Biking Benicasim Part III

Yesterday was a try out. 
We drove 1,5h by car up to Penyagolosa where Yvan of the Toerist Biking left us behind with the mission to come back by bike. 80km on a track found on the internet, whole the way over the GR ( Grande Randonée ). We should have known better, but our enthusiasm took the advantage over our thinking. 
2,5h and 24km later, we found ourselves in a the local barrito of un pueblo en la medio del nada. Un boccadillo con jamon y queso and un cafe con leche descafinado, gave us new energy and we hit the road again. I was excited about the trails, we had to put in our high technical skills and we were rewarded with some extraordinary views and thrills. But the idea of another 56km of this nearly unridable trails was too much. As we tried to avoid the tricky parts, we found ourselves lost in the mountains and after another 3hours we decided to  take the fastest way back to Benicasim. We were longing for a sign of life and an asphalt road, can you imagine? 
25km over the asphalt and one more climb ( the shortest pain ) over the mountain brought us home to our hotel. 
It was a long, cold and windy day filled with ups and downs, but the sun hanging low over the last climb made me realize how lucky I am to be here in this MTB paradise. 
It was a try out and it didn't work out, no problem, at least we tried it. 

hit the road

As we stand here we don't realize this trail continues for at least 1kilometer. It starts fluently rideable but goes over in a rock garden. We remain concentrated and we reach the end without putting one feet on the ground. Thrilled and excited we are!

savely bur shakey we come down

In this little pueblo we find warmth and shelter from the heavy wind. We rode for 2,5h and are only 24km away from where we started. 

Check out our ride on: 
Penyagolosa - Benicasim door mertenssara op Garmin Connect - Details