The Bicycle Adventure Club - Come Ride With Us!

Ride Across Spain Part I: Mediterranean to Madrid

April 26th to May 12th

Ride Coordinator: Karen Hass
Report by: Charlie Schultz

BAC Ride Across Spain Part 1: Tarifa to Madrid

On April 26, twenty three hardy BAC riders met at happy hour in Malaga to meet, greet, and start a two week sojourn from the southernmost point in Europe to the capital of Spain, Madrid.

 Karen Hass, current BAC President and rider leader collaborated with Iberocycle owner, Simon Proffitt, to organize the ride. The following morning we bussed to Tarfia, checked in to our hotel, and assembled and test rode our bikes.

Our 1100 km route took us through the autonomous regions of Andalucía, Extremadura, and Castilla-La Mancha. We accumulated in the neighborhood of 36,000 feet of climbing as Simon and Karen had routed us up, over, and back down three mountain ranges and into three major river basins (Spanish Inquisition torture technique?).

Our daily routine was breakfast at the hotel, luggage to the van, and on the road between 8:30 and 9:00. Our 6:00 pm happy hours were excellent. We were well supplied with good Spanish red and white wines, cervezas, and juices, along with those delicious Spanish green olives and other assorted snacks.

Simon’s happy hour presentations were great. We reviewed the next day’s ride and weather in detail. Then Simon donned his professor’s hat and we learned about the history, geography, and economy of the area were we about to ride through.

At the start of the trip, a few of the group were acquaintances, and most of us were strangers. By our fourth group dinner at the campground in Horcajo de Montes, we were all a raucous group of best buddies who could identify each other by our pedal cadence and cycling kits.

Although the first three days were a little soggy, the team’s spirits were high as we rolled into Sevilla at the start of Feria de Abril (April Fair). What seemed a bit strange at first, women wearing colorful, form-fitting flamenco dresses and men decked out in their finest suits being carted around the streets in horse drawn carriages, soon became commonplace. Our layover day here gave us the chance to check out and explore the Cathedral, Alcazar, Plaza de Espana and Old Town of Sevilla. Some of us took in a flamenco show; we all soaked up the vibrant energy of this beautiful city.

Some memories and highlights:

Rock roses, lavender, and poppies – all growing wild along the roads as we cycled over rolling hills of olive groves, cork tree forests, almond and fruit orchards, and eucalyptus copses.

The sights and sounds of sheep herds, free-grazing cattle, goats and pigs, and lonely looking donkeys.

The well-preserved Roman bridge, Amphitheatre, and Roman theatre of Merida.

Trujillo – home of the Pizarro conquistador clan and Francisco de Orellana, the first European explorer of the Amazon.

Guadalupe’s Real Monasterio de Nuestra Senora and its black Virgin Mary statue.

Gazpacho, salmorejo, jamon, queso of all kinds, tuna salads, peppers, pork cheeks, tapas, flan and ice cream.

The gregarious receptionist at the Posada del Moro in Cazalla de la Sierra.

Zafra’s Plaza Grande and Plaza Chica

Horcajo’s Serengeti-like Parque National de Cabaneros

First communion girls in their white dresses

The ever present storks and their gigantic nests

What an adventure it was! Thanks to Karen and Simon  for organizing a trip of a lifetime.