Sierra Nevada and Picos

[fairb]

Someone suggested last year that we try the Picos. As I had read that the Sierra Nevadas have the highest paved road in Europe we thought we would try them as well.

Didn't take the bird this year, went on the new Vara. LD Lines started a new ferry route from Poole to Gijon this year so that was convenient and a lot cheaper than Brittany ferries. The ferry was very good although it was a bit annoying that they changed the departure from 1200 to 1800 as it meant we couldn't put any miles in when we got to Gijon. I'm a poor sailor (a disgrace to my birthplace, Plymouth) and violently threw up going around the Bay of Biscay but that wasn't the ferry's fault.

We kept away from the tourist spots and we thought that Spain and the people were great. We can't speak any Spanish and they couldn't speak any English but we got by OK. Food and wine was great and accommodation very reasonable. We were there for 8 days and did around 2000 miles doing a north south route. The weather was could and damp in the north so we spent most of our time in the south where it was lovely.

 

[fairb]

Crossing the mountains into north Portugal. Cold and wet. Almost sleeted at times and all I had was my summer gloves. It felt like Scotland late autumn at times. Good job we took our fleeces and wet weather overcoats.

Looking back into Portugal. We were level with Salamanca at this point and it started warm up a bit and stop raining.

We always try to find a trucker stop as the food is usually pretty good and resonably priced. This one in Spain didn't disappoint. (But maybe no good if you're a fussy eater.)

Now it's nice and warm with Africa in the background. Picked up Morocco mobile there.

GB not too far away, Gibraltar.

 

[fairb]

This pool was nice. Although I think it was a bit frightening for the locals to see me in my trunks. Who cares, I'll never meet them again?

Couldn't find the Hollywood sign anywhere? :dunno:

We kept inland as we went along the south coast. Some lovely mountains roads. Malaga looked like an ant hill from the motorway. Stopped for a MacDonalds there and had a nasty slide on the roundabout outside. Must have been all the grease (more likely over filled vehicles leaving the petrol station next door).

As we climbed south into the Sierra Nevada came across a village famous for its witches. They made a little model of it. The missus took to the place instantly.

The hotel we stayed at at Pampaneria. Very nice and reasonably priced. We used booking.com as we went around.

Now it turned out that even though the Sierra Nevadas have the highest paved road and Google shows you it, you are not allowed to go up there. We tried from the north and south and managed ~2,500 metres coming from Granada to the north of the Sierra Nevadas. There's a big ski resort there and the paved road is for the people who work at the observatory perched on the top. You can just about see the dish in the background.

 

[fairb]

Looking back towards Granada from the Sierra Nevada. I got one of those Hitachi cameras (?50) and it worked pretty well in the Sierra Nevada.

They still use Pans in Toledo?

Avila.

I don't know what these were? Storks or Cranes. They were big and were everywhere. Huge nests on the tops of street lights.

The song goes that "the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain" but they're wrong as the rain in Spain definitely falls mainly in the Picos. After the south it was a shock. Sure the scenery was spectacular but it was so wet and misty on the road from Potes to Posada de Valdeon and onto Villaviciosa. Lots of twisties with crap all over the road and goats, cows and sheep.

 

[ScubaDiver]

Cracking trip)

 

[jono49]

@tu* Cracking write up and pics again Fairb!!!! Nice one! :yo::yo::yo: