Distance: 130k

Total Ascent: 3,684m

The urge to get another peak under my belt, and do some new route finding was getting stronger. I'd not bagged a peak since the Angliru and was aware that summer was drawing to a close, and the days getting shorter. 

The last leg of the MTB Cazorla Tour is an easy day, (at least compared to the previous day!) starting with a steady, easy gradient on broad caminos, before spilling out on to the karstic tundra of the high planes of the Sierras de Segura then descending on fine single track to La Toba.

I think I’ve found the perfect cycling route and I’m reluctant to tell anyone; I want to keep it mine...

The back roads from Baena to Cazorla...peace and tranquility

We awoke to find Emu’s peering at us from a hill top compound.  We must have bivouacked near Baena’s “roundabout zoo”.  

The Pico de Veleta sits at the very western tip of the Sierra Nevada, looming over the citadel of Granada. The Veleta rarely gets any credit, its the "Camilla" of mountain climbs.

A stage of two halves...olives then wheat, scorched earth then mud...

Cordoba is a jewel in the Andalucian crown. 

The longest and toughest day on the GR247 MTB Tour: 70km of challenging terrain, with over 4,000m of climbing: its a doozy.

The "shits of death"... Not a very auspicious name to start such a great climb, but a decent enough warning of whats ahead in any event.

A wide open "alpine" climb with panoramic views its entire length, if you can take your eyes off your front wheel long enough...

Despernar: "to cut or wound ones legs".  Not entirely sure my translation is sound, but its close enough! I love the colloquialisms given to local features and trails. This climb Despiernas Caballos - lame horses" is another colourful title to a beautiful and serene climb.

The highest road accessible peak in the park, El Yelmo stands tall with its official summit at 1,809 m. Its final kilometres affording magnificent views across a vast swath of southern Spain.

A pleasant and picturesque little climb that seems to be mostly ignored by any form of traffic.