April 28, 2019
So many tunnels
Marchena to Olvera
Today was a day I had been looking forward to, having read about a scenic rail trail the travels through mountains, it didn’t disappoint.
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Initially my morning was spent cycling south on road to start of rail trail through two towns with a couple of minor climbs. Was a quick ride to the town of Moron, which had an abounded castle on a hill, which gave an okay view, It did enable me to see the best option to cycle further south, could have taken a more hilly route if I wanted to. I noticed today that people appeared to be voting, learnt later there are having national elections so not escaping the Australian election while overseas.
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Climbed to Montellano but with some okay views but I couldn’t find water tap in town. With it being a Sunday it is harder to find shops open, similarly the daily siesta time between 2pm and 5pm is annoying as that is the warmest part of the day and the time I most want a cool drink. Bars appear to be still open but with too much of a focus on alcohol for me. Did see more cyclist today out riding both mountain bikers and road cyclist, have noticed less people on bikes in towns compared to Eastern Europe and France. Haven’t seen people using bikes as everyday vehicle like travelling between towns or visiting supermarket. As well other than rail trails no cycling signs in towns or out in the country side. Feel like I see more cyclist in Australia.
The shortest route to Puerto Serrano where the start of the rail trail called Vias Verdes de la Sierra, involved 10kms of a highway which had good shoulder, okay traffic and scenic views as mountains come into view. Had a short explore of the town of Puerto Serrano but didn’t find anything special so made my way to start of rail trail, finding that it was busy with people out enjoy cycling and sitting down for a meal as the railway station has been converted to a restaurant. There are also toilets and drinking water fountains. As well there were trail angels helping people out, one of whom gave me advice on how a couple of longer tunnels have no lights and that the start of the trail has a steep section away from the rail right of way as a tunnels is abounded. The good thing about tunnels is they act like air conditioning, cooling you down when you go through.
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For 36kms this trail climbs 300meters through 30 tunnels of various lengths, some with solar powered sensors lights and some so short they don’t need lights, last 5kms to Olvera contains 10 short tunnels. Most former stations have been converted to either a restaurants or in one case a bird museum. Surface was varied in some places paved other times gravel. It did feel like in some small sections it was steeper then a train would take, but this may have been because it felt like I was climbing the whole time and the elevation map agree with me.
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As for the scenery spectacular, with views of various mountains on both sides as tunnels cross to other sides of river valleys so giving different views. However with the use of tunnels your not really ever cycling on the edge looking over a height except for the end near Olvera, which has an amazing view to end the ride. The town of Olvera is above the railway station, which I will explore tomorrow, instead spent my time relaxing at the station complex which has a caravan parking spot with power, water but toilets are locked by 6pm. There is also accommodation here beside a station converted to restaurant and bike hire station. The railway line continued but tunnel is flooded and blocked with vegetation. Slept under a tree near the lookout.
Today's ride: 93 km (58 miles)
Total: 476 km (296 miles)
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