Day 18 2 Sep ’91 Monday Wild camp site to Monforte de Moyuela

The radio went off but had very little effect on moving me from my sleeping bag. A good kip. We left before the flies could get a hold on us. The first village we entered was Villaneuve de los Nevarros. We could have been dinosaurs from the looks we got from the locals. Incredible. I felt a bit vulnerable. 

We picked up some water from a fountain, and found a SPAR shop for supplies. We left swiftly and hit a track which was meant to take us on. Oh, no! Not dirt all the way!’ But it soon reverted to battered tarmac. We stopped a kilometre up the road for a couple o bowls of cereal and to write up our diaries, which were three days behind. Warm sun, cool breeze. A shepherd moved his flock around with the help of two dogs. We left there at 1pm to a spot outside a village beneath an olive tree for lunch. Dan caught up with his diary. I listened to the radio and fired stones with the catapult. 

Soon after, we left storm as clouds appeared to the south and subsequently the rain started, and thunder could be heard in the distance. Cool and refreshing rain as we passed through quiet villages and along bumpy roads. The going was quite hard with 10 litres of water on the back of the bikes. Very tiring. 

By 6pm, we had not found a camp site. We had cycled through a village, Monteforte, the amazement of the villagers, and we were feeling quite tired. We came through another village wearing waterproofs because it was starting to rain. Soon, the rain was pouring down and we were slowly climbing up a long road to the top of an escarpment (Height 1230m). We turned off to the left of the road and found a very large bush behind which to camp. 

Rain pouring, we rushed to get the tent up. With the tent up, we got our vital bags in and cooked in the porch of the tent, watching the flashes of lightning approaching us. Supper of pasta, soup, tomato, beans and curry powder, vanilla danettes and tea. As we finished, down came the rain again, harder and harder, before it stopped suddenly. We listened to the radio. 

I really enjoyed today. I thought about Penny for most of the day. I’m really enjoying wild camping. It’s much more fun than a camp site. It’s more interesting with better views.

Distance 60.41 kms Average speed 5.6 kmh Time 10 hours 36