Most of the terrain was fairly flat, but the wind increased in the afternoon and became a headwind. Still, not a difficult day. We had Googled Villacastin and found a number of casa rurals listed. However, we discovered that many are weekly or monthly apartment rents, not overnights. Fortunately, a local knew of a single place, which we secured for 20 euros each per night. With few options, I shopped and prepared a pasta dinner featuring local white and red wine. The pasta included chorizo, red bell peppers, onion, green olives, and parmasean cheese.
Tomorrow is our last day of cycling, into Avila. Then we take the train into Madrid.
—Market Day in Segovia. Happenstance as we were riding out of town.
—Dog Park. Poor dogs of Segovia. Eli and Lily never had it so good.
—Segovia Cathedral in Morning Light.
—Alcazar in Morning Light.
—Segovia Cathedral from the Hilltop, South View.
—Segovia Children in School Uniforms.
—Dog of the Day.
—Segovia Aqueduct from the South.
—Goats, Shepherd, and Sheep Dog. The dark dot of the left.
—Non-Steroid Sunflowers.
Stuart Passes a Monastery.
—This Monastery
—Holy Storks! That's a big nest.
—Bull Fight. Seems that most small villages have a festival that includes one or two nights of bull fighting. We will not be able to hang about for the bull fight tomorrow night. Hope to be in Avila.
—Festival Band. The band was unloading as we cycled into this village about 12:30. One band member knew a bit of English, telling me that they were there to lead a village festival parade, starting a 13:00, from the Church to the town square. So we stopped, had some tapas and beer, and waited for the parade.
However, they started from the town square and marched to the church, about two blocks. Few locals seemed to be around; the four of us doubled the parade spectator count. But people began appearing, men in suits and ties, and well-dressed women in short skirts and 4-inch heels, walking to the Church. We surmised that they were in for an hour of speeches/sermons (something about the Feast of San Miguel, but perhaps not of beer fame), so we left town.
—Another Bull Fighting Event. Note the practice bull on the bicycle.
—Band Transport. A Sprinter, better than most USA bands can afford.
—Enough Said.
—The Church service has started, their paid gig is over, and the band is in the bar.
—Good Ship Gosling. This village featured a small park, pond, goose family, and unique goose housing. Imagine the city council meeting when this was proposed . . .
—Mr. and Mrs Goose and Family.
— Villacastin Town Square. Villacastin features one grocery store, our lodging, multiple banks with ATMs, multiple bars, and one restaurant to the east. We opted to eat in, as our lodging comprises two apartments, sufficient for all four of us. An adjacent plaque said this was the home town of a Spanish conquistador. The wealth that built many of the Spanish churches and public buildings that we have been viewing was extracted from the Americas.
As I revise, correct, and augment this post, it's just daylight, 8 am, our last cycling day. As usual, I'm sorry to think of it ending and my Montana cycling season fading into winter, but look forward to returning to Nancy, family, friends, (yes, and to two poodles), and a familiar home and routine.
Avila, today's destination, is a walled city where the tradition is to walk the entire wall, open to the public. As it is only 20 miles by the direct route, we will seek out a meandering route via quieter roads.
—Stuart, me, and Stephen at the Alcazar, Sevilla, early morning.
—We meandered through the countryside, many small villages, so this is not our exact route. 
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