimed for 10am takeoff but it always takes longer. I forgot my gloves. Then I forgot my sunglasses. Alpha lubed his chain for the first time himself and got most of it on the cassette. It takes longer.
We had a 90km/1500m day planned. About half I had never ridden. The goal was to get to Alcaudete as quickly as possible on the highway. Before the highway the guys behind me disappeared. I waited for a bit: my sunglasses need cleaning. When I went back they were fiddling with Alpha's rear wheel. It had come loose and was doing weird things. Alpha decided to call it a day and head back to the shop.
It didn't take us long to get to Alcaudete. The highway was fast and very little traffic. We didn't stop and headed to the Via Verde del Aceite. This is a rails to trails route that used to be the olive train. It runs from Baena and before Lucena to Jaén. We took the part that coinsides with the Camino Mozarabe.
Just before we left the Via Verde del Aceite we stopped at a bar/restaurant for a Coke. I also had a pork sandwich that was very good and would get me back home. About this time Alpha reported he had gotten a flat as well. A little later he decided to take the bus to Granada where he had a nice day.
We headed towards Luque and from here to La Rabita it was all new to me. The scenery was a little different and very pretty. Lots of outcrops and ups and downs. We took a lot of pictures. Too many for here.
From Alcalá la Real to pork sandwich we had only done about 20% of the day's climb. It was hilly. I was on one downhill and I got a bug right in the eye. I had to stopped to get it out; thought I did and continued. It started crawling around inside my eye and I had to stop again. I may not have gotten it out the second time but at least it was moving any longer.
When we were on the outskirts of Fuente Tózar but I needed a Coke so we went into town at the cost of a steep downhill and the climb out. The bar we went to looked a little rough but we got a nice tapas with our Coke. Some tasty chunks of stewed pork. I ate both while a dog in a shirt eyed me, convinced I would drop a chunk.
A bit later, my bike computer announced I was starting a 600m climb. It was steep, over 10%. Then there was a very steep descent. You know a road is steep when they have to make it out of concrete. My speed from the descent brought me almost to the top of the next section. Immediately we were on a very bad and very steep section ending in La Rabita. A loose gravel road at 12%.
We stopped at the gas station cafe in La Rabita for a coffee and water. We back on familiar roads. It didn't take long to get home but coming into town, I was done.
Mike and I had beer, tapas and a burger at Alaska where Alpha joined for ice cream. I am tired and cramping.
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