The other Ronda valley
Discussion
This one is in Spain and I've just come back from a weeks sightseeing. We stayed in Ronda itself at the delightful Hotel Alvera De Los Banos. Devoid of any mod cons it is a veritable sanctuary in the hills, the perfect getaway.
Using Ronda as our base we explored the local sights such as Malaga, Gibralta and Marbella. The only interest for a PHer at any of these is Puerto Banus in Marbella which is where the other half go. Gucci shops overlook the yacht filled harbour and you're bound to see some serious road machinery. Along with the big displacement Mercs and Beemers there were a fine array of Bentleys, Astons and Ferraris on show. This was in February so I'd imagine sea front during the summer months are a playboy poseur's dream.
What would interest any 98-ron blooded PHer are the roads into Ronda, the roads I got to drive everyday.
According to TomTom, once you leave the A-7 and start heading towards Ronda on the A-376, it is a leisurely 28 mile drive that should take just 41 minutes. What TomTom doesn't mention is that the A-376 rises over 1000m above sea level and that 27 of its 90 bends are hairpins. Nor does it mention that some parts of the journey are driving on north facing hillsides and the snow by the sides of the road has not yet melted. Gulp.
Both the A-376 and the longer but less satisfying A-369 (from Ronda to Gibralta) had obviously recently been resurfaced and the tarmac was truly the smoothest I've ever driven on. The vistas from the frequent viewing spots are genuinely breathtaking. There was just one thing that was leaving a slightly sour taste in my mouth; the diesel Megane hire car.
On the first day I welcomed the fact that it swallowed up our luggage, rode comfortably and that the torque helped me concentrate on these unfamiliar roads without having to change gear all the time. Come the second day I was cursing it for the body roll, complete lack of feedback, over-servoed brakes, high seating position and utter lack of what we like to call oooomph.
These roads are fabulous. These roads deserve to be driven on, not simply travelled on. I found myself longing to be behind the wheel of one of my fantasy cars. One particular stretch of road reminded me of the Out Run computer game and then my longing turned to a beefy red American drop top with a blonde by my side with her hair flowing in the wind.
Then I remembered that there were some serious bends involved and big beefy American handling might send me down the big beefy 2000 foot drop. Ignoring all the boys room poster supercars I actually just longed for my own humble Focus and promised myself that one day I would drive my own car on these roads.
I invite you to do the same. In fact I urge you to do the same. If any of you have driven in Andalucia in something better than a DCi Megane and not driven to Ronda you have seriously missed out. If you have, I am insanely jealous.
>>> Edited by thekirbyfake on Sunday 13th February 11:46
Using Ronda as our base we explored the local sights such as Malaga, Gibralta and Marbella. The only interest for a PHer at any of these is Puerto Banus in Marbella which is where the other half go. Gucci shops overlook the yacht filled harbour and you're bound to see some serious road machinery. Along with the big displacement Mercs and Beemers there were a fine array of Bentleys, Astons and Ferraris on show. This was in February so I'd imagine sea front during the summer months are a playboy poseur's dream.
What would interest any 98-ron blooded PHer are the roads into Ronda, the roads I got to drive everyday.
According to TomTom, once you leave the A-7 and start heading towards Ronda on the A-376, it is a leisurely 28 mile drive that should take just 41 minutes. What TomTom doesn't mention is that the A-376 rises over 1000m above sea level and that 27 of its 90 bends are hairpins. Nor does it mention that some parts of the journey are driving on north facing hillsides and the snow by the sides of the road has not yet melted. Gulp.
Both the A-376 and the longer but less satisfying A-369 (from Ronda to Gibralta) had obviously recently been resurfaced and the tarmac was truly the smoothest I've ever driven on. The vistas from the frequent viewing spots are genuinely breathtaking. There was just one thing that was leaving a slightly sour taste in my mouth; the diesel Megane hire car.
On the first day I welcomed the fact that it swallowed up our luggage, rode comfortably and that the torque helped me concentrate on these unfamiliar roads without having to change gear all the time. Come the second day I was cursing it for the body roll, complete lack of feedback, over-servoed brakes, high seating position and utter lack of what we like to call oooomph.
These roads are fabulous. These roads deserve to be driven on, not simply travelled on. I found myself longing to be behind the wheel of one of my fantasy cars. One particular stretch of road reminded me of the Out Run computer game and then my longing turned to a beefy red American drop top with a blonde by my side with her hair flowing in the wind.
Then I remembered that there were some serious bends involved and big beefy American handling might send me down the big beefy 2000 foot drop. Ignoring all the boys room poster supercars I actually just longed for my own humble Focus and promised myself that one day I would drive my own car on these roads.
I invite you to do the same. In fact I urge you to do the same. If any of you have driven in Andalucia in something better than a DCi Megane and not driven to Ronda you have seriously missed out. If you have, I am insanely jealous.
>>> Edited by thekirbyfake on Sunday 13th February 11:46
that road is mibd Blowing good fun, honest officer!!!
i used to work for a division of *BM and had a customer in Ronda. BTW, i consider hire cars as "disposable test vehicles" and more than once have made co-workers yelp or car sick on that road..
10 out of 10 for fun, would love to drive it in anger in my Se7en.....
i used to work for a division of *BM and had a customer in Ronda. BTW, i consider hire cars as "disposable test vehicles" and more than once have made co-workers yelp or car sick on that road..
10 out of 10 for fun, would love to drive it in anger in my Se7en.....
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