clairedavieswriter

Six days of riding have brought us from the north coast to within sight of the mountains west of Madrid. And if we’re not mistaken, it looks like they may have snow on them. Which is a little concerning, given that our route tomorrow climbs to a height of 1,100m above sea level.

But what better excuse for a spot of preparative R&R?

And there can be few better locations for it than the elegant city of Salamanca. Her majestic Plaza Mayor not only continues to serve as a gathering place:

It also provides opportunities to enjoy the sun from morning…

To evening:

Elsewhere, there are magnificent sights round every corner

As always, curiosities caught our eye, like this detail on an old doorway near the Plaza de Colón (Christopher Columbus Square):

And what do you think they used to sell on Bread and Coal Street?

You could get all the essentials here:

Colin was particularly excited to see this homage to his brand:

While this struck me as the perfect cycling support vehicle:

We might be needing some extra padding again tomorrow morning. Wish us luck!