Von Almazán nach Sigüenza, Tag 30

Wednesday, 16.8.2023, Day 30
We started early, shortly after 8:00 a.m., and then stopped at a cafeteria next to the gas station with the catchy name La Gasolinera 🤪 to have coffee. And we were definitely the only ones, and this is not speculation, who didn't drink any alcohol, not even a Carajillo. After that, we set off and after about 10 km we already reached the first gravel road (this time only 3.5 km long), so that our bikes looked the same as yesterday before the washing afternoon after less than 500 m. We continued through beautiful landscapes, but since yesterday we have also noticed that it gets very warm rapidly after 11:00 a.m. The best time for cycling is actually between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. We didn't calculate that correctly today and as a reward, we ended up on a track around noon, which our app Komoot lovingly describes as an "unpaved road with loose ground." What lies behind it was worse than yesterday. Scenic, spectacular, isolated in the middle of the wilderness of central Spain, but dangerous to ride. We encountered sections that we couldn't ride, that we couldn't even push downhill alone, because each bike weighs about 50 kg, including the luggage, and wants to go down the hill. So we pushed the two bikes DOWNHILL INDIVIDUALLY, me in front with both hands on the brakes, Andrea in the back with both hands on the luggage rack to secure against it. And we knew that neither of us should slip away with our mountaineering sandals. After 5.5 km we finally reached asphalt again, but we couldn't really enjoy it at 40°. The landscape is scorching hot, almost like a desert landscape. This impression is supported by the emerging Fata Morgana, which at first only manifests itself in sun loungers that are in our garden in Tahiche. Then someone comes to our sun loungers and brings cold drinks. And then we realize that we still have to ride 25 km with the bikes to the next accommodation. Nevertheless, it is becoming increasingly clear that we are slowly becoming ready to trade bicycles for sun loungers in our garden. Shortly before today's finale, we crossed a historic border and celebrated 1500 km of cycling. And after 1500 km, the bikes are still in top condition and our legs are now powerful. The only thing that bothers us is the heat. Because unlike in France, where we cursed in the rain and headwind, but at least we could still ride, here it feels like we can't really ride. We arrived at our new accommodation around 2:00 p.m., simple and very clean, shady and pleasantly cool inside the building. Tonight we will work on a change of plans. Andrea can't tolerate the heat, she is suffering, all her energy has evaporated. We will work on a Plan B and probably shorten or accelerate the trip.