We left Burgos later than usual because the hotel did not serve breakfast until 8:00. But what a breakfast it was, a vast array of meats, cheeses, breads, fruit, cereals, eggs, bacon, and sweet breads. I stuffed myself. It was an easy ride out of the city to a road that took us up into the mountains. I stopped for photos while the others rode on, and I rode alone for the rest of the day, except for the last 10 miles. It was a beautiful and, somewhat emotional, day for me. The landscape was beautiful. Rolling fields of grain that had been cut and baled as far as I could see. Stacks of bales dotted the fields as monuments to the hard work of the farmers. Fields of green and yellow sunflowers stretched on both sides of the road, breaking up the golden fields of cut grain. The early morning light was breathtaking, making the surrounding fields look like the work of an artist. I was moved by the beauty and solitude of it.
We are in the middle of a very remote area. There were no houses to be seen, just a two lane road and stunning rural Spain. Some of the villages I passed through were vibrant and prosperous. Others were desolate and poor. I climbed up a mountain at a hard but steady pace, then rode the ridge of the mountain top for miles, before making the descent into the valley. Hairpin turns winding down the mountainside with no guard rails reminded me that I have a fear of heights. I feathered my brakes to crawl down the mountain. This same scenario occurred four times over. Inching up and inching down. I was glad my riding friends were not with me to witness the terror of my mountain side descents. A few miles from town I caught up to the other riders and we rode into the city of Valladolid together. There is safety in numbers and our Garmins have been giving strange and incorrect information in the cities. I was glad when we reached our hotel. Tomorrow is a shorter, flatter day, and the forecast is for perfect weather. Chilly in the morning and high 70’s by the time we finish.
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