Cycling Colombia and Beyond : Andalusia: Day 8

I was in no rush this morning as I had only a 62km day with a few short climbs. It didn't seem the sights of Bosque would require an early arrival. It's a small town at the base of the mountains at the edge of a national park.

I was the first to breakfast, however, and a hotel lady showed me how the pod espresso machine worked and how to steam the leche. Before I sat down an English couple came in and we chatted a bit. They had popped down from London for the night. I guess when they get a cheap flight they come down for dinner.

I got all my gear together and carried it separately to the elevator. I knew from last night the bike in the elevator is a lot easier without the bags attached. That elevator is the smallest one with two doors and doors at 90. I got the bike in vertically, pulled the bags in with my feet and struggled to reach the button. When I got to the first floor there were 3 guys waiting and they had quite the surprised look when me, the bike and the bags all fell out.

I took everything out to the street and attached everything there. I was then I missed my sunglasses. I had left them in my backpack which without checking for contents, had smushed into the seatpost pack. I considered pulling it apart but it was an overcast day and a short ride and they would not get any more broken. I rode off.

Getting out of town was pretty easy, I found a bike path that was going in my direction ... until it wasn't. I was pretty much out of town and I took a bike path that had a 1m concrete barrier between it and the road. I felt safe until 100m later my route turned left and I could not get around the barrier.

I was on a quiet road the passed a motorcycle track and a big concert place. I could hear the motorcycles screaming around the track. I also started seeing a lot of local cyclists coming back from their rides. I also got passed by a few going the same direction.

Arcos was an interesting town just passed the halfway point. It had some castle things and was on a serious hill and cliff. A river cut away the hill. The town had some huge differences in elevation.

I decided to get some lunch there and had though I would just grab something quick at the Burger king. It was closed - maybe for good. There where quite of few closed business. I started seeing them outside of Jerez. In the lower part part of Arcos there was a little downtown with a square. I went to a restaurant on the square that advertised a 10 menu del dia. The place was empty and the waitress said a lot at me and it sounded like they weren't serving yet. I was confused but then she brought out the menu del dia list and had me pick my options. It was good and soon the place had a big group of British expats. A few Spanish come in as well. As I rode away the place was hopping.

Leaving the restaurant I noticed my rear tire was a little low. I might have lost some air on those damn cobblestones. I pulled over with a view of Arcos and toped it up.

After a bit a of climb, tomorrow's mountains came into view. The scenery started to get much more interesting.

My hotel is great. It's kind of a fancy place. Dinner isn't until 9pm so I walked into town, had a few beers at one place, walked to the square, got some supplies for tomorrow, had another beer in the square. Bosque is a cute little town.