Day 8: Calatayud to Monteagudo, Spain, 40 miles; 180 miles total

After coffee and croissants at our hotel, we left in 54F weather with light jackets, no wind, perfect riding. The only minor complaint was the failed road surface as we ascended a gentle river valley with cliffs on our right and irrigated fields on our left. The largest acreage was planted in field corn, mixed with fruit trees and the occasional vineyard. Villages were about 5 miles apart.

—Apple Trees with Moorish Church in the Background

—Wild Hops

—Wild Dates. Sweet, nearly ripe.

—Spanish Pole Shortage. When taller poles were scarce, they resorted to placing poles on mounds. (Inspired by our politicians' truthiness statements.)

Signs

—Men

—Women

—Cows

—Questionable House Placement #1

—Questionable House Placement #2. Both houses were side-by-side about 100 feet above the road with not visible means of access. 

Termas Pallars Spa

According to the spa:
This grand 1863 spa hotel is 120 m from Río Jalón, 1.7 km from Alhama de Aragon train station and 7 km from the 15th-century Ermita de Santa Ana.

A unique lake in Europe

The great jewel Termas Pallares Spa is its thermal lake, unique in Europe, whose water constantly flows at 32 ° C out of the many hot springs in the lake. Throughout the year remains at a constant temperature of 28 ° C. With a maximum depth of 2 m, it is the ideal place for swimming or relaxing at any time of year, while taking advantage of the beneficial effects of the mineral water.

Health benefits

The water temperature (28 ° C), can enjoy the lake at any time of year. The enormous wealth that comes from its many springs makes the lake water is renewed in full every 32 hours. Besides the thermal lake is considered a treatment more by the effects of the mineral water produced in our body.

—Approach

—Pilgrims? #1

—Pilgrims? #2

—Spa Building/Casino

—Spa Ornamental Grass

—Post-Soak

—Pre-Soak

—And the Road Ends

—Grande Toro Sign

—1st Flat Tire.  Stuart's, wire from a steel belt tire, and on the only section of noisy limited access highway we were allowed to ride.

—Another Provincia

—Our Overnight Town

—Our Hostess: Who are you?

—Our Casa Rural. John, me, Stuart, Stephen. The first question: Cervesa? John, thank you for this find! Our Garmins where confused, but John's was most accurate and got us here. We are in a small village, two singles and one double room, and they served us dinner. 

—One Bar Town. Unusual, this walled village seemed to have few businesses. After waling about town, we had time before our 8 pm dinner. Our new best friends beginning clockwise with the gentleman in the foreground: Pharmacist, attorney, kindergarten teacher, finance, John the Banker ret., and local farmer/Iberian ham producer. I have no idea how they were connected, but the local farmer knew and waved at every passing car and truck. Wonderful people.

—Village Tile

— Monteagudo Tree

— Monteagudo Castle

— Monteagudo Looking Out

—Monteagudo Street

—Monteagudo Artist's Sculpture #1

—Monteagudo Artist's Sculpture #2

Garmin vs. Signs. John and I have Garmins, Stephen relies on his iPhone. Perhaps we do not pay sufficient attention to signs. This village has two casa rurals.

—Wall Outside our Casa Rural. 

—Couple Enjoying Their Garden on a Beautiful Evening

—Jose Offers Directions. One of Jose's skills was using Google Translate.I finally began using the camera option to read menus. 

 —A Superb Dinner.  In order, cerveza, vino tinto, bread and olive oil, zucchini soup, lamb chops, fresh tomato, fries, fried egg, mellon, watermelon, or peach, and expresso. 

—Our Charming Casa Rural Dining Companions.  She was quite normal judging from her shirt with her classical/jazz pianist companion, both from Madrid.  Her English was excellent; his was OK but he needed to improve to study and perform in the USA, his ultimate goal). 

—Dog of the Day