Stage 14 Teruel to Utiel
68 mile
The dawn chorus that announced the start of the new day was
orchestral in its magnitude accompanied by an equally bright sun and cloudless
skies. Accumulated exhaustion was manifesting itself with tired limbs and a
feeling of tiredness at the beginning of the day. With a struggle we hauled
ourselves from our beds, kitted up, loaded the van and headed for breakfast.
Fuel tanks suitably replenished we briefed up the day and then headed out
before 08:45 hours.
Spirits were high after the previous days toils, aided by
the fresh air and relatively flat roads heading out of town. We knew the course
to the first stop would be a welcome relief and it absolutely lived up to
expectations. The surroundings were hugely pleasing to the eye with colour,
variety and fertility in abundance. Teruel sits in an oasis of pleasantness
with rich terracotta soils and evidence of agriculture abounds.
Having left
town the verges to the road were a symphony of colour with splashes of crimson,
yellow, white and lavender offset with the intense green of the grasses flowing
away to our left and right. The morning breeze sent ripples through the
upturned stems and a gentle swish meandered across the lands. Beyond were a
plethora of vegetable patches neatly dividing up the landscape, interspersed
with groups of trees, equally varied, displaying a spectrum of greens set against
an azure sky.
We then cycled through a scene reminiscent of monument
valley with relatively gently sloping hills topped with stark vertical sided
angular flat tops, the red of the rock mottled with sprigs of greenery.
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| 8%, we salute you! |
The calm was broken by three off tune singers breaking into
a variety of tunes, all off key and the words ill remembered. Soft pedalling
was the order of the day, taking in the wonder that abounded and a timely
chance to preserve energy. The road twisted and turned gently with each bend
bringing new delights. Soon rocky cliffs rose up on either side flanked by
thick stretches of tress, some of which closed in above us as we rode, bringing
with it a fresh coolness aided by bubbling streams meandering as they flowed.
How delightful it would have been to stop and have a picnic or sit lazily on
the river banks with a rod in hand, unconcerned as to whether the float would
bob or not.
All too soon the first 22 miles were over and as we broke
cover from this wonderland we took a right turn off the N330, stopping in the
small town of Torrebaja. Steve as ever was waiting with fresh supplies of
French sticks, cheese, ham, salami and fizzy drinks. Back in the saddle we
headed back out of town. Almost immediately the surrounding countryside had
returned to aridness with stunted pines littering the landscape.
A photo opportunity of a hillside village from a bridge and
before long we were into another long climb. The sun was beating and the
temperature was up into the mid thirties. A low gear and grind out a rhythm to
get to the top was the order of the day. As we strung out and entered our own
zones, it was an opportune period to make peace with the spirits and to think
of the people important in our lives both past and present.
As the climb commenced there was an abundance of yellow on
either side of the road, acting as our fanfare. That soon changed to sheer
walls of white rock acting as an amphitheatre. The intensity of the heat was
amplified as it rebounded around this cauldron and we half expected to hear a
roar of expectation from an invisible and demanding crowd, at the first sign
that one of the toiling gladiators should slip or falter.
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| Not far from Lenciana (not posed at all) |
Eventually the summit was reached with beads of effort
flowing freely past brows, into blinking eyes and dripping from the ends of
noses. The saltiness stabbed the eyes causing involuntary wincing. The fanfare
of yellow at the commencement had returned for the finale of the climb too. The
Director Sportive was at the summit, ensuring that bidons were replenished
before setting off again. The worst of the toil was over and flatter lands
beckoned. We turned off the main road, passing through a small village and then
another cheeky climb followed. Before long we were into more fertile and green
lands again, the odd farmer and his tractor enlivening the vista.
We saw this tree and would like any of you followers to name
it.
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| What is this growing? |
Back onto the main road and a few miles to the next roadside
stop set amongst some pines. More cheese bread and ham and a natter in the
shade of the trees before the final miles to day’s end. Another change of
scenery beckoned, as we broke from pine clad rolling hills onto flatter plains
with small vineyards dotted here and there. What should have been an easy roll
in proved more taxing with a punchy headwind forcing us into a low tuck and a
weary grimace as we ground out the last few miles.
Hotel suitably located we then set about some cycle
maintenance to keep the steeds in fine fettle for the last six days.
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| What's this all about? |
Ride stats
Distance 67.8 miles
Average speed 13.3 mph
Max speed 29.5mph
Ride time 5 hours 06 minutes
Total miles 1142
We push on
The Fozball Team
Almond....
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed an almond
ReplyDelete