Day 11: Cogolludo to Torrelaguna, Spain, 32 miles; 300 miles total

Today was fairly easy. We had a few long climbs early, then mostly flat to rolling terrain. A cool start, about 55 F. We are  aiming to get to Segovia, and then perhaps Avila. We arrived in Torrelaguna about 1:30 pm and stopped for lunch. We are targeting a town where we can catch the train or bus over the mountains to Segovia. Apparently the mountain pass tops out at more climbing than this group wants. In the end, we opted to stay in Torrelaguna, and will ride about 50 km to Villalba to catch the noon train to Segovia. Internet in our hotel is slow and intermittent, but reaching Villalba by noon appears feasible with an early start at 8 am, daylight here in Spain.

I found a hotel within 1 block, the others agreed, so we're in. 

Our Torrelaguna Hotel, the Posada Del Camino Real

My trailer tire saga continues. One tire was flat this morning, I aired it, and it held air all day. I checked the tube in the sink and found 5 more pin holes. Four patches later, I hope it's fixed. Either way, the leak is slow and I'm hoping that I have all the thorns removed from the tire. About 4 hours later, the same tire is flat. I checked the inflated tube under water in the hotel sink—bad or misplaced patch. It's now repatched and holding air.

Just as happened in my 2015 Nordic-Baltic States tour, my sinuses are acting up, and I seem to be catching a summer cold. Sneezing, nose blowing, poor sleep, and taking Claratin to drink my sinuses but riding OK (unless towing a trailer with a flat tire). 

—Dog of the Day.  A not very fierce guard dog, he seemed to want company more than anything else.

— Cogolludo  Departure

—Today's Shed

—Big Vistas, Some Long Climbs. Major mountain chain to the west and north. At this point, we are 40-60 miles north of Madrid, mostly traveling west to southwest.

—Finisher #2

—Finisher #3

—Finisher #4

—Tree Growing within a Tree 

—Goats & Goatherd #1

—Goats & Goatherd #2

—Twins/Roomies

Here are some post-arrival photos of Torrelaguna.

—Hairdresser/Stylist

—Patio Teeter-Totter

— Torrelaguna CIty Wall Entrance 31

— Torrelaguna CIty Wall Exit #1

—— Torrelaguna CIty Wall Exit #2

— Torrelaguna CIty Wall Entrance #2

— Torrelaguna Nun. A religious city, it has a convent, major church, and Church buildings.

—Church. John in foreground.

—Other side of same church. 

— Torrelaguna Passage #1

— Torrelaguna Passage #2

—Dog of the Day #2, Torrelaguna