Day 58 15/9/16
54miles (Parla to Toledo) Average speed 9.7mph Top speed 33 mph
I left the roundabout at 6.30 and headed for McDonald’s but they don’t open till 8!
Morning at the roundabout in Parla
Bloody corporations. So I tried the Repsol garage which had iced coffee and a microwave so I combined the two and found two plug sockets outside to charge batteries.
Coffee at the Repsol garage
Priority – recharge batteries
I had a couple of Alberto’s donuts from yesterday and used their facilities. Feeling the need for wifi, so had a second brekkie of McDonald’s muffin and 2 coffees, rang home but wifi was useless.
Hit the road and satnav sent me back to where I was the night before but I checked in at McDonald’s for wifi and a wee and found an Allen key where I’d dropped it (I’d been looking for that!) it then sent me to a cycle path that didn’t exist but it was next to decathlon shop so I could get some energy bars.
Cycle path – going nowhere
But then it turns very industrial for quite a few miles and I even find a very posh scrapyard
Posh scrapyard
Scrapyard
but am told off for taking photos. That’s a first!
I gave up on satnav and took a41 motorway south. Which was ok but tiring.
I tried the motorway for a while but the thought of a lorry driver falling asleep and veering into the hard shoulder put me off. I’ve seen it far too often. Headed off to Grinon which didn’t really put a smile on my face.
Welcome to Grinon
Left it and decided to go rural.
Then went through several villages and the route suddenly turned into farmland and lots of hills with mountain ranges in the distance. It opened up and I was glad to be enjoying the countryside smells again.
Back out into the countryside – lovely.
Hills and more hills
The sun even came out for a while! I was cursing Vernon for recommending Toledo when I saw hills involved but it was worth it in the end. Went through Bargas
La Funcion Bargas
and they had a fiesta on so was tempted to stay but monster energy drink gave me a boost and on I went. Took a park instead of motorway and ended up climbing a massive hill off road via a dried out river. Then it was downhill into Toledo.
Bisagra Gate Toledo
I knew the campsite was in the south which meant more hills but asked a taxi driver the way and followed his instructions until I came to a T junction. I went left and asked a coach driver for the road. He sent me 5km up a mountain when I should have gone 1km to the right! Still it was a great ride back down! Campsite is best I’ve stayed at and hotels and houses round here are very plush. Checked in and it was the last day for 50m pool and I only had 30 minutes to make good use of it.
Campsite – pool and view over Toledo
The views were stunning and then I had a beer watching sunset. Cooked dinner and went back to the bar to watch the full moon. Stroppy barman kicked me out at 11 even though all signs said 12 closing time!
El Greco campsite. €13 but best I’ve stayed in.