{"id":4366,"date":"2012-06-13T06:17:56","date_gmt":"2012-06-13T10:17:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=4366"},"modified":"2015-07-02T15:08:32","modified_gmt":"2015-07-02T19:08:32","slug":"day-17-tuesday-june-12-rincon-de-la-victoria-to-motril-spain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=4366","title":{"rendered":"Day 17, Tuesday, June 12 – Rincon de la Victoria to Motril, Spain"},"content":{"rendered":"

Amazing how good one feels first thing in the morning \"\"<\/a>on a flat road \"\"<\/a>with the wind at your back; and how quickly the euphoria can be blown away when the wind flies down from the mountains\u00a0\"\"<\/a>and\u00a0almost knocks you off your bike as it smacks you in the face.<\/p>\n

Though today’s start was close to the same temperature as yesterday, it felt much warmer, probably due to the warm wind coming from the hills. \u00a0We rode boardwalks<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>and beautiful towns<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>along the coast with only moderate climbing.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> We were making good time despite a long conversation with Francesa\"\"<\/a> from France (seriously), still biking at 78 years old; meanwhile I snapped pictures of a little boy immensely enjoying the beach.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The vistas of the sea\u00a0\"\"<\/a>the homes enjoyed\"\"<\/a>was incredible.<\/p>\n

By eleven a.m. we were at our halfway point, unfortunately, the majority of the climbing would be the second half of the ride. \u00a0Hairpin turns\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

offered spectacular views\"\"<\/a>as we laborously climbed\"\"<\/a>and climbed.\"\"<\/a>Seemingly deserted coves\"\"<\/a>were around every bend, it’s just every bend meant more climbing\"\"<\/a>and even a couple of tunnels.\"\"<\/a>The sound of cars coming through the tunnel is unbelievably loud and the inside quite eerie and intimidating on a bicycle.\"\"<\/a>The tunnels saved us a little climbing, so we were happy,\"\"<\/a> every little bit helps with the climbs are this brutal\"\"<\/a>and the fly-downs were very short lived. \u00a0But we’d noticed the wind had eased and the temps had cooled so we were as incredibly drained as the day before. \u00a0We finally reached our last climb of the day and could see the town we were staying, in the distance.\"\"<\/a>An hour later, after passing an old castle (we think) \"\"<\/a>and crossing a dry river bed\"\"<\/a>we arrived at our destination.<\/p>\n

After almost six hours on the bike, there was not much touring we could do and not much the town had to offer other than one of the widest beaches we’ve ever seen\"\"<\/a>and a view back at the mountains still left to climb.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Ever since reaching Spain, we have desperately looked for restaurants that open at what we consider a decent hour, 7:30 has been the earliest. \u00a0Tonight we had to wait until 8:30…. really cramping our early dinner routine. \u00a0But tonight’s paella was more than worth it.\"\"\n\t\t