Tea & Hobnobs, we are English

Today I rode from Segovia to Avila, reluctantly I took the N110 which is a 'National' road but I was assured that it's not too busy.  It was 70 odd kilometres and options for quieter roads were limited or more accurately, none existent.  It wasn't too bad, there is always a hard shoulder on these roads and most of the drivers give you a very wide berth.  Nevertheless it was a fast road and not ideal.  Anyway I'm in Avila now and failing to find a camp site I'm in a Hotel, the view from which was worth the slog along the N110.

Yesterday I could see the Roman aqueduct in Segovia from my hotel, albeit some distance away, today it's a 30ft concrete wall!

No big climbs today but continual rolling hills with 10 minute climbs 

and 2 minute descents which after 

a few hours take their toll.

This was a small town en-route which for

some reason had a huge church?  As is becoming

routine the roof was occupied by nesting Storks.

This is a Spanish motorway at 2:00 o'clock on a Friday afternoon!

This was just the start of today's offering in the way of lunchtime interest.  I headed for the village square as usual, the Plaza Major.  I found the Fuente to quench my thirst, as I slugged my first bottle a campervan with British plates pulled to a halt.  I ended up having a very pleasant lunch with the occupants, a lovely couple from Yorkshire whose cycling exploits put my little jaunt into perspective.  They once spent 6 years on the road and have toured all over the world.  The vans facilities were used to provide post lunch tea and biscuits, some French equivalent to chocolate Hobnobs, very nice too!

I'd been considering the option of dumping some of my kit, I'd brought too much as expected but for a miser like me I wasn't comfortable doing that.  I also thought about posting a parcel home and probably would have taken that option had I not had the kind offer of having my surplus kit travel home in style in a campervan.

So it was, in the middle of the Plaza Major I had a kit explosion and decided what could go:-

1 pair socks, 1 pair cycling shorts, 1 thermal top, 1 synthetic jacket, 1 spare buff and a fold-up washing bowl which I haven't found a use for yet.  If the weather turns now I may be sorry but at least I'm travelling a bit lighter and I have a bit of spare room in my panniers.

Oh, today I heard my first Cicadas so I must be making some progress south!

Segovia:

Spectacular city, but too many tourists!

I do realise that I'm one of them but it's the groups, the tour parties of 30+ being shepherded around by their tour guides.  That's the trouble with beautiful places, they're popular.  Maybe early morning or evening would be a better time to see Segovia, things may be closed then but that wouldn't worry me too much as I can't walk around them anyway.

I did however take the plunge. lock my bike up and pay my 3 euros to go inside the Cathedral, it seemed too impressive from the outside to miss the opportunity.

The inside was spectacular but no photos were permitted, below is a selection of pictures I didn't take!

The 2 main things I wanted to see in Segovia were the Roman Aqueduct and the Arabic Castle, the Alcazar.

The Aqueduct was constructed in the late 1st century AD.  Built from granite blocks with no mortar it was designed to bring water from the nearby hills into the city, it's just short of 100ft tall at it's highest point.

 I didn't go inside the Alcazar, from the outside it's drastic refurbishment makes it look a little too perfect and modern for me.  The fairytale turrets were apparently Walt Disney's inspiration for the castle in Sleeping beauty.

 

After a few hours doing the tourist thing I headed off the beaten track where I feel much more at home.  I found a back street bar, full of locals which did excellent tapas.  

A few more photos from around Segovia - 

I'd now better check the map to see where I'm going tomorrow, I suspect it may be a bit hilly!