Ruta de la Plata

11th September

Great hotel in Caceres. We had a very good nights sleep and breakfast. Got away quite early (for us), because we had about 300 miles to cover.

Heading north on the old road towards Plasencia. What a great road. Once again, virtually no traffic, a good surface and engaging dynamics. Also on the plus side; there where some varied views with some interesting things to look at. Not least was the huge civil engineering project taking place midway between the two cities. We could only assume that they are constructing a railway, because there certainly didn't appear to be a need for yet another road!

We dropped onto the autovia to get around Plasencia and stayed on it for the remaining 80 miles or so to Salamanca. This is the Ruta de la Plata (the Silver Road we think). It traverses open dry plains and moderately high mountains (climbing over 1100 metres) past the Candelario ski area. Some of the views must be in excess of 50 miles!

We skipped around Salamanca on the motorway, then headed off up the SA605 towards Toro, stopping for a coffee and ice cream at proper tin pot place next to a derelict swimming pool in some village I can't remember the name of. The rest of the run was pretty samey, challenging in that the roads were predominantly long, straight, well surfaced, traffic free, but red hot! We passed through a couple of nice looking towns, but basically made haste to our chosen overnight base in Sahagun.

We pulled up outside the Hostal Alfonso VI at about 4.30 pm. The lady on reception was a star - no English, but very welcoming. Got the bike stowed in the basement car park and into our room for a shower. A really nice, comfortable feel about the place. Clean & tidy and for nowt really.

Sahagun

We then had an obligatory beer, followed by a mooch about town. Then it was food, beer, cake and coffee, before a relatively early turn in. I think listening to a couple of loud Yanks (of several on the Camino de Santiago) had tired us out......well you couldn't help but earwig on their incredible lives!

I said that it didn't count, as it's not 'Movember'.

 

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