The morning began with a clue to how Spain managed its desertification.
In the (tiny) main square outside our guest house before we left we saw a small
open-air market set up.
There were two
produce sellers, one shoe stall and a guy selling clothes from his car.
These
folks apparently go around to a different village each day.
Judy and Adrian weren't riding but came with us as we picked up
the horses. It was the coldest morning yet but, despite the rain forecast, no
precipitation. We headed off behind Enrique Senior. This was our second day of
heading south (see map) and we were
considerably east of the line we'd taken coming north. We were essentially traversing the
mountains -- they are the southern axe
of France's Massif Central -- and had many great views of increasingly
cultivated land and populated villages to our right. Lots of ups and downs.
Many nice long canters and
part way through the morning the sun came out. That is, not just shining
through clouds or appearing in patches but true blue sky and blazing sun.
By this time the horses were much calmer (except young Enrique's
of course) and Enrique senior said we could ride in parallel rather than single
file. We didn't get everyone lined up across but three or four people managed
and Sue and I had a nice canter a deux.
Snack time was in a sheltered hollow, fortunately since it was
still quite windy. We noted four vultures circling ahead but couldn't figure
out which one of us they had come for.
The sun stayed out as we continued to follow the mountains to our
lunch spot. It was at a local place with a fairly full house; nice to see some
actual Spaniards enjoying village life. I had soup to start, then a stew, plus
water, wine and tea, leading to one of the few on-trail relief stops on the
afternoon leg. Sue, Nancy and Ben were all glad to join the trend and everyone
successfully re-mounted sans block.
Overnight at a modern-but-rural hotel in the small town of
Sotosalbos; my room window overlooked a pasture with cows.
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