In the valley of the Famorca, the fold in the mountain that carries the name Abric II is a few paces along from its neighbours, and it shows how many people once used this ravine. Levantine paintings in red adorn the overhang, with the usual cast of hunters, animals and signs, and the whole series is part of the UNESCO listing of Mediterranean basin rock art.
Pinós is the name of the other shelter on this ride, and it points to a neighbouring Alicante town, Pinoso, in the drier hills to the south-west, where wine and marble are the local businesses. The two sites together make a ride that crosses Alicante from the green mountains of the north to the harsh interior.
The mountain section is the best of it. Roads climb between Callosa d'en Sarrià and the Guadalest valley, with hairpins cut into the hillside and long views of the Mediterranean in clear weather. On the way you pass the Guadalest reservoir, an improbable turquoise in a rocky bowl. The villages of Benimantell and Castell de Castells keep a few bars and a small shop. They don't have fuel, so fill at Pego or on the coast before you start.
The surface changes with the winter weather. After heavy rain you can find loose stones and mud on the bends, particularly on the shaded north-facing sections. In summer, temperatures are high, and the scent of pine resin and sun-warmed rock is strong. In February the almond blossom makes a delicate haze over the lower slopes, and in October the carob pods lie on the road and the first mist hangs in the valleys.
Treat any walk to a shelter with respect. Stay on paths, do not touch the paintings, and leave nothing behind. These images have survived for a very long time and are more fragile than they look.