Train/Rest Day
Looking ahead, no rooms were available for 50+ miles due to
a major European world cup motorcycle racing event 23-25 September in
Alcaniz.
Realizing we could not cycle to a town in any direction with available lodging, we
decided to take the train west, towards Zaragoza, and then onward to Calatyud. Zaragoza is over 1 million and too large for cycling.
The Cepes station was easy to find, open, and empty. No one in the ticket office, the electronic ticket machine was out of order, and the toilets were locked. Only the electronic board on the departure platform worked. The schedule showed a 9:41 am departure, a 45-minute wait. About 9:15am, we discovered the intended train did not run today; the next train was 12:30pm, so off for coffee.
The Cepes station was easy to find, open, and empty. No one in the ticket office, the electronic ticket machine was out of order, and the toilets were locked. Only the electronic board on the departure platform worked. The schedule showed a 9:41 am departure, a 45-minute wait. About 9:15am, we discovered the intended train did not run today; the next train was 12:30pm, so off for coffee.
We boarded, and eventually a conductor appeared. Only 10
euros each, but the conductor was upset with our bike parking. Between
Stuart’s Spanish and a helpful woman passenger, we surmised that the conductor wanted
our bikes on another car with more room, despite our car having a sign permitting bikes. We moved the bikes at the next stop; all was well. Fortunately, our train continued to Calatayud, another 8 euros but without a wait or transfer.
The Calatayud hotel John booked on-line was close to the station and easy
to find. I managed to find an open Vodafone store and got my 4s iPhone sim card
unlocked. Only took an hour; a 30 minute wait and then 30 minutes to fix.
My 6s iPhone is on AT&T, so I brought my old 4s and purchased a sim card
for 15 euros, mainly to see how it would work out. Terrible so far, since the
sim card “locked”, I did not have a pass code, we had not found an open Vodafone
store, so the 4s phone was useless for the 1st week.
I finally began serving my team role, chef, locating a grocery and
purchasing local wine, chips, baguette, local chorizo sausage, and local cheese. Nothing but limited tapas
until after 8 pm, so we prepared our own. Our El Fornos hotel, 2-star, is clean, adequate, and only 22 euros/person/night including breakfast. Tomorrow's ride is 38 miles, a moderate day, moderate terrain and generally following a river valley.
—John's booking.com Hotel Find. Under renovation.Actually, El Cabana was 2-star, adequate, up three flights of stairs.
—Capes Train Station Sign
—Repurposed Cathedral? This cathedral/church across the tracks from the Cepes station featured 8 stork nests.
—No More Wood Rail Ties
—Three Amigos Waiting for a Train
—Need Cups and Saucers? I thought they were closed or selling dishes, but this was a popular coffee shop in Cepes, where we waited for our train to Zaragoza.
—Seamstress in Cepes
—Typical Village on the Route to Zaragoza
—Dog of the Day #1
—Dog of the Day #2, Catatayud. Perhaps a bronzed R.E.A.D. dog?
—Calatayud Bull Ring. In the heart of the city.
—Our Calatayud Hotel. On the rambalais.
More Spanish Restroom/Toilet Signs
—Men
—Women
—Checking Out. John, Stephen, and Stuart. I guess it takes a village.
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