TRAVELLING BY BICYCLE

There are many different pilgrim routes  towards caravaca de la Cruz from many towns of Murcia.

Nowadays Murcian  believers can go on the pilgrimage close at home.

My friends are believers but I didn’t do it because of  credence, I did it to share the experience with my friends ,to explore new places in Murcia ,see new sights ,to meet new people and to get away from it all.

It was About 3 years ago when some friends and me decided to go on the pilgrimage way of Caravaca de la Cruz . It had been recently marked and we didn’t want that anybody told us about it ,we wanted to live the experience ourselves.

The  trip was from  the Costera’s  church, to  Caravaca’s church, which is  about 120km away.

First we set off from the Costera’s church .We were telling jokes while riding ours bicycles all the morning .We stopped off in an unspoilt  place in the middle of the mountains and there was a bar  named Pedron  .We were starving so it was just what we needed .After that we carried on towards el Berro where we had expected to stay for sleeping. We still had 30km ahead, and when  we  were reaching to Berro the sky became  darker. We thought an imminent rain was coming but in the end we got to el Berro without any problem. There was a cam site but we stayed in a guesthouse .Then ,we left our saddlebags and went out to walk and explore the village .We  had dinner in a good restaurant there .It was a tiring day so we went to bed very soon.

Next day we got up early .We had expected to get till bullas .It was the longest part of the route and we had some mechanic problems with ours bicycles but fortunately we had taken  some tools to repair them. The views were breath taking along the track .When we  were getting to bullas, it began to rain .We got to the hotel very soaked but despite it all ,it was the hardest  day and the more exiting day too. We changed our clothes and went out so see some main sights in Bullas and to have dinner. We were starving again !so we really enjoy having dinner and having fun with the cheerful waiters .We went to bed but I didn’t sleep too much because my friend was snoring all night.

Next day we got up early ,There were only 30km left to arrive to  Caravaca de la Cruz. The route was soft and we got on time to the special pilgrim’s mass. We embraced each other and said congratulations because our challenge was completed .It was an exhilarating moment.

Finally we attended to the mass and we met other pilgrims there. We shared our experiences during the journey .We were the only ones who went by bicycles.

The experience  was remarkable for its views during the whole of the route ,and for the cheerful people we met during it.We were most of  the time surrounded  by magnificent mountains. The views from the top of the mountains were stunning.

Travel doesn’t necessarily mean going abroad. It can be  a short travel but you  really be able to enjoy it .