April in Spain and it’s snowing.  This is Granada not the Grampians! What is going on!?  Chuffin Climate Change!  Checking the forecasts we’d expected some cloud and showers, but snow!?

The most venerated day in Spain.  Every town has processions of penitents carrying sculptures of Jesus.  Each “pasos” can weigh up to a tonne and they're carried through the streets with great solemnity.

Miracle!  A bike-hire shop, open, on a Sunday, we couldn’t believe it!  Cordoba, we love you!

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

This route would have been glorious in the sun.  It wasn’t sunny.  The mild chain suck that had developed on the way out from Cordoba had worsened and led to several moral sapping, fawlty-esque moments of frustrated anger and futile shaking of fists at whatever Gods were plaguing us.

An opportunity to spend a weeks riding with great friends is never an opportunity to be missed.

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

Cordoba is a jewel in the Andalucian crown. 

"The best days mountain biking...ever".  It could only go downhill from here!

A bright and beautiful morning beckoned....it wouldnt last.