Day forty

 

Abandoned derelict buildings are a common sight in the outback.

I leave the appropriately named Hostal el Retiro in Dolores just after 9:00 to finish the final stretch to Murcia. It's a gentle but slow uphill ride all the way. I stop at a market in Dolores beforehand and buy churros with a cup of chocolate for breakfast, not my normal choice but I hope it will give me energy for the 46km climb. Later I stop for a cafe con leche and then visit Lidl for water and some M&Ms. Maps.me soon has me riding a dirt track again but after several kilometers I notice a smooth side road running parallel and after checking that they meet up some kilometers ahead I decide come off the dirt track and descend a bank onto the road.

Left photo: Maps.me dirt track route and right photo: my choice, a smooth road.

Once on the road my speed increases dramatically and my fear of a puncture is lessened, I also no longer have to suffer dust or being shaken to bits by the dirt track's uneven surface. How Maps.me chooses its routes is a complete mystery to me, especially as it is surprisingly accurate and able to determine if you are riding on a road or a cycle path next to the road. Apart from a few bikers riding expensive mountain bikes with suspension I am sure 80% of bikers would choose the road.

Cafe society in Murcia looked interesting and I stopped at Smooy for a yoghurt-melon ice smoothie.

15km outside of Murcia I suddenly join the EV8 and it is a perfectly smooth cycle path that takes me the rest of the way into Murcia. It's a fine example of how a cycle path should be and although hardly more than a meter wide, it is all that is needed outside of a city. I arrive in Murcia at 14:00 with a view to finding somewhere nearby to stay overnight as I need to prepare myself physically and mentally for the days ahead, which entails climbs that I do not relish, en route to Almeria. After that the worst parts of this journey should be over. I try two pensions but both are 'complet' but not far way I find a 2-star hotel for the same price. I looked up budget hotels on Google and it gave much better results than Booking.com, it also allows you to check directions before booking, which Booking.com does not allow. I have already saved 4 euros by not using Booking.com. Genius level 2, 30% discount, my arse!

A church in the centre of Murcia, tomorrow the cathedral.

After almost 50kms today I finish at 16:00 hoping it will give me more time to relax and maybe even allow me time to visit the local area. Normally I would have gone on further till around 18:00 preferring to be outside the city but places to stay looked sparse and my route for tomorrow was still not clear. After I have showered, done the blog and had something to eat the day is usually over and I am ready for bed. Rarely do I get to bed before 23:00.