Day 57 – Madrid to Parla

Day 57                                            14/9/16

 

47miles ( Madrid to Parla) average speed 10mph Top speed 27.9 mph

 

Up early to have brekkie with Gary’s gas canister (no strange looks from fellow campers as I smoke them out of bed!) pack up as best I can and hope washing dries from the rain. Get metro back to Martinez but last night’s bus was a night bus and no bus goes south. Back on metro, but because line 1 is closed, I go to Bilbao to get free bus, but it only runs for part of the way so I have to buy another ticket and go to Pacifico and walk. I end up being an hour late. Pepe is really good and has bike ready  and we have a good chat about touring and Guardia Civil and helmets and all sorts. We fix bike computer by resetting.

Kieron is nowhere to be seen so I pack up and leave campsite at 3. It’s tough on the legs after a few days off and satnav is sending me all over the place but eventually I overrule it and find my way south.

Into some pretty rough areas along the way. Satnav dies and I rely on my sense of direction. Find a great path along a river and it’s so nice to be out in the country again. Find a five star hotel for coffee but their wifi is useless.

Then went through a large town beginning with v and asked a fellow cyclist if he needed help with tools but he was adjusting his seat. Rode with him but he didn’t talk so just carried on until I met Alberto who was running a shop in a pretty rundown part of Getafe and we chatted via pen and paper. He was a godsend as I was running out of energy and I got a real sugar boost.

But he told me it was only 16 km to Toledo. More like 116! But he had provided me with enough for dinner and I decided to stealth camp in Parla after NH hotel wanted €65. Looked for a decent spot but either patrolled by security or farmers so I decided on a roundabout near hospital.

Campsite roundabout near hospital. Very good amenities but no bins or water.

Settled in OK, cooked dinner of pasta and put up tent and slept. It’s quite easy really but I was hunched over from ducking the headlights so needed to stretch my back. A good nights sleep until traffic woke me at 5.30. At least they have work to do here!