Alcalá la Real is a place I would like to return to. Alcaudete also. Antequera ... Oddly, all of top places on this tour so far begin with A. This might be a conspiracy.
I saw very little of Alcalá la Real but I like what I saw and would like to spend a day exploring the town and the castle. I went back to my bar on the corner and had several cafe con leche. The guy I saw working all afternoon, who was there when I walked past after dinner was there serving coffee this morning. The same old drunk guy was there, as well. He was loudly saying something ... just the same as yesterday.
Since I was only riding 30km and it was raining I wasn't in any hurry to leave. Fortunately when I did the rain had stopped and I was able to get some shots of the castle on the way out of town.
The ride was great. I was on a small road with almost no cars, going over rolling hills through olive orchards. I was headed through a town called La Rabita and I am not sure if that translates to rabbit but I saw 4 today. OK, looked it up ... not rabbit. Not even close. None the less, I saw a bunch of rabbits today.
As I started a long downhill it did start pouring and then I was wet and had cold water in my shoes again. The heavy rain stopped after a while but the damage was done.
Later I was enjoying a nice part of the road and my navigation told me to turn left. All I saw was a dirt road and thought it must be one of those stupid things where auto routing feature takes you off the main road into some residential street. I have to go and clean those out of the routes and sometimes I miss one. I didn't turn figuring that little road would join up again in 100m. I came to a nice downhill and was flying down; all the while my navigation is making the disapproving sound. I thought I better make sure and stopped. Everything was now wet so it was not easy. Yep, I had missed the turn and added a 100m climb.
The correct road was a lot smaller. Single lane and close enough to touch the olive trees as I rode by, but still paved. There was one place I stopped for a photo in spite of the wet fingers.
Soon I was in Alcaudete and my hotel was on the first street. I checked in and ate at the restaurant which was very good. The restaurant was quite full with people out for Easter lunch. I enjoyed my lunch.
After laundry I walked around town. I got to the castle at 6pm and was a little surprised to find the gate open. I walked in and a guy called down to tell me I needed to buy a ticket. I got the old guy discount even though he seem skeptical about giving it to me. I don't make the rules.
The castle and the audio tour on my phone where a well spent hour. The sun came out!!!
I walked down from the castle and had a couple of beers in a real old style place in the main square. There were old people there partying like is was 1978. Who you calling old, Mr. Senior Discount?
I wandered through town and even though it was 8pm the sun was out and things were starting to dry out. The rain and cold is supposed to end tomorrow. What a relief. It was still brisk but a little blue sky lifts the spirits.
I found a place for dinner and was the first to sit at a table. Soon a French couple sat. We both were nearly finished when the locals started coming in. I had thought the French might be peregrinos as I had seen Camino markers in town. I spoke we them as they left and indeed they were on the Camino.
Hopefully, tomorrow will be the last day I have to put on a wet shoe.
