Likely to be the last post of my finished Transandalus until I calculate each days journey. I had arranged to leave at 0700 and still didn’t get away until 10 past. I was cold and kept the jacket on for a few hours. The first part was all on ascending tarmac road so gained height quite quickly.
Managed to keep away from tarmac except the villages recently. The route than diverted for a while on to a track that was being expanded into a fire break. This dropped the height below 1000m but soon back up again and on the road for descent to the motorway at Despenaperos. The descent on tarmac was unnerving even though I only met a couple of cars. One of them stopped and asked me where Pepe was so after explaining I didn’t have much Spanish I was able to say “Ahm a stranger here masel”. Classic! There was a lot more climbing in the last 20km than I remembered (I’d come downhill in 2015) so racked up over 800m today. I was in plenty of time but if I’d left late I might have panicked a bit, as the track beside the motorway was very steep and undulating. The shoes got a lot of work and I was tiring so had a rest and a bit of bocadillo just a few km from the end. The buses arrived 1/2 hour before departure so I had a rush to wash and change.The buses all worked fine but I started walking in the wrong direction to the hotel (stupid with a bike) but all ok again. I’ll perhaps try the bus to the airport tomorrow to see if it’s less carrying.
Agh, those final sections when you are tired. *hugs* You’ve still done a brilliant job and you are nearly there. Well done! Hope you get a good sleep tonight and a smooth flight home.