Day 10 – at Albarracin

Rain was forecast for today and it was also the local holiday, that of the patron Saint of Albarracin. The school had been closed yesterday also, and there was some festivity with music and kids dancing at the main square. With the rain forecast everyone had their warmest winter clothing on, like a January day in the Lakes. It was about 18C. I had stuck with the T-shirt and shorts.

Most people here wear a mask outdoors, also when cycling, running, or in their own cars alone. As I mentioned yesterday Aragon is the slowest district to move back towards any normality, apparently a political thing rather than actual numbers ill or in hospital. Perversely comical is how most manage to still smoke with their masks on.

Perfect weather to walk to the high point on the mountain at the back of the town, and get some quite wonderful views.

First though I got to the square and had a coffee. The waitress eventually gave in, having told me that I needed a table to get served. I had a chair, and a low wall. Just as leaving I accosted a bikepacking cyclist, asking with my rusty Spanish what route he was on. He was Tony from Sheffield.. the first English person I have met, and me also for him, after 5 weeks of riding the Camino Del Cid route from Santander. We chatted over further coffee for an hour or so, and had plenty in common. He was a recently retired teacher, taking his first such trip, though a regular cyclist, and had been bitten by the bug. He was also looking forward to an afternoon of cool rain, which it materialised, never arrived.

I had forgotten about this Spanish coffee, that Dylan also sings about (One More Cup Of Coffee, before I go, into the valley below..). It fuelled us on Bike Spain in 2005, to the extent that we became slightly hooked on it – hard to turn the pedals even until at least two double shots. So forget the troublesome heel, the short ascent of the hill saw the years being turned back. More effect even than Ibuprofen…

I was back at the campsite for late lunch. Then an afternoon of work at the laptop as it’s payday, and a comparison of vans with a Dutch couple opposite me, something I always have time for.