My preference was to have a completely free-standing tent. I really can’t be doing with staking out the guy ropes every time I put it up. I

In the arid plains of the Sierra de Cazola, I had fallen heavily from my bike, and was somewhat dazed. The first thing I knew that I'd fall

I was hoping to get to the village of Santiago Pontones by nightfall, I left the refugio at half nine, a lot later than I’d planned. By now

Soon the mountains to both sides of the camino becomes steeper and rockier with gorges and high cliffs all around. It was another good sign

I’m having an internal fight! I know I should wear my helmet whilst riding, but I often forget to put it back on, or can’t be bothered to as

I woke up at my wildcamp at the Refugio Canaleja Alta, in the Sierra de Baza, at around 7am, the tent had got quite wet from, I think, only

Next up, crossing the Marquesado Plateau between La Calahorra and the Sierra de Baza. I wasn’t looking forward to this leg, I’d thought it w

went to dab with my right foot, but nothing was there, it was a twenty foot drop down to a barranco. Me and Bay fell sideways down the

The days off also gave me time to do shopping and prepare myself mentally for the return to being alone in the mountains. I was enjoying my

The terrain varied from very rocky and steep, to meadow with grazing cattle, to mountain springs wetting the soil making it a slippery uphil

Flies! Flies had been a problem the last few days when travelling slowly. They would congregate around my sweaty head and face, eventually y

So I’d ridden/pushed-up the mountain visible from Nigϋelas, to 1200 metres then along the ridgeline of the higher peak behind it to around 1

Nigϋelas is perched on the very edge of a ravine, it looks like some of the houses will fall off one day! And the views had improved with mo

I was so relieved to get onto the trail, it was a mountain edge single-track, and was so fabulous. Mostly downhill, sometimes steep, sometim

I crossed the river and sat and ate the rest of my bocadillo and cooled down also taking the opportunity to filter some water. Onwards, and

From the hamlet of Villanueva de Cauche the Altravesur had a long ride on a surfaced road, first across agricultural plains with some escarp

At 10pm I was so happy when the wind stopped, completely, not even a breeze, only for it to start again with a vengeance at 11pm. I’m guessi

There was a fence to my right, the chalky roadway, then an embankment up to vegetation and the mountain to my left. So I could only go forwa

Eventually came a fantastic decent for several kilometres, with wonderful mountain views in all directions. I raced down this twisty steep r

Pepe is my hero, he ran down and pushed my bike up the last bit of the hill. I all but collapsed at the top, where is girlfriend, Inma and h