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Mountain Biking in Sierra Espuņa, Murcia - October
2001
by
Graham Baxter
At
the moment (October 2001) we have groups of Mountain Bikers who are
enjoying the fantastic tracks and beautiful scenery that the Sierra
Espuņa national park offers. The weather is very pleasant (25ēC).
The Mountain Biking
is fantastic, and offers a wide variety of trails, with fire roads as
well as great single track.
We have climbed
to the highest point of the Sierra Espuņa to look at the Snow Wells
(Pozos de la Nieve) which are deep large wells dug into the ground,
where at one time the locals used to pack down the snow and make ice
for transport back to the town of Totana for keeping food cool.
We have also ridden the famous single track of the 1,000 bends, (actually
85) and descended the single tracks of El Rapido and El Indio. Each
Friday we organise for a pallea to be cooked on an open fire at one
of the many BBQ places in the forest.
Included are a selection
of photos from the 13th to 20th October
and 20th to 27th October groups.
One of the groups
pictured outside the hotel.
Here is a letter
from Ken Band who was part of the 13th to 20th October group:
"Hi, Graham
- just a quick note to thank you, Marie-Carmen, Pam, George, Jon, Francisco
and everyone else at the Pinito de Oro for a brilliant week in the Sierra
Espuna. I still can't believe that such an extraordinary place is so
little known; so much so that I'm reluctant to say too much about it
in case it gets over-run.
The whole experience
was exceptional, from the accommodation, food and hospitality
at the hotel, through the incredibly challenging rides and right to
the last day's paella in the forest. The final touch of magic was heading
back down to Aledo late Friday afternoon to the amazing little craft
shop which you'd negotiated special opening hours on, and taking one
last look out across that incredible panorama from the castle. Breath-taking.
I feel like I made
real progress on the bike too; life on tarmac is going to feel very
dull from now on. . .
Quite simply, you
did a great job. I think it's fair to say we all had a tremendous time.
I know that at least four of us arrived completely frazzled from too
much work and stress in the weeks running up to the holiday; we all
left very reluctantly, buzzing with the experience.
Thanks again."
Ken
Photos
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