Leo 24hr to Monesterio, the end of the Cicloextremena

It was only a 10km last stage, and I was away before 9am, the target leaving time. It turned out that the route was the Via de la Plata, and because this bit of motorway was built when I did it in Nov/Dec 2012 I must have done it before. Like all motorway service roads in Spain, it was very undulating. The pilgrim route added in steps, proper single track and lifting the bike over 2 double road barriers. Other than that it was an easy morning.

Singletrack Via de la Plata

lovely area. Pity about the motorway

Steps. I’m not going down these on the bike 2000km from home.

I packed the bike for the bus journey. I tried to book that morning but it was too late. The driver did have to check at some stops, but there was room for everybody. Should have booked yesterday. The bus was late, so had a beer and toilet stop keeping an eye out.

Even that early, Sevilla was hot. I was peched just unpacking the bike. I had to use my smartphone to navigate (must be able to do that better) but arrived in time, phoned the apartment and was met without problem (panic had not set in). The flat was fine, but I went off for my last big meal to a ridiculously posh place 25m away. First class but budget would have been good enough.

Small crisp lettuce, anchovies,, peeled tomatoes. Lost the picture of the gilt head bream with almonds.

Special orange Sevilla postre

I looked around after the meal but my memory of the area was not the reality.

There were huge queues at every entrance to the cathedral for different types of people. I didn’t bother. I’d walked straight in and chosen a service to watch in mid November 2012.

The queue for the Alkazar was about 200m long. I walked straight in before and found it restful and peaceful. I’m sure it wasn’t that way. I didn’t bother.

I returned to the flat and on the 3rd floor (with lift) there were washing machines etc with everything laid on. Did the first lot of laundry, which dried ready for my evening out. The clothes were hot when I put them on. I decided on a Lebanese type place and had a hot and cold starter.

Spent ages trying to get it the right way up. Failed.

Didn’t even finish those. My normal appetite is back. The extreme heat here may be part of it. I’m struggling. I did manage an excellent ice cream cone.

I decided to do my sightseeing very early in the morning. I cycled off, having looked out a route to the river last night. It worked fine. I found a churreria and had a racion with chocolate. I cycled downriver and had a look at the Plaza d’Espagne and the park there. 2* only. I cycled back by the river walkway and had a coffee at the Churreria.

Lovely on the cool of the morning.

The bridge I was beside had been closed from the other side. People had been crossing on foot with traditional costumes. Intrigued, I cycled over. There was a traditional festival on, with a band, posh people on horses, religious horse drawn float, lots of oxen drawn tall floats and people dressed in their finery. Several thousand people. Lots with the name Triana. It’s a part of Sevilla near the river with a Romany tradition. It looked exactly like the country ones I’d seen, but bigger and perhaps less people on horseback.

The wagons are very tall.

Just a selection of the photos I took

I’d assumed these were in the countryside only. It occupied my morning well and was interesting. I returned to do my last laundry and start writing my last blog. I could have slipped lunch altogether but went out into the heat. I saw a paella place but it was 2 people or more. I set about looking for Paella in the area and found 3. Only one said marisco. That was for me. Forced to have 3 small courses. The price had gone up another €2.50 when I left.

Pleased I got another paella. It was good considering the price. Choco for main course.

Decided that this afternoon I had time to visit Italica, a Roman ruin with huge amphitheatre on the outskirts. Found the bus which would get me there before 7pm so it would be a bit cooler. It didn’t matter because it was closed for drone filming. Wasted 2 hours.

I’ll visit the archeological museum in the morning before leaving for the airport in the afternoon. Don’t think I need to do another blog. Everyone who reads them must be bored to tears already, but I won’t remember the details even next week.

Stats for the day: 8.95km 272m 8.4 km/hr moving 1.04 hrs Monesterio bus stop

Here are the links for me and any others interested the details.

Link for tracks, maps, spreadsheet for route, weights of gear, itinerary and maps

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1bRaloEITWIC-2d4WjRRIG0LIFSS0hw4m

Link for all photos (reduced) and videos (no ibex, deer, lynx etc)

https://1drv.ms/f/s!AsPWtrnIP1R4iFQUC-bgWfgQhkuH

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7 Responses to Leo 24hr to Monesterio, the end of the Cicloextremena

  1. Fiona says:

    Aw, shame about the Roman ruin 🙁 Bother!
    Love the festival pics!! Fabulous.
    Win some and lose some, I guess.
    Overall, I hope you have thoroughly enjoyed the trip, your blogs are anything but boring!! I will miss them 😀
    Have a good last day!
    xxx

    • amilne says:

      If I haven’t said it enough already, I’ve had a great month doing it. I could have done it in less time, I’m sure, but doing it slowly has increased the enjoyment for me. Of course, I didn’t know much about the route and I could have taken longer.
      I need to read my blogs to find out what happened as I’m not very good at remembering things.

  2. Julen says:

    Congratulations, Alex!
    It was quite difficult to organize that typical festival for you as a finisher 🙂
    🙂 🙂
    What’s your next plan? Here you have another option: TransEuskalherria
    https://transeuskalherria.wordpress.com/

    • amilne says:

      I’m glad you organised the Fiesta. I enjoyed it, and other areas of Sevilla were having a fiesta on the day I left. I kept coming across it.
      I still have lots of a route in Scotland to finish. It’snot really an MTB route, it’s the Scottish National Trail, for hikers. I only use a backpack, and take everything off the bike not necessary, using a carbon fork. I need to use a tent and carry food for 3 days over some stretches. I’ve looked at the TransEuskalherria. Looks interesting but quite hard for me.

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