Andalusia: Day 4 - Hotel Monasterio Rocamador to Monesterio

 I got to bed way too late last night and slept until 7:30am and then was just barely able to drag myself down for breakfast at 8:30.  That all added up to not actually riding until nearly 11.  I had planned a much bigger day than I should have.  Note to future self, day 2 and day 4 should be the light days.

The monastery hotel was a great experience and I wish I had more time to hang put and explore.  Other than the suicide tub and the tepid showers the place very fun.  I would spend a weekend here if I weren't alone.  Good family or group place.

The ride started off with several long climbs and I was not making great time.  A one break I changed the route to remove some of the climbing and put me on more common roads.  Better to be stuck on the side of the road when there is a bit of traffic.  Main roads also have more leveling which means a little less climbing.

The views and scenery for the first 35km were pretty amazing but the day was going by fast.  I had a very long slow climb coming into Zafra.  I stopped at a bar for a couple of cokes, a sandwich and a cafe solo.  I was ordering ok in Spanish until she asked me something about my sandwich.  When I looked confused the guy beside me said she wants to know if you want olive oil on it.  We chatted for a bit.  He was a young guy with his father.  He said he grew up in Connecticut.  His English sounded like it.

I left the bar at 3:30 and I still had 60km planned.  I was dead tired already and it was getting late.  Unless it was flat I wasn't going to make it.  It was not flat.

Fortunately, my paid hotel for the night was only 30.  I guess if you have to burn a stay that is the one to burn.  I was in the town of Feunte de Cantos and I started looking for a hotel.  This town didn't have much.  There were a couple of bars that had a lot of people sitting in the sun but the hotels here looked pretty shabby or closed.  I looked at the next town and booked the Hotel Leo only 19km further in Monesterio.  I could do 19km and make it in for 6pm unless it had any big climbs.

It had big climbs.  The 19km took about 90 minutes.  Tiring day.  Enjoying a beer in the bar downstairs now and wondering if the restaurant will open ... It is 8:40pm.