Biking & Baking in Las Alpujarras

We've been in Spain for over 4 years now - plus 4 motorbikes - and a horse - join us for the ride!

No car...break out the bikes!
Saturday, October 6, 2012 @ 2:07 AM

There we were, tootling back down from the Hoya de Portillo towards Capileira at the end of a long walk, when...the car just died. Nothing. No engine power at all. So we free-wheeled to the gasolinera below Bubion, filled up (we were a bit low on fuel), she started up again...and we managed another 6 km. Down the hill she died again and this time there was no life at all. Nor the next day, despite all Steve's efforts and checks: battery good, plugs good, ignition good, coil good...and now she's in the garage in Pitres awaiting treatment. Thank goodness for the motorbikes! Thank goodness for Clem and his offer of a tow!

We've used the C90 for my medical appointment, the Suzuki for shopping and trying to fix the car and the VFR will get me to Malaga on Tuesday, we hope, for a brief visit to the UK. Only the Guzzi has been left in the 'stable'. It's great weather for biking anyway: cooler, sunny, brilliant roads all washed clean by the rain...

I'm sure that Steve will be up in the hills while I'm away, wandering around and enjoying the solitude. His latest YouTube video on Lightweight Backpacking is getting plenty of attention but he's still fiddling about with ever-smaller and lighter stoves to boil water. I'm only interested in the outcome, that nice cup of tea. We met 2 lads from Cambridge up on Mulhacen and one of them not only indulges in fell-running, he even knows the location of the farm in the Lake District where I grew up...and he was carrying one of my favourite books Feet in the Clouds, about the people who pursue that energetic sport. Come to the Alpujarras and meet the world!

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6 Comments

Gerald said:
Saturday, October 6, 2012 @ 9:57 AM

So what would be the budgeting costs of a Motor Bike?

casalinda said:
Saturday, October 6, 2012 @ 12:38 PM

Hola Gerald
Do you mean the annual running costs? Road tax is very cheap (c90 is only 4E pa!!), MOT/ITV lasts 2 years and is reasonable, insurance is more expensive than UK and for 1 driver only (c90 just over 100E). Hard if not impossible to find fully-comp and you can only put 1 bike on 1 policy (no multi-buy policies available).
A lot depends on the size of bike you choose! Check prices in UK and Spain; secondhand vehicles cost less to re-register here as they get older!
Hope this helps.

Gerald said:
Saturday, October 6, 2012 @ 10:01 PM

Thank you Casa (or is it Linda?)
It is helpful, as I was thinking, why buy a car when it may well not get used much, so just hire one when occasionally necessary.
But a bike gives mobility, especially with the weather.
I assume the roads are fairly safe for bikes.
In Thailand you stand a 55% of being injured & 35% of being killed (crash hats are not compulsory however yet).
Some of the "manglings" there are truly horrendous.

casalinda said:
Sunday, October 7, 2012 @ 1:41 AM

The roads here are excellent and accidents no worse I believe than the UK. The Spanish don't always signal and tend to occupy both sides of the road (mountain roads, no central white line) so you have to be alert...but the world needs more lerts...:)
Linda

Gerald said:
Sunday, October 7, 2012 @ 11:42 AM

thanks again Linda, sounds a bit of a challenge then!
Lerts sounds the way.

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Casalinda
I'm heading towards 65 and enjoying life out here in Spain with my partner Steve and all our great friends here and in the UK. I have cancer and know a bit about the Spanish health system these days, but my motto is 'it'll get me one day but not yet!' We live simply, enjoy good company, the fabulous scenery and fresh air, our motorbikes and my special Andalusian mare Canela. Also the village cats! Home-baking has given way to growing vegetables, walking and riding, but we never know what else may crop up! And you can rent our s/c granero if you contact me direct. I have lots to say, so blogging is a good way to do it!