ESPADAN MOUNTAINS & MAESTRAZGO
The Silent Route (Maestrazgo region) belongs to Teruel in Aragon. It is a beautiful, old and lonely land. Twisty road mostly in good conditions. Mountain ports between 1500/1600m.
2º day trip. Silent Route. A-1702 road between Ejulve and Cañada de Benantanduz.
I spent a weekend during this trip. To get the most of my travels I always try to avoid highways mostly. Always looking for twisty roads (in good condition if possible). This time I was surprised. I found a new region plenty of them!!! Awesom "Sierra Espadan" (Espadan mountain range) in Castellon. South of Maestrazgo was my start of route. I won´t be afraid if one day I lost in Sierra Espadan...I could be riding there during 2 days and not getting bored...
1º Day Route: Espadan & Maestrazgo East.
Balcony, just before top Eslida´s port.
Canyon between Argelita and Ludiente. Villahermosa river.
Once you cross "Villahermosa del rio", landscape and region change completly. Cross from Valencia to Aragon. From Espadan Mountains to Gudar-Javalambre Mountains, anteroom of Maestrazgo. From lush forests and gray rocks to plains of ocher-colored barren lands ... The villages feel ancient. With hearth. Reflect isolation and harsh climate.
Different sections of Sierra Espadan.
Puerto Mingalvo. Entering in Maestrazgo.
Puerto Mingalvo
Who writes in reverse???. There are two tipical villages in Maestrazgo. One is Cantavieja and the other is this one. You will have to read sign looking in a mirror...little game...
Have you already take a mirror?
You got it?
Here you are some clues. Name begins with "M" and end in "L". This villages are famous of his "Mudejar" architectonic style.
SILENT ROUTE & CUENCA MOUNTAINS
2º day trip
The Silent Route (Maestrazgo west) and Cuenca/Albarracin Mountains.
Varied orography during Silent Route. Except "Organos de Montoro" section, whole Silent Road is in good conditions. Canyons, deep valleys, high ports...
https://goo.gl/maps/onjzyc9ipFDoGpcJ7
The Silent Route. I rode alone so it was (silent & lonely). Weather forecast were not very good and I didn´t see much traffic. Plenty of beautiful landscapes and lots of very fun twisty road you don´t have to choose what to do. There is no dilemma. You can achive both. There is time to enjoy riding and time to look up landscape in a relaxing and softly ride.
"Tunnels" near Pitarque.
The highest port of all. During trip there are 4 in total. Villarluengo (1130m), Cuarto Pelado (1657m), Cabigordo (1600m) and Sollavientos (1485m).
After "Allepuz" awesom road gone and we leave Maestrazgo. Little boring transition (commuting section) until "Geas de Albarracin". The "show" restart from this point and continue until passing "Cuenca".
CUENCA & ALBARRACIN MOUNTAIN RANGE
Albarracin is one of the oldest and tourist village in Spain (you can see images in Google). Cuenca (little town) also is very tourist. All this section is plenty of lush forest. During my trip I couldn´t enjoy landscape at the top near Cubillo Port due to fog, mist and rain.
Guadalaviar river gorges, after Albarracin.
Water source of Tajo river (one of the most important in Spain). River mouth is in Lisbon (Portugal). Near to foggy top Cubillos port...
Between "Uña" and "Cuenca.
ALMERIA
Almería is one of my favorites regions in Spain. First of all is near my home, It is plenty of twisty roads (in good conditions mostly), beautiful and differents landscapes from deserts to costline and high mountains. In addition, roads are lonely quite often. Except sundays rest of the week you don´t see much traffic. Almeria was famous due to his "Taberna´s Desert" or "Natural Park Cabo de Gata-Nijar (Gata-Nijar Cape)". Lots of movies (western mostly) were filmed there: "The bad, the good and the ugly", " A Fistfull of dolars ", "Indiana Jones and the Last crusade", "Lawrence of Arabia"...
Filabres Mountains in the middle of Almeria region are very high (there is an Astronomical observatory at top. Also there is a little "Stelvio". "Velefique Port" is known as Almeria´s Stelvio.
Almeria´s "Stelvio". Velefique top. Taberna´s Desert background.
"Calar alto" Astronomical Observatory.
GORAFE (Granada) &TABERNAS (Almeria) DESERTS.
Negratin reservoir and dam
Natural Park Cabo de Gata-Nijar. There is one section traffic is not allowed, so you will have to skirt a bit. Beautiful Monsul&Genoveses beaches near "San Jose".
Differents sections of Cabo de Gata-Nijar. Chameleons are protected wild fauna so do not catch or disturb them. You can be fined.
CAZORLA&SEGURA MOUNTAIN RANGE.
Lots of roads in different conditions from good to regular but always beautiful and astonish. Big zone you can divide in 4 sections. North/South/East/west...I have been riding these Mountains range for many years. Each year discovering new places. Is not very far from home but I usually spend all day due to twisty roads. Speed average is not very fast. Winter, Spring, Autumn...All season are perfect to go...even Summer. When home is very hot I go to Cazorla. Usually is not as hot as home and I take a nap under trees while lunch or take a refreshing bath in river. Bath in river is more comfortable than sea because there is no sand neither salt in your skin!!! In addition you don´t need an umbrella (shadow tree is free!!). Only a pair of good flip-flops are necessary to avoid nailing stone on your feet.
Ayna, Riopar, Segura de la Sierra, Cazorla, Yeste, Castril are famous villages among Mountain range. Two water sources are here. Guadalquivir river (one of the most important rivers in Spain) that flows to Atlantic ocean at west and Segura river that flows to mediterranean sea at east.
Near Nerpio.
Taibilla reservoir
Next to "Pedro Andres"
Descent/Climb of Ayna.
Ayna´s "Vespa". Tribute to Spanish movie "Amanece, que no es poco" that was filmed here.
Some ports and Yelmo´s peak (2000m aprox).
Cazorla´s Heart. Dove´s balcony.
Tranco reservoir (first stop of Guadalquivir river).
Refresh bath in "Charco del aceite".
Lonely, far and highest Aguascebas reservoir. I spent lot of time to arrive...
Anchuricas-Miller reservoir, Zumeta river, Climbing from "La toba" to "Pontones".
Las "Juntas" (Junction of Zumeta and Segura river). Portillo reservoir close to Castril.
Cold as Ice...Watch out even Spring/Autumn!!!...Shady zone can get ice.
Near "Hornos". Tranco reservoir background.