So after finishing yesterday in El Barco de Avila today's route to Segovia would be an extra 15 miles long with two immediate climbs up to 4000ft back down to 3400ft and then all the way up to what is probably the highest point of the Tour at 4550ft which is 137ft higher than Ben Nevis, so at this point I would be higher than everyone in the UK.
It was a cool morning and straight away I could see I was heading towards a cleft in the landscape again, I could also see dark clouds to the right of this and light clouds to the left - worryingly the wind seemed to be from the right.
I had put on my base layer, alfine (thick) top and waterproof jacket and the layering was good as I powered up the first climb at 10 miles then had a nice 7 mile descent.
Approaching the 2nd climb I stopped, put on my full length leggings and my Sealskin thick gloves, I also put my lights on as I suspected 4500ft up could be a bit bleak.
wheras the first climb ahd been straighht forward this one lasted 6 miles and I breezed the first 3 however as I approached the town of Casas del Puerto de Villatoro I looked up and didn't like what I saw.
Not only was the road well above the town in the distance I could see two bits of tarmac where the gradient looked awful.Once again at 4000ft up I had another 500 to go and the gradient peaked at over 12% so I broke it up thinking I'll do 5 sets of 100ft with rests, as it ahppened the legs were good and I only stopped twice reaching the top and marking it with three of virtually the only pics I would take all day.
The tempearture at the top was 36 F (2 C) and the black cloud was now depositing a sleet like constant drizzle. The descnt was more painful than the ascent as the wind chill factor meant not only was sleet pinging off my face but the temperature feel was probably well below zero.
I just wanted to lose elevation but stayed below 20 mph as there could easily be ice patches on the road. At 3700ft it was still only 4C and all the way to Avila I would be above 3500ft.
Then at 30 miles I got that horrible feeling where the road went spongy and I felt like I was bouncing up and down. I knew what was coming and within 10 seconds my back wheel was flat.
There was a building supplier on the left so I pulled into the car park and replaced the flat by the side of the building. It was 3C, I was still at 3800ft and that drizzle was persistent.
I found it hard to change the inner tube as my arms were so cold they had littel strength and seemed to be working in slow motion. Paranoid I checked the tyre multiple times as I couldn't find anything obviously stuck in it causing the puncture. Eventually I put the new tube in and started inflating dreading the sound of a leak, the pressure increased, so far so good, then the barrel came out of my inflator and I rammed my thumb into the cylinder - The air was blue and I have a huge bruise on the nail bed that is throbbing a bit still. Infaltor fixed and I replaced the wheel and tested the bike before putting the panniers back on and cycling off.
I was wet, cold, sore and as I approached Avila there would be another 40 miles to Segovia as it was 2:30 this was possible but I thought better and my body needed some warmth so I routed to a cafe in Avila and had a late lunch. During which I found a very reasonable Hostal just round the corner so I booked tonight and would cycle the last 40 miles tomorrow to Segovia which was planned as a rest day.
Weather permitting I could easily be there by noon and still get most of the day to look round as I've never been before.