March 25, 2023
Puerto de las Palomas
The road to Puerto de las Palomas winds through two mountains inside the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, connecting the white villages of Zahara de la Sierra and Grazalema. The 2500 ft ascent from Zaraha to the pass is a Category 1 climb that has made several appearances in the Vuelta de España, and a few CB journals. The route is popular among local cyclists and although the pass can be tackled in any direction, the southern route between Zahara and Grazalema is said to offer better views.
I’d planned an extra day in Zahara so that I might try the climb without the burden of panniers. I’m pretty new at climbing on a bike, having renewed my joy of cycling about a dozen years ago in the flatlands of Iowa. However, on my recent tours I’ve purposely designed routes with more elevation and I've found the challenge rewarding, if not always enjoyable in the moment. I went to bed last night hopeful that in the morning I would be refreshed and eager to tackle Puerto de las Palomas.
I woke this morning tired, so tired in fact that I played TIRED as my first guess at Wordle. It was a fortuitous choice, and I solved the puzzle in three tries, raising my spirits and motivation for the climb. After all, I’m not getting younger and, as the saying goes, the only thing stopping me was me. The weather was ideal – clear skies, little wind, and temperatures in the low 70s. There were no excuses.
After a short drop down from the hotel, I started the climb – almost seven miles with an average grade of 6.3%, according to the RWGPS route. I took my time, finding a sustainable pace that left me feeling relaxed and pretty strong. The views were magnificent and I stopped frequently, not only for photos but to get a little rest and to enjoy the moment. I greeted other cyclists as they passed, most overtaking me but a few passing me on their way downhill. Oddly – I did not overtake anyone on the way up!
I reached the top tired but elated. Access to the mirador was blocked, so I found my way to the elevation marker for the requisite photo. I lingered a bit, silently sharing celebratory moments as others reached the summit. And then it was time to head down the hill.
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Though I’m not a huge fan of descents, the downhill run to Grazalema was a was a joy, which may have been partially due to the high emotion I carried after having reached the summit. I didn’t stop until just outside Grazalema, where I enjoyed a couple of cold drinks and tapas on the plaza. The ride back to Zahara de la Sierra was relaxed, mostly downhill and then flat around the reservoir. A final climb up to the hotel required no walking this time - although I did stop briefly to smell the flowers – sweet, as was my day.
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Today's ride: 25 miles (40 km)
Total: 333 miles (536 km)
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1 year ago