After yesterdays winds I was a bit cautious about today as it was an 80 mile ride with about 7000 ft of climbs and the day would end in the High Jerte valley in the middle of nowhere - I wasn't sure this was possible especially if the winds were up.
So last night I plotted contingencies trying to avoid the main road I was routed on as I didn't want to be riding slowly in the murk on a busy road, I actually found a Via Verde (off road old railway line) which I could follow to Bejas and then get across to my original route.
I didn't book a hotel as I wasn't sure if I would end up in Bejas,Barco de Avila or Barajas. Now this is not me as I like to plan and be precise but today I was a free spirit.
As I left Plasencia and started to climb the first 10 miles were on road and got me to about 1300ft where I picked up the Via Verde. The cloud was low and visibility maybes only half a mile - yet I was apparently going to Bejar at 3000ft and then over a pass above 4000ft - this will never work I thought but as I'm on a traffic free route I will at least reach Bejar I thought.
the Via Verde was an amazingly steady 2% gradient which after about 28 miles did get me to Bejar and it was slightly clearer than back down at 1300ft !
On the way up I passed about 10 people all the way and at the 30 mile point I went through the one and only tunnel on the route, it said it was lit but I put my light on before entering, the tunnel lights did come on but about half way through they went out and I felt vindicated putting my light on, The last 3rd of the tunnel the lights came back on so it was only the darkest middle bit that didn't come on !!!
A lunch in a bar in Bejar at 3000ft and I had an ascent to 4200ft to get across to Barco de Avila, I double jacketed as it was now below 50F and threatening a bit rain. It was 3pm and I thought a good hours climb was ahead of me but the gradients were good and in no time I was summiting. On the way up Cyslists names were visible on the road - Yates and Contador I remember seeing so I guess the Vuelta de Espana must use this climb on occasions.
It was classified as a Haute category so to get up it will fully laden paniers is a result.
Over the top wasn't like normal were there is an equally big descent - I had climbed about 3000ft in total and then the descent was about 800ft into Barco de Avila but still the last 10 miles was about the easiest of the Tour and I was at my chosen destination before 5pm - my original detination was only 24 miles away but involved a lot more climbing and going back up to over 4000ft which I thought prudent noot to try with only 2.5hrs daylight left.