October 8, 2016

Today is going to be a long one, we know that from the start.  For some reason, not sure why, I thought to have a look online last night to see where we might stay.  Every place in and around the Seville area was fully booked, with the exception of three hotels in the centre of Seville with prices above 300 euros a night.  After much searching I identified the nearest place to be on the north east side of Seville, meaning we have a ride more than 100 kilometres today.  I asked the owner of the hotel we were in if there was some reason for everywhere to be fully booked, but he couldn’t offer any thoughts other than the hot weather continuing later into the season than normal and people are making the most of it.

The first 15 or so kilometres is off road along a dirt track that goes to a dolmen, the Dolmen de Soto, an impressive stone lined chamber in a mound dating to between 2500 and 3000 years b.c.  It made an interesting start to the day.

The terrain is not too difficult, fortunately, given the distance we have to cover.  Mostly, it is gently undulating with an occasional bit of a climb.  We’re passing vines and bodegas today.

By the end of the day we will be in areas we have ridden before, some of it earlier this year on our short spring tour.  We know we are nearing familar territory when we see the solar mirror towers in the distance.

One of the villages we pass through is having a fiesta, later in the season than most. All was quiet as we passed through the decorated streets – it won’t come alive until about midnight.

We do make it to our booked accommodation after 102 kilometres of riding.  On the positive side, the hotel was easy to find being right on a crossroad in the middle of the town, but on the negative side it was very basic.  Still better than nothing.  Hopefully, once away from the Seville area we won’t have the same problem finding somewhere to stay.