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After yesterday's rain we have a bright sunrise this morning. A quick visit to E.Leclerc for groceries then we start out on one of the 'Back Roads' tours.
We start on the EX208 to Zorita then follow the EX108 to Guadalupe. It really is a spectacular ride with a beautiful mixture of scenery; small drystone-walled fields of brown sheep; olive and cork plantations, some with cattle or brown pigs grazing among the trees; green field with little brooks; ranging vistas, boulder-strewn moorland and rocky outcrops. In little villages oranges and lemons are growing on roadside trees.
Nearing Guadalupe we encounter long climbs and descents winding through woods and gorges. It's unlike any pictures we have ever seen of Spain and a welcome contrast from all the poly-tunnels we saw in south east Spain last year.
We stop on the edge of the town for lunch then drive into the centre where we turn in the square in front of the impressive Hieronymite Monastery.
Leaving Guadalupe we take the CC-151 to Alia and on to Castilblanco, a winding, almost single-track road with more animals grazing among trees. In places it runs straight for miles falling into hidden dips.
We turn off towards Valdecaballeros, passing what should have been large lakes but, due to Spain's recent lack of rain, are now green valleys with very little water.
Our planed destination today was Merida but we are still 80 miles and two hours away at 16:00 when we reach Playa de Puerto Pena and pull in at a viewpoint by a less depleted lake A sign points to a beach 1000m away and following it brings us to a secluded car-park with lovely views. We all decide it's a good place to stop.
Sun lights up the green hills, dense forest and bare strata where the levels have dropped. Eagles fly overhead from the rocks above. Notice boards tell us there are lynx in the woods.
In our first hour here we see one walker and two cars; all very peaceful.
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