Day 51 8/9/16
44 miles (Jadraque to Guadalajara) average speed 9 mph top speed 31.8 mph
Up at 8 had coffee and biscuits for breakfast. Bath, shower and packed. Found note from Francois and Mylene who had crossed my path again at this hotel.
Talked to Logs & Vern on phone whilst talking to biker girls who were riding BMWs.
BMW motorbike
and another
Left late and went to a market where trader wouldn’t let me buy one onion he insisted I take it for free.
The hardest first hour yet. Gu222 Climbing all the way and overlooking Jadraque,
Jadraque Castle overlooking the town
around the third switchback I stopped for a photo and two deer ran off into the woods.
View from a hill
Then a flat run with fantastic views. And then the satnav paid off big time. It sent me left on the gu 108 which had just been resurfaced.
GU 108
I was in heaven. This was the best road and the best scenery and the best downhill I think I will ever experience!!!! Truly wonderful and the timing of the resurfacing just made it unbelievable.It delivered me to Valdearenas and a bar for Fanta limon and birdsong which started in the tree lined avenue into town.Onwards, then I stopped in Torre del Burgo to get free air and water from a garage to wash the bike. Had my lunch at a church with great water and met Elsa and Tanya. We chatted for ages as they filled up 10 bottles.
Well at the church
Ermita de Sopetran
Elsa gave me 6 large freshly picked tomatoes and a cucumber from her allotment . I gave her some chorizo! Then goodbye and a kiss on both cheeks from each of them. The road into Guadalajara was up and down.
Found a racing truck on the roadside which is my new companion. Sorry Brian.
I stopped for a monster energy drink and prepared for the big push into Guadalajara. Joined the motorway briefly and then into town.
Road to Guadalajara
Cycle statue on a roundabout
Found hotel for €30 but tried to find cheaper. Went to a bar for wifi and barmaid was the most beautiful I’ve seen. Tried to find pension Luna but carnival was going on and every road closed unless on bike when you could go anywhere. Tried several pensions but ended up on industrial estate at Hotel Iris. Fully booked so under motorway and into Hotel Torcal.
Hotel Torcal
Where I’ve got a room with a wet room shower wifi air con and rabbit for dinner. Table next to me left half a bottle of wine, thanks very much. Oh and I’ll take that Tabasco too!
Brian in the hotel lift – I think he is enjoying life
Talked to mum for a hour before taking wrong lift to reception and finding another bottle in a service area.
Wine – leftovers, irresistible!
Watching bats from my window while clothes dry on heated towel rail. Bonus. Today I can categorically say has been the best day of my life. True kind ship and welcoming people wherever I went. Accompanied by best cycling you could wish for.
Hotel Torcal €50 with breakfast.
(Ermintrude ; there are lots of photos I haven’t included in this post, see the gallery Spain – week 2 for lots and lots of scenery and places of interest)