Pictures and Stories About Bicycle Adventures

Above: Terry Struck and the Bee (da Vinci Tandem) in the courtyard of Mission San Francisco de Asis. The Mission started, organized, and financed the great line of California Catholic Missions and are the source name of the city of San Francisco, California.

Above Left: Mission Bells.

Above Right: Our Exit Gate, note the Sundial Clock in the Mantel.

Above Left: If you ever want a Red Light to turn Green, break out a camera.

Above Right: We're on the road out of town.

Above Left: I had to stop and take a picture, there may as well be a sign that says Grandma Lives Here.

Above Right: There is a fast way out of town and a scenic way out of town, we're taking the latter route.

Above: We're in Hedgerow Country (for a few kilometers).

Above: Many kilometers of Orange Groves.

Above Left: Rose lined orchards, the scent was wonderful.

Above Right: Drip irrigation, Onion crop.

Above Left: A town bypass road.

Above Right: There actually are not too many entrance gates; I snapped this picture while in motion.

Above: Km after km of Orange Orchards.

Above Left: Cone Daisies have not opened to the sun yet.

Above Right: A hedgerow fence got trimmed (some wild Poppies too).

Above Left: Onion field Harvest - We waved to each other.

Above Right: Onion Bloom (difficult to see with the color matching background).

Above Left: Our first view of the Castle of Almodóvar del Rio (5x Telephoto, still a long ways).

Above Right: Sun worshipers.

Above Left: Daisies and Corn.

Above Right: Fields of Sunflowers.

Above Left: The Village of Ochavilo.

Above Right: An aging Mountain Scene Mural.

Above Left: At first we thought this was a giant snail; upon close inspection it is a wild gord that developed inside a chain link fence.

Above Right: Geranium Bunch growing through a fence.

Above Left: We're in the District of Córdoba (Dennis Struck and the Bee).

Above Right: We have seen these loose strands of wire wrapped around electrical wire on a few occasions, it is deliberate but we do not know the purpose.

Above: Terry Struck and the Bee with the Castle of Almodóvar del Rio in the background.

Above Left: Olive Tree(s).

Above Right: Olive Tree with many flowers, each of which will become and Olive.

Above Left: Cycling through roadside Daisies and a Wheat Field.

Above Right: We're turning left.

Above Left: It is starting to get warm outside and riding through shade provides joy.

Above Right: There are actually two Palm Trees there; we are starting to notice that the roads to property owners' homes often have two Palm Trees at the road entrance.

Above: An old Travelers Water Trough (far end for Horses, near end for People).

Above Left: Onion field, ready for harvest.

Above Right: The town of Almodóvar del Rio and its Castle.

Above Left: We need to cross the Rio Guadalquivir again (we're traveling parallel to the river).

Above Right: First things first, Lunch and Shade. The Bee is enjoying a rest at a nearby Restaurante open for lunch.

Above Left: Salad and Shrimp.

Above Right: Squid.

Above: We are cycling around Almodóvar del Rio counterclockwise to get to Castillo de Almodóvar.

Castillo de Almodóvar

Above Left: The Castillo de Almodóvar Advisement Sign.

Above Right: Castillo de Almodóvar.

Above Left: We had to lock the bike and hike up the hill. We were not worried about bike security but it was the only time that we ever left the bicycle in the open on this entire tour.

Above Right: The lower castle (public) entrance.

Above Left: Castellations.

Above Right: The eastern view.

Above Left: Southern View, note the Rio Guadalquivir.

Above Right: Top most Castellations, looking eastward.

Above Left: A School Class and Teacher in Period Costume.

Above Right: A Classy Lady.

Above: Looking eastward over the town of Almodóvar del Rio. We pedaled in from the far side and then slowly uphill around the town to the left (north) side.

Above Left: Looking Southwest.

Above Right: Looking Northwest.

Above: Looking Southwest.

Above Left: Sword of Europeans.

Above Right: Swords of Moors (rare to have non-curved sword).

Above Left: Terry is putting Excalibur back into the rock.

Above Right: Castle overview, looking east over a former Mosque that is now a Chapel.

Above: Weapons used to defeat stone fortresses (Castles).

Above: Weapons used to defeat stone fortresses (Castles).

Above A Knighting Ceremony and Sword.

Above Left: Moorish architectural features.

Above Right: Colorful view.

Above Left: The Rook on the left side is detached but next to the castle wall on the right side. It is a very extravagant design as opposed to being attached with less materials (costs) involved.

Above Right: An uphill view as we are walking downhill.

Above: Terry Struck, the Bee, and Castillo de Almodóvar.

Pedal Onward to Córdoba

Above Left: We're turning left.

Above Right: Cycling through Daisies and Sun Flower Plants.

Above Left: A Palm lined driveway made of cobblestones.

Above Right: We found some hills.

Above Left: The far right white buildings are the city center of Córdoba.

Above Right: Poppy lined road.

Above Left: Dill.

Above Right: The Rio Guadalquivir Valley.

Above Left: Our last hill before the descent to Córdoba.

Above Right: Passing by a Railroad Yard on the far southeast edge of Córdoba's limits.

Above: The Rio Guadalquivir at the outskirts of Córdoba. Thankfully, we are riding a bike trail along the river bank into town and NOT riding on busy city roads.

Above: Riding up the left bank of the Rio Guadalquivir.

Above: Riding up the left bank of the Rio Guadalquivir. Our Trail changed from Dirt to City Pavement as we progressed toward the town center.

Above Left: We have arrived at the 'Old Roman Bridge', the entryway into old Córdoba. Only Pedestrians and Cyclists may use the ancient entryway now.

Above Right: There are Roman Defensive structures built into the Guadalquivir. In the days of the Roman Empire, large ships of the period could be floated up river to this point. The Defense probably consisted of Chains across the River, perhaps lowered during the day and raised at night. This picture was take by us while on the Old Roman Bridge.

Córdoba

Above Left: The Arc of Córdoba. We rode our bike directly through the center of the arch!

Above Right: It is now too populated to ride a bicycle, let alone a tandem bicycle. We are walking the bike through foot traffic and negotiating our way up the streets to our hotel (Hotel La Casa Grande).

Above: We have found our hotel.

Above Left: The bicycle is safely locked in a garage and we are on foot looking for dinner and refreshment first and then we will walk about town.

Above Right: We have found a wonderful little open air restaurant in the shade (it is 35c outside).

Above Left: Ahh Sangria, our troubles will melt away. We were smart to by a Jug.

Above Right: Then comes dinner.

Above Left: More dinner. We are proud of ourselves for remembering to take a picture of our meal before eating (we usually forget).

Above Right: WE are very Happy Campers!

Above Left: La Mezquita, The Great Cathedral and Mosque of Córdoba.

Above Right: Tomorrow, we get to visit La Mezquita.

Above: Beautiful Moorish Architecture.

Above: The city streets are set up and marked for Ox Cart wheel diameters.

Above: The streets of Córdoba.

Above Left: it is difficult to tell in the setting sun but the walls of these buildings have been concave cut for Ox Cart Axils.

Above Right: This street is next to the city wall (west side).

Above Left: A patio restaurante.

Above Right: The concave cuts for clearing the Ox Cart Axils is clearly visible.

Above: Opposite views of the West Gate - The sun is setting in the west.

Above Left: Looking north along the west wall.

Above Right: Looking south along the west wall.

Above Left: Jewish Quarter, we will return tomorrow. I am curious about the six sided symbols, that is new to me and there is no explanation

Above Right: A Statue of Jewish Philosopher Maimónides (Jewish Quarter, Cordoba).

Moshe ben Maimon ("Rabbeinu Moshe Ben Maimon", "Our Rabbi/Teacher Moses Son of Maimon", and Latinized Moses Maimonides) A preeminent medieval Sephardic Jewish philosopher and astronomer,[became one of the most prolific and influential Torah scholars and physiciansof the Middle Ages. Born in Córdoba 1135 or 1138, died in Egypt on December 12, 1204. He worked as a rabbi, physician, and philosopher in Morocco and Egypt. Although most Jews greeted his writings on Jewish law and ethics with acclaim and gratitude, even as far off as Iraq and Yemen, and although he rose to become the revered head of the Jewish community in Egypt, there were also vociferous critics of some of his writings, particularly in Spain. Nonetheless, he was posthumously acknowledged as among the foremost rabbinical arbiters and philosophers in Jewish history, and his copious work comprises a cornerstone of Jewish Scholarship. Aside from being revered by Jewish historians, Maimonides also figures very prominently in the history of Islamic and Arab sciences and is mentioned extensively in studies. Influenced by Avicenna (c.?980 - 1037), Averroes (1126 - 1198) and Al-Farabi (ca. 872-950/951), he in his turn influenced other prominent Arab and Muslim philosophers and scientists. He became a prominent philosopher and polymath in both the Jewish and Islamic worlds. - Wikipedia

Above Left: Our Hotel's Courtyard.

Above Right: Our Hotel's Lobby.

Above: Magnificent artwork in our hotel's hall.