Live life like you mean it...a motorcycle journey to one of the highest points in Spain

A few years ago I got hooked on travelogues from Chris Hull, one of the most seasoned and knowledgeable Harley rides I've ever met. Here is my latest travelogue. Thanks for the inspiration to keep writing about what touches my soul.

Today was about a year in the planning — a motorcycle ride from Malaga to Trevélez. Two of the highest mountains in Spain, Mulhacén and Alcazaba, are just to the north of the village, a few hours' walk away. The town of 900 people has an elevation of 1,476 m (4,843 ft).

Trevélez is famous for the quality of its air-cured hams (Ibéricoham), because the dry climate due to its altitude makes for ideal conditions for storing them.

We picked up our BMW GS1250 from Hertz Bike Rental in Malaga. Harley-Davidson Siebla Malaga did not have a Pan America 1250 Special with a top box so I chose a fav of mine, the GS.

With Sandra Fernando, CPIM on board and my eSIM from Airalo topped up, I strapped in the phone to the mount and we were off. After about 75 km of gorgeous eastbound highways and tunnels running along the Costa del Sol, we turned north and ran a course to the town of órgiva. Wow what a ride into the Sierra Nevada range running about 400 meters high along the cliff face.

Thanks to the lovely hostess at Mesón El Viejo Molino for the toasted bread, ham and eggs. The restaurant kitchen did not open until 1 pm. We were two hours early. She took pity on two weary but smiling travellers.

After, we moved on and headed up, up, way up to a series of towns overshadowed by Mulhacén. We chose the western route up and the more narrow and dangerous eastern route down. By the time we hit Trevélez we deserved some of the most delicious Ibérico ham we’ve ever had at Restaurante Casa Julio, along with a half dozen other riders and a swarm of tour bus tourists.

A short walk through the small town, a sticker for my helmet, we embarked on a narrow, precarious and thrilling ride down the mountain. Hairpins, turns, drops, and more. Sandy was brilliant with her camera snapping pics and video that do not do justice to the magnificence of the the western part of the Alpujarras region.

A couple breaks more and then it was back to civilization and dinner at a wind swept Chiringuito in the beach town of Herradura. The crashing of the waves almost put us to sleep until our giant meals arrived.

The highway ride back to Malaga was as eventful as the ride out because the wind tears down the mountains and funnels through valleys connected by bridges. Those bridges have windsocks showing vehicles the intensity of the wind. Sandy gripped me tight as we sped along. Every now and then nervously laughing as the wind tried to rip us off the bike. She is a real trooper. I’m a lucky man.

We stopped for fuel and entered the rental garage at 7:55 pm, with five minutes to spare lol. Swiss timing said our rental agent Julio at HERTZ RIDE Motorcycle Rentals & Tours in Malaga.

By the way, Uber in Spain is terrible. We waiting for more than 30 mins for one ride. The driver cancelled. We were charged almost the full price of the ride. And then we had to order a new ride and wait another 30 minutes for that one. My recommendation is taxis.

All in all a trip I’d do again and again. Julio tells me it’s a favourite of the locals who go for the ride and the ham.

Wow what an adventure. It was one day in a fourteen-day journey in Spain. If you haven't been to southern Spain, just go. Live life like you mean it.