Day 47 – Arnedillo to Garray

Day 47                                            4/9/16

45 very tough miles Average speed 8.7 mph Top speed 32.6 mph

After a good nights sleep I started the day in the thermal bath down by the river. Had another shower at the hotel just because I could! Coffee and croissant followed with a newspaper report of fires

and I’m just about to set off at midday having checked emails.

This was a very tough day on the legs. I needed those spa waters to do their magic! It was a great start following the main road and it was downhill to Enciso. Then a climb up to over see the city and had lunch overlooking the new dam.

 

Then it was ok into a small town where I stopped for a Fanta lemon and checked out the route because satnav didn’t look promising on the hills front.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It proved to be right. I climbed up to 1478 metres. It took 3 hours for just my first 20 miles. I found it tough but motor bikers coming the other way gave me fist pumps of encouragement. Just when I thought I’d made it there was another climb around the next bend. It was a real sense of achievement when I finally got to the top.

Then I had an incredible run down. I was getting really tired and stopped in Garray to watch bathers in river Duero.

Cycled around looking for my first wild camp. Then heard crowd and followed noise until I found San Jose playing Real Avila 2-0 to San Jose.

I only saw the second goal, there were 300 fans and the ref sent off the Avila manager.

I didn’t pay!

Went to tourist office and they insisted I had a map of the campsite I was originally going to but their printer took forever so he drew me a map. Went to a bar and waited for the sun to go down. Now here I am too close to a motorway and houses but I have water on tap.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s quite nerve racking to wild camp but I managed to get some sleep. A truly incredible ride and very exhilarating day. My first stealth camp and I survived! I deserve a day off.