Beautiful Pego and the best lunch stop so far

Today was to be an easy recovery day, so we generate a cycling loop to take in the historical town of Pego for lunch. David has had a cold and now three days off the bike, but well enough to join us, as we assure him the route is flat and will be an easy spin.

Rain was predicted around 3, so we head off at 10.30 thinking we have plenty of time for a short ride with lunch. The town of Pego is just inland from Denia, surrounded by mountains but sits in a marsh depression and known for the production of Bomba rice, a short grain variety, commonly used in paella.


Before we arrive at our lunch stop, we are riding through stunning fertile, productive farms of olive and orange trees, on beautiful quiet smooth roads.  We access Pego through a narrow gorge, with steep limestone walls,  devoid of trees and drop down into town. The result is a stunning view across the flatlands to the Mediterranean Sea in the distance. 

Every piece of land, is cultivated, including the surrounding hills, of which are terraced with stone rock walls to stabilise the land for orange groves. Plastic greenhouses or Polytunnels are used to extend the growing season and facilitate to cultivation of fruits, vegetables and flowers, all year round.


We arrive into a beautiful square full of elderly Spanish citizens, all chatting over coffee and glasses of wine. Some had nasal cannula's, some with walking aids, but it was lovely to see and listen to the robust conversations.  Have no idea what they were talking about, but some strong points were being emphasised, all with lively and expressive hand gestures.

Lunch was delicious, the best I have had so far.  Those who know me well, know I am not very adventurous, always play it safe, but today I tried something new.  

Tostada (toast) of long piece of Spanish bread (really good) with oven baked eggplant, topped with cherry tomatoes and pumpkin seeds. I ordered for David, the same Tostada bread, spread with hummus, shredded chicken, bits of scrambled egg, topped with dried fried onion.  We shared, both were yum and a step up from Tostada of ham, cheese and tomato.  No photo's though, sorry.



A lovely relaxing lunch, topped with two coffee's and shared dessert of homemade fruit flan.  We were having a great time in the Spanish sunshine under umbrella's, when heavy black clouds blocked out the sun.  

We quickly head off, decide to head straight back the way we came, rather than complete a loop.  Before too long, we are all wet, my shoes feel like their full of water, the spray from the front wheel flies up onto my face and behind, we all have large rooster tails from the water coming off the back wheel.  We are saturated and so is the road, lots of water lying on the smooth asphalt, leaving me feeling a tad nervous.


Of course, I didn't take my raincoat, because it was only a short ride and we new we would be well and truely back by 3.....

It was a quick return, probably faster than the intended cruise, when its constant rain we just had to put the hammer down and get home.

We apologise for Dave, wasn't quite the relaxing ride we had intended...



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