Wednesday March 12, 2014, 80 miles (129 km) – Total so far: 591 miles (951 km)

March 11, 2014 41 miles Before we left Alumunecar we stopped at the Correos, post office, and mailed home our 10 pound tent and the sleeping pads. The combined weight was over 16 pounds and really slowing us down. We hope to get our much lighter MSR Hubba Hubba tent. The 4 season Hilleberg tent seemed like a good idea at the time but just way too heavy. We then continued riding the rollercoaster coast into an increasing headwind. It was so strong that we stopped at a beach cafe for lunch and waited hoping the wind would lesson for the climb out of this town. It seemed to so we got back on the bikes and had an easier time of it until we rounded another headland. Unfortunately we had to ride the dreaded A7 for several miles and if I were a cat I spent two lives during that time. I was thrown onto a guard rail by a speeding truck but managed to stay upright. I lost my climbing momentum so walked up to the first of three tunnels. The tunnels are very scary and have less than 2 feet from the road to the wall. In the 3rd tunnel I was thrown against the wall but again stayed upright and walked the rest of the way out. It was nerve racking. We continued late until past 7 before finding a room in the small town of El Pozuelo. We had a fun time in the family hotel bar watching the championship soccer match of Madrid vs. Milan. What a crazy crowd!

March 12, 2014 39 miles We climbed out of El Pozuelo and continued along El Mar de Plastico, the sea of plastic. This area of the coast is full of greenhouses growing fruits and vegetables for the northern European market. It really detracts from the beautiful coast. The gusty wind continued and we fought for every mile until it was late once again and we stopped in the town of Almeria.