To Hervás

April 24, 2024

We enjoy one of the last fair days for awhile on our ride to Hervás. It’s a pretty easy ride but one that ends up with a long, gradual lift up to town. We’re on the N-630 again, the long, old national highway that runs all the way from Gijon on the north coast south to Seville. Like the other sections of it that we’ve ridden the traffic is very light - though if you look at the video you won’t think so because all the footage is in the first two or three miles after leaving Plasencia, before all the traffic splits off for the modern, faster highway. Unfortunately soon after that Rachael’s GoPro battery died and it was too much work to fish through the baggage to find her backups.

It’s still pretty open here but we’re closing in on the mountains fast.

It’s still stony in here too, with granite boulders strewn around the fields giving a feeling like the country around Trujillo.

This gives a better feeling for the road than the video does. Very quiet, like a twenty foot wide bike path.

Rachael puzzled over what was happening here when she looked at the map before the ride. We’re passing under the A-4, the modern highway.

Another black kite! We must be really into kite terrain now. We saw six of them today.

Video sound track: Bright Moments, by Grover Washington, Jr.

We did the usual when we arrived in town, finding an outdoor table at a restaurant on the plaza with an attractive fixed menu. After that we biked the few blocks to our apartment and after a series of WhatsApp interactions with our host we got access. It’s an outstanding place, a split level unit with the bedroom upstairs. It’s easily one of the most appealing places we’ve stayed on the tour. Thoughtfully laid out, spacious and comfortable. I especially appreciated being given the combination for the address right next door, currently in use as a storage or utility space. It was a relief to just be able to wheel the bikes in rather than muscle them up two flights of stairs to our apartment.

After lunch and the requisite break for digestive activities I went off for a loop around town. I started by heading to the nearby church and what must be the best viewpoint from inside town.

Looking east across the upper end of town toward the western end of the Sierra de Gredos range.

The view to the east. The curious building is the Motorcycle and Classic Car Museum, a spot I definitely should have made my way up to.

I’m not sure why I included this. Laundry’s a better subject to fill up a slow news day.

Dropping into the Juderia, a remarkable neighborhood and one of the town’s top attractions. We’ll circle back for a better look later.

Puente de Hierro, a former railroad bridge over the Ambroz River, now part of the via verde.

San Juan Bautista Church again. Last time, I promise.

Looking across the Ambroz at the edge of the Juderia.

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Today's ride: 26 miles (42 km)
Total: 1,137 miles (1,830 km)

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Steve Miller/GrampiesTremendous birding success!
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6 months ago

Scott AndersonTo Steve Miller/GrampiesThanks! I’m really pleased with how it’s going this year. I saw three new ones the day before yesterday I haven’t posted yet that brings me up to 226 - one more than my final total for all of last year.
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6 months ago