October 31, 2024 - Plasencia to Casatejada - Emerita Augusta to Madrid (Tour 26) - 2024 🇪🇸

October 31, 2024

October 31, 2024 - Plasencia to Casatejada

Pretty tiring day of almost doing nothing

Casa Rural El Botánico, Plaza España número 5, 10520 Casatejada, Spain

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YESTERDAY'S forecast for today showed huge amounts of rain and fierce winds right when we were supposed to be cycling. All night I pondered and wondered and pondered and wondered. Could we cycle. Should we cycle. The floods and deaths in eastern Spain also got me thinking. I was awake early and decided to check train schedules from Plasencia westward. As it turns out, there was an afternoon train from here right to the next town where I had booked a room. That was it. I booked two tickets for us and our bikes and it was decided.

Now that this was done, we lounged in the rooom for a while longer. Though not yet the deluge promised, it was certainly raining steadily out there. Around 11 am we decided to head out into the light mist and make our way gradually to the RENFE train station. The route led us down through the Trujillo gate of the old town where we had explored yesterday, and back out of town to the south through part of the industrial area.

Once to the little station, it was now a matter of waiting until our train came in the afternoon. Oddly enough, while we waited I watched lights mists, the sun come out a few times, but fairly windy. In short, we could have done the cycling today since the forecast had been inaccurate. Oh well, right decision; wrong outcome.

Two minutes late, along came the train and though listed as a Regional Express, it was the exact same train we were on last week as a Media Distancia. So, we knew the process of where to put the bikes and where our seats would be. Alex went to sit for a while but I decided to remain with the bikes rather than hanging them up since the train ride was only 40 minutes long.

The Casatejada station was a tiny little thing and with nobody around. It no longer appears staffed. As we started to roll toward the town centre to find our hostal the mists increased a bit. This tiny village is so pretty with its imposing churches right at the centre square. I'm going to guess that the town has a population of less than a thousand. A few shops, a few bars but only one restaurant about 1.7 km away along the motorway.

As we came up to the door, the cleaning lady came along so she called the owner who zipped in from his restaurant within a few miinutes. We were able to store our bikes in his garage next door then showed us to the nicest room which looked straight out to the church in the square. Not only that, there was a washing machine in the common area so we jumped on the opportunity to wash our stuff in the machine rather than by hand.

Now, there is a story to tell. European front load washers are nothing like Canadian front load washers. This one had a few numbers on the front with nothing indicating load type, time or cycles. Just 1 to 11. It must be good, though, because 11 is one more than ten. I'm sure if there was a camera wathcing us there would be quite an entertaining video of two Canadians trying to figure out how to use the washer while the machine kept going into infinite loops of filling, emptying and sloshing things about. And it only holds a few things, so I think we'll be here until next July washing our things.

After deciding to take the train, we are set on cycling tomorrow. Interestingly, rain is supposed to start tonight at 8 pm (it still hasn't started at 930 pm) and pour about 35 mm overnight until 8 am when it is supposed to stop for three hours. If this is the case, we will have enough time to get to Navalmoral without getting soaked. Fingers are crossed but I am also hoping that much rain does not come - that will be bad for the locals and possibly for cyclists in the area if roads get flooded.

Though a beauty of a town, the only restaurant was 1.7 km away and owned by our hostal's owner. We rode out for a meal then rode back to town and searched for a supermarket and found a little local one that was stuffed full of everything. Not a chain, it was obviously owned by some famiy and it catered to everything they coud want. We both found plenty of goodies for snacks and tomorrow's breakfast.

As we rolled our bikes back into the garage along came two little girls in costumes and said something to us... Trick or Treat, of course! But we had nothing. Both of us feeling badly, we decided that a Euro was better than nothing so we ran back down the street and gave them each their treat and got a very smiley 'gracias'. Our good deed of the day completed, we went for some photos around the glorious church then returned to our rooom to face the real struggle of a Euro washing machine.

Terrible weather in the forecast so we decided on a train to cover today's route. -- Plasencia, Spain

Terrible weather in the forecast so we decided on a train to cover today's route. Waiting in the station for our train to arrive. -- Plasencia, Spain

After a day of waiting for and taking the train we got to our hostal which is right on the main square of a beautiful little village. -- Casatejada, Spain

The village and the hostal are fantastic; the washing machine is demonic. -- Casatejada, Spain

That is our room in the building to the right of the photo and this is the imposing church in the village square. -- Casatejada, Spain

And then some Canadians showed up. -- Casatejada, Spain

Alex wanted some more photos of me so I had to pose around the church in the square. -- Casatejada, Spain

And one of Alexio taking a another shot of the pretty Plaza Mayor. -- Casatejada, Spain

Today's ride: 11 km (7 miles)
Total: 279 km (173 miles)

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