This morning I left jalance on a back road, which led to a quiet valley which looked like it had been industrial possibly mining.
The whole valley was completely in shade as it was surrounded by huge mountains.
As I cycle the first three miles it was freezing and my fingers were in danger of frostbite !
Butt soon I was climbing again not one for the faint hearted either.
Just over 1 hour later I was up on the plain 1500 feet above, at this stage my fingers were lovely and warm.
I was now on level terrain and on a nice Tarmac Road. I had intended to drop back into the Jucar valley and cycle 25 miles to Alcala for lunch, but when I reached the turn it was just a gravel track and with 25 miles to ride I thought better of it and stayed on the tarmac road.
The road was smooth however I had a headwind and the 25 miles to alcala took an age finally reaching alcala by 2 pm.
Alcala is a beautiful town made of white houses tucked in the cliff face below a castle and the drop into the valley is very spectacular.
Lunch done I cycled upstream along the canyon passing lots of small villages with houses cut into the cliff face, it was very beautiful for about 20 miles when the gorge just disappeared and after a small climb of 250 feet I was back up on flat plateau.
That headwind was there again once I was out the gorge.
The last 18 miles from Valdeganga into Albacete were very difficult, The sky went very dark there was a squall and it was wet and cold, after adding waterproof layers the progress was dogged but nothing a nice warm shower couldn't cure in my hotel for the night in Albacete.