November 3, 2024 - Torrijos to Navalcarnero - Emerita Augusta to Madrid (Tour 26) - 2024 🇪🇸

November 3, 2024

November 3, 2024 - Torrijos to Navalcarnero

Rolling hills are energy-sapping

Hotel Boutique Casa del Comendador, Jose María Bausá, números 2-4 Con vuelta a la Calle de La Iglesia, números 3 y 5, 28600 Navalcarnero, Spain

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TODAY'S peek out the window proved that the current online weather was not quite correct. The Weather Network said partly cloudy - the actual was full overcast. More important - it was dry out there. With the headwind looking to increase throughout the day, we wanted to be on the road as soon as we could, so we had a wee snack and were away.

As sometimes happens, it took a bit of movement to get the GPS sorted, so we actually had to do a u-turn to find the thin pink line, but find it we did. Traffic was a bit busy coming out of the city, but after the first few climbs we turned onto one of the quieter provincial roadways so cars were occasional.

We decided to stop at the first town where we noticed a cafe, which was about 30 minutes along. A latte and churros energized us for the next bit. The terrain here was beautiful - somewhat green rolling hills with field after field of olive groves or vineyards. But, the hills were continuous which can be quite energy zapping when cycling. It takes a lot of work to climb every hill and you don't gain back 100% on the way down due to friction, braking and traffic. When the hills are non-stop you have to realize it and slow down and climb in such a low gear that you don't become winded. That's how we worked our way through this longish day. As the day progressed the clouds dissipated and eventually the sun came out and the coats came off. Glorious cycling on the curving rolling road.

I made sure to stop frequently so we could rest our climbing muscles and re-hydrate. We stopped at a second cafe for lattes and tapas before continuing on our way. There was one particular section that was really pretty so we stopped just to look around.

As we approached our destination, we left the provincial road and continued on a national road. A busy national road. we had a good margin along which to ride, but we had to have our wits about us. I had mentioned that I tweaked some cables yesterday - well, the Cannondake was giving a bit of grief so we switched bikes a few times so I could listen, feel and sort things out, but still wasn't 100% for a bit so Alex stayed with the Dahon for the final kilometres to the city.

The arrival to the city was a long climb so some of it was walked and some biked. We ended up in Plaza de Sevilla when I suddenly recognized it from 2015 when I was here during Semana Santa. The last time here all was quiet until the processions started. Today the square was packed because it is a long weekend. Our hotel was just down a side street from the church and when we pulled in the woman in the attached bar ushered us right through the restaurant with the bikes and down the hall to the room. Awesome. Once checked in and paid, I zipped down the road to a little supermarket for some much-needed calories, then a rest in the room for some much-needed rest and watched a must-needed Brazilian F1 race.

I'm not yet sure what comes next, so I'll have to check with my chief commander, Alexio.

'Them are olive trees' in the background. Orchards everywhere. No wonder all of the local cooking used olive trees. -- between Torrijos and Navalcarnero, Spain

Alex had started on the Cannondale and me on the Dahon, but I needed to do some on-the-fly adjustments to the Cannondale, so I ended up riding it for the second half of the day. -- between Torrijos and Navalcarnero, Spain

We stopped at the bottom of the hill in this tiny village because the park was just so beautiful and worthy of an AP. -- between Torrijos and Navalcarnero, Spain

Aided by glorious sunshine, we found this particular section of the day really beautiful. Winding roads, undulating terrain, sandy ground, and many olive trees. -- near Navalcarnero, Spain

More of the beauty of the climb in this area. -- near Navalcarnero, Spain

Alex looks tired here because he was, as was I. The day included relentless undulating terrain which sapped our strength. -- near Navalcarnero, Spain

Today's ride: 59 km (37 miles)
Total: 367 km (228 miles)

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