March 22, 2012
West to Portugal on the EX112
through Oliva de la Frontera
I didn't bother asking the price last night after agreeing to take the room, assuming like the other places I'd slept in Spain, it would be around 30 euros. It's actually 45.
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Still, the dinner I had was cheap and the owners know I feel it's a dear night: a huge bowl of yummy spaghetti, some lovely cured ham, three bottles of refreshing Cruzcampo and a dessert of chilled orange served with a few bite-size ice creams cost me just 10 euros. Fab.
I'm the only guest again - as far as I can tell. There's certainly no-one else at breakfast, which I have at just before 10 o'clock, after which my beefy host takes me up to the roof-top terrace for a panoramic view of Jerez, talking non-stop in Spanish. His hotel/restauant, La Posada de las Ciguenas, is a nice boutique place and he's gone out of his was to make me feel welcome.
After three weeks the weather hasn't changed - sunshine every day. Rays are reflecting off the bright white walls of Jerez as I walk my bike up a steep alley towards one of the town's old churches with the cobbles set in squares and bordered by granite stones. It's bumpy and I don't find one flat piece as I make my way around the cute, narrow streets.
My computer says nearly 5 km covered by the time I hit the road proper and head towards Portugal.
It's almost one o'clock when I got to the petrol station at the edge of town and buy some juice and a chunky Kit-Kat, something I haven't had in years. The attendant persuades me to try one of the energy bars and I eat it after cycling 25 km. It tastes something a little like a sugary Mars bar; one without the caramel bit.
It's 15 km to Oliva; then about 25 more to Villag-something. I don't stop in either place, save to take a quick snap...
Like yesterday, it's a ride to simply get from A to B, with little to see as the landscape is farmed and the road undulates in kilometer-long waves.
My speed could be 20-30km/hr if it was reasonably level, but my speed drops to 10-15 km/hr on the long inclines and it's hot. Phew! Basically this is not my kind of cycling; mentally and physically, it simply tires me out.
Today's ride: 55 km (34 miles)
Total: 684 km (425 miles)
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