When Tomorrow Comes

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Last night, having been forcibly made to adopt Spanish time, we really struggled for dinner.  Too hungry to wait for 8pm, we set out in search of tapas and failed miserably.  We ended up with a surprisingly good pizza eaten at a plastic table in Telepizza's waiting room.

Every hotel we stay at is deserted, often we think we may be the only guests, and there was very little sign of life when we checked in last night.  So we were taken aback to find our breakfast room rammed with wittering Spanish geriatrics this morning.  

Our average speed on these trips is always around 12mph.  This is surprisingly consistent regardless of terrain.  Today we managed 14.1.  Anyone who has ever cycle toured will immediately know the explanation...a tailwind!  When you find yourself cruising at 20mph with panniers you know you have a tailwind.

It was a mostly lovely ride: very cold to start with but plenty of sun in the morning and just a few drops of rain in the afternoon.  We rolled on empty roads past all the tastiest animals and the bikes more or less rode themselves.  Arriving thirsty at our hotel we had to reverse direction for half a mile to a sports recovery drink emporium (gas station) and quickly realised how much we owe that tailwind.

Our lodgings tonight is a roadside 2* hotel/restaurant of a type that is common in Spain.  Check-in was achieved entirely through mime, after which I was too exhausted to ask about dinner.  We have a cunning plan...we will head down to the bar at 7 and lay siege until they give us food.

When we abandoned ship in Caceras in 2023 there was a part of me that was just glad we wouldn't have to ride the day that we must now ride tomorrow   Usually on these tours there is a day that strikes fear in our hearts and this is it.  Compared with some feats on our CVs it isn't outrageous, but it is 75 miles and 5000ft of climb and this is very close to the limits of what I can currently do in a day.  I suppose this time tomorrow we will know which side of the limit line it sits on.  Bugger.

PS if anyone with time to waste would care to find out why we saw the best part of a hundred motorcycle cops as we rode out of Careres this morning we would be pleased to know the answer.  Maybe the old biddies at our hotel had rioted or something.

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