Day 8 - Murcia to Aguilas (106km, 995m)

Sunday, September 27th

Route Map and Elevations Profile

Que visca Catalunya Lliure!

The Catalan elections are taking place today, largely seen as a vote for (or against) independence from Spain. I'm wearing my Catalunya jersey in support - my friends suggest I might get stoned by the non-Catalan Spanish, but I survived the day intact.

Another quite nice hotel - why has almost everyone departed before we finish breakfast?

It's Sunday morning, and so it's a quiet exit from Murcia. There's another fog, verging on rain, which we never really see. A few other cyclists on the road, but not as many as yesterday.

I depart with Bill and Nick, because one Tony was still having breakfast, and the other Tony graciously waited for him.

A lot of the morning is spent on a service road - much better than on the motorway it services!

Half way through the morning the sun comes out and the temperature climbs rapidly.

The scenery in the whole of Murcia is very stark - it's a surprise really that there's still a lot of agriculture.

Steve picks me up, or I pick him up - I can't remember. We spend the rest of the day cycling together (except whenever I stop to take pictures for the blog).

Agriculture - orchards and green houses as far as you can see.

These pictures were taken going up the major climb of the day - on the other side is the ocean!

And at the top of (almost) every climb is the van waiting with water and other support, as required.

After a rapid descent we arrive in Aguilas, our destination.

Steve and stop for a beer (him) and a shandy (me) and wait for the remaining riders to arrive.

In the fishing port there's the remains of what once must have been quite a nice yacht!

From the hotel deck you can see the castle on the peninsular which defines the harbour that we just passed through.

Rain threatens for a while and we get a shower - should we worry about tomorrow? Indeed, there's lightening out to sea as I write this.

The marina near the hotel.

I walk back into town and the sun breaks through the rain clouds for a while.

And the first time in Spain (and France) I see some guys playing Petanca (Boules).

I was so curious about the "Marie Celeste" boat that I walked all the way back to the harbour.

Birds circling th 18th century castle.

Nobody was interested in eating in town, so I walked back to the hotel where everyone had decided to have the €15 buffet - probably wisely...

Early results suggest a big win for Catalan independence!