Day 28 - There's an app for that!

From El Cañón to Olmedillo de Roa (112.8 miles)

Afte the massive climb up into the Burgos region we really weren't too sure what to expect of the route today but it certainly didn't disappoint. After an early start the morning proved to be a beautiful downhill cycle through canyon surroundings and towering hills for at least 15 miles. No cars on the road, speeds of up to 35mph and watching the sun rise behind us over red and orange hillsides was a welcome change to the green, rainy and humid surroundings of Guipuzcoa.

I've really struggled the last couple of days with the knee. Altough the morning was mostly downhill the pain with every pedal was worrying. However, due to a puncture in Matty's back tyre we had to make an unscheduled stop where I made a last ditch attempt at loosening the IT band in my left leg to relieve the tension that it has been causing on my knee. Half an hour of very painful massage and stretching had almost entirely sorted the problem! It was a great moral booster for me and definitely helped us get through 112 miles today. Matty's diagnosis of the problem back in England was spot on...I just didn't realise how much stretching it needed to solve the problem.

Anyway, less about the (ex)cripple, more about the fact that exiting Spanish cities on the correct road is harder than finding a shop open during siesta time. We entered Burgos and eventually found a supermarket where we quickly got down to buying and consuming a lunch that wouldn't look out of place on Man vs Food. Cakes, baguettes, nuts, raisins, biscuits, more cakes, melon, soft cheese, sliced cheese, pepperoni, salami, chrizo...the joys of eating after cycling 55 miles in the morning.

Somehow, we eventually found our escape route from Burgos with the help of a friendly, Spanish cyclist who gave us a mini tour on the way. Whilst chatting to him he said Burgos is beautiful but is "too cold"...as we pass a pharmacy sign...35 degrees!

Very flat roads leading south from Burgos took us to the small town of Olmedillo de Roa where we celebrated our longest day yet with a drink at the local pub. The Spanish are really friendly and the old people of these small towns usually stop for a chat with these strange lyra-clad, sweaty foreigners. They seem happy enough that we speak minimal Spanish and just chat on with us regardless. A smile and the odd laugh at crucial points usually keeps them happy!

After our drinks we set off up a minor road to find a camping spot next a river, which turned out to be little more than a patch of reeds. Never mind though, we'll ask this scruffy Shepard here whether we can camp on the land nearby. He was tending his small flock...with an ipad! Must be an app for counting sheep now and the wage of a Shepard must have improved since biblical times!