12-Sep-2015 -- This is the first out of 4 reports reaching confluence points during a bicycle trip through southern Spain.
Friday afternoon after work I took a flight from Zürich (Switzerland) to Málaga (Region Andalucía, Spain). My bicycle went together with me – meanwhile I know exactly how to pack the bike for a plane ride. Arriving in Malaga at 4:30 PM, I unpacked my bicycle from the box and rode out of the airport. I followed the coastline westwards and then turned inland at Torre del Mar. I spent the night in my sleeping bag under the stars in an olive grove.
The next morning I continued riding to
Alhama de Granada which is less than one kilometre from the confluence point. High up above the town, the farmers were harvesting almonds.
The confluence point is located nearby in an olive grove with a great view down to Alhama de Granada. There is also an overhead powerline passing almost through the confluence.
Right after the visit, I had breakfast in the cute little town Alhama. I continued riding towards Granada from where I was considering riding up Europe’s highest road to the Pica Valeta with its height of 3392 m. But in Granada, a heavy thunderstorm made me freeze. How cold would it be 3000 m higher? I was not sure whether it was a smart idea to make an attempt to cross over the pass.
CP Visit Details:
- Distance to the road: 200 m
- Distance of bicycle parking: 60 m
- Time to reach the CP from the road: 10 min
- Time at the CP: 8:36 AM
- Measured height: 1019 m
- Minimal distance according to GPS: 0 m
- Position accuracy: 3 m
- Topography: hilly
- Vegetation: olive and almond trees
- Weather: partly cloudy, 18° C (felt temperature)
- Given Name: The Almond Harvest Confluence
The story continues at 37°N 3°W.