I’ve put off writing about the ride the Miajergas, but I’ve fallen behind and must now recount a day that both elated and exhausted me.
The weather continued its splendid run of fine days, with sunshine, little wind and warming temperatures. Knowing I had a hard day, I filled up on breakfast at the Parador – eggs, yogurt, cereal – and packed a lunch sandwich. Then I headed out of the mountains and into the plains of Extremadura.
After an exhilarating descent from Guadalupe, I began the first of three climbs that over the next ten miles would take me to Cañamero. None of the three were hard climbs, and I thoroughly enjoyed the solitude of the near empty, wide roads as the route took me from the forested hillsides of Guadalupe to the olive groves beyond Cañamero.
The landscape continued to change as I rolled past Logrosán and into Zorita. The valleys had broadened, with slopes carpeted in groves of olive trees. Wldflowers were again exploding around me, and grazing sheep and cattle appeared in the open pastures. But in the treeless landscape, the warming sun that I so craved earlier in the tour was now hot and unrelenting. And as the rollers accumulated, both my legs and body tired. I sought refuge in a shaded park on the edge of Zorita, where I joined a small work crew for our picnic lunch.
Large groves of olive trees covered the hillsides beyond Cañamero
The last fourteen miles into Miajergas were a stuggle. I was cycling in the hot sun through open fields of grain that reminded me of eastern Colorado. The land seemed flat, but the accumulating short ups and downs continued to take their toll and I was pretty well spent by the time I found my lodging in Miajergas. A wonderful young staffer locked Vivien George into her storage room and carried my panniers upstairs where I collapsed in my room and lay motionless for the next two hours.
It was a tough day, and one with more miles that I would have liked. But I had to get to Merida tomorrow where I was meeting Scott, Rachael, Suzanne and Janos. The long miles totally were worth it.
1 month ago