CP5 Consuegra Windmills 18.08 @ 8.47AM CP6 Guadalupe Monastery 18.08 @ 9.31PM (parcours start) There is a good reason to be grumpy when I resume my ride. I blame myself for this stupid decision of not sleeping. I wish I could reach the Windmills CP with a morning light and I can't. It is not as impressive as I had imagine and I have no food for the rest of the day. I make a detour in a city to stuff my bags & pockets with homemade (bikemade) sandwiches. It is going to last me 2 days. After that I am a bit relieved and I enter the Cabaneros National Park. I will hear later that some took a different path, up north, and that might have been a better option because the road here is quite bumpy and the environment wild, with no villages to freshen up. Progress is slow. I blame myself again for the wrong choice of road but something else overcome the feeling. I kind of enjoy riding here. The narrow road, full of potholes, the smell of dry vegetation, even the heat... It is not exactly race efficient but I appreciate being here. Suddenly the path turns into a super smooth road... reflective of the sun & heat. The Cijara Reservoir is a big dry puddle surrounded by low & yellow vegetation. I am riding in an oven, I think my tyres are going to melt but it is beautiful (pics 1, 2, 3). Out of this, I just have to reach Guadalupe, start of the parcours, where I booked a hotel for the night. Quick stop in a bar... The woman offers me aloe vera for my burnt skin. I decline the offer. There is a closed door on my way. I have to re route quickly, 10km down and a gravel road, adding about 200m of elevation. Once again I hate the race, and the whole world, but I manage to ride on this smooth gravel, I see 3 deers jumping in front of me making dust, and the sun is just warm enough now. I am feeling in the right place again (last pic). Still a long way up to Guadalupe. The city is getting ready for a big party, everyone is out dancing. My hotel room is quiet though, I go to bed early, well deserved after my sleepless night.