Hi there,
This week I push my way through Castilla-Leon and reach breathtaking Segovia. The city lies on a foothill that divides two rivers. The main places of interest are the amazing castle « the Alcazar » with its fairy-tale like towers and the Roman aqueduct that rises above the market place at a dangling height of 29 metres. All of this is served as my first course of this week’s menu.

Starting the climb of the 1880m. high Navacerrada I get praised by other cyclists: « What you’re doing is amazing! » they call at to me when they overtake me at the foot of the ascent. Lucky ones – they only have their feather light racing bicycles and no extra gear to lug about. On the top they are waiting for me and out of admiration they take their hats of (which in their case means their cycling helmets)

On a camping site in Segovia I meet Aron, an American student from San Francisco. He speaks Spanish fluently but had misunderstood the weather forecast! He believed that Spain meant daily temperatures of at least 25° all year long! No need to carry a tent - he thought – and added a plastic sheet to his rucksack ! And if I only wear threadbare clothing thieves and beggars won’t be interested in me! Once more he had it all wrong ……… .
Look at him, the poor fellow, not only is he shaking all over from cold, but in the middle of the night it’s quite impossible for him to catch sleep when the rain is coming down in bucketfuls.
I remember my scout’s vows and I invite him to share my spacious tent for the night. That’s an offer he can’t refuse.

Now and then I cross the paths leading to Santiago de Compostela and distinguish pilgrims trudging to their final destination. On my way to the nature reserve park I pass Burgos en Logrono.
« Old love never dies » I think as I arrive at my favourite territory: the national park. « Parque Nacional de Ordesa » harbours the most impressive scenery of the Spanish Pyrenees: mountains, forests, rivers, marmots and eagles. They are all present as their ancestors have been for many centuries.
The weather is magnificent when I put my tent up. I can’t resist to make my family at home jealous and thanks to the wonders of technology I tell them about the wonders of nature which are once more falling to my share! Adios.