Wednesday, April 9^th, 2003  Alpujarra  Round – Tour, 99.5 km.

The sky was cloudy and the temperature pleasant for cycling but unfortunately the mountains were hidden in the fog. For me this was no reason to stay at home. It would be an athletic challenge. At the departure the altimeter on my wrist showed 370 meters. Travélez lies at 1470 meters and is the highest village in Spain. Climbs of  5 to 6 percent, once in a while a short stretch up to 10 percent. The road is relatively new so the asphalt is smooth with no potholes. In Pampaneira (1050m.) the fog was so tick that one couldn’t see 50 meters, to which a drizzle meant that I had to dig out my raingear. After climbing another 100 – 200 meters it got lighter and before long I was above the fog enjoying the sunshine. In Travélez, well- known for ts air-dried ham, it was time for lunch. As always when I’m underway alone, I met people who were interested about my trip. So from Switzerland? I worked there for 3 years. And so began our conversation. Afterwards it went down in narrow curves to Càdiar where a café con leche y azugar was waiting for me. I wanted to sit down on the terrace when I was waved over by a Dutch couple who asked me to join them at their table. He could also speak a bit if Swiss-German (dialect). He had worked in Holland for a Swiss company for 40 years and had therefore been to Switzerland many times. I wanted to stay overnight in Torvicon but in the only hotel had no vacancies so I continued on to Orgiva where the round-tour ended.

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