Few things are as delicious as freshly squeezed juice from oranges you have just picked from the tree. Unless you pair it with an espresso and a beautiful sunrise, in which case almost nothing can compare.

It makes for a perfect start to our last day, an easy spin from the agricultural hills of Fahala to Malaga on the coast. It is our fourteenth consecutive day riding and although we don’t have bike computers, we’ve cycled at least 1,000 km and feel very comfortable being on the bikes all day.

It’s always a little bittersweet to finish a trip. As we roll towards Malaga, we reflect on our favorite stretches of road, most delicious meals, things we love about riding in this part of the world and we plot future bike adventures (and important related questions like how long it would take to ride from Cairo to Cape Town or the best route from Paris to Singapore).

We arrive at our hotel in Malaga, where we stayed at the start of the trip. The friendly staff recognizes us immediately (not many scruffy spandex attired guests) and retrieves our bike boxes and lets us pack up in a room right off the lobby.

Cycling is a big part of the culture here, as recreation and transportation, and we have experienced nothing but courtesy, from drivers passing us to hotel staff helping park our bikes. Moreover, the road design simply feels safe and accommodating as a cyclist, with features that slow traffic speeds and create protected space for bikes. It feels liberating compared to biking at home.

We clean up and take a stroll through Malaga’s historic city center, which is packed with tourists enjoying drinks and midday meals al fresco on the pedestrian only streets. The old buildings are ornate and beautiful, while still being contemporary in their use. As we stroll under the blue sky and palm trees, we enjoy the worn, polished feel of the cobblestones and tiles on the pedestrian streets. How many footsteps over the years must it take to wear cobblestones down to a shine?

It’s been a wonderful trip. Thank you for following along!

P.S. The Moroccan carpet is still with us.