The Gorafe desert by gravel bike

Route explained to: https://www.mundodeportivo.com/solobici/20231128/1002139980/ruta-bicicleta-geoparque-de-granada.html

With the bikes unloaded we take a tour in the Gorafe desert among gullies, ravines, ridges, ochre-colored plateaus. Unforgettable lunch stop at Cortijo Nuevo, hosted by a local family. In the evening another mega pot of Paella and the usual trash of Sangria

Today's stop is to visit part of the Gorafe desert. It is called this even though from a climatological point of view the only real desert is the one not far away in the province of Almeria, the Tabernas desert (which we will visit in a few days). Here the "toponym" Badlands takes on its true connotation. The morphology of this area is very similar to that found in Cappadocia (Turkey), an area rich in gullies and natural monuments of incredible beauty. We leave Gorafe and after a few km we take a dirt road on the right that begins to climb towards Cerillo de la Estrella, now we are in the "full desert" and turning around we see in the distance the Sierra Nevada with the snow-capped Pico Veleta. From here on it is a true triumph of beauty of these places, alone in a completely different world, I don't think the photos need any comments. We are "slow" but it is the right slowness because every now and then we stop to take photos, to admire the landscape and bask in an absolutely unique land. How unique is our late arrival at Cortjio Nuevo here we find Lola and her husband (see photo) that Stefano had contacted previously. They also live here about 6/7 months a year in a splendid cueva with their flock of sheep grazing all around. It is a small community, in the spring summer period of very few families and only one resident all year round. Well to call it a dot (see photo) is an understatement the kindness and hospitality of this Andalusian is truly exceptional. We return through a flat area even more deserted (see photo) that will take us to Dehesas de Guadix. Here a short pit stop, the temperatures have risen and we have exceeded 40 ° but so it is. From here we get back on the asphalt to Villanueva de la Torres and then after the last short climb we return to Gorafe. A "wonderful" paella, tiramisu and an incredible sunset await us, a worthy conclusion to an exceptional day. P.S. Here too I thank Antonino and Fabrizio for some of their photos.