Embrace the ascetic.

I camped on a stark hill behind a derelict barn. Pitching my tent in the lush green grass. Ticks, I thought. It wasn’t much after 5 but the sun was setting and I knew once it dropped behind the hill cold would set in. It’s always great to have a wall to lean the bike against (easier to unpack and to pack).

I couldn’t be bothered hanging around I dived into the tent. Changed into my night clothes (merino long John’s and a long sleeved base layer, yes yes that was merino also). I have a cooker, I have a pot, I have a bit of food I could cook, but I just cut 4 slices of cheese and 4 slices of salami, chewed them slowly savouring the Spanish taste. And that was my evening meal.

A fitful night tossing and turning, I read on and off for lots of it, steps and noises outside kept my eyes open…. I hope animals. The slight slope of the ground caused me to slide to the bottom of the tent and force the inner and outer together causing condensation to soak my sleeping bag.

Eventually daybreak came to my rescue, I did sleep but not a great deal. Slid into my now 4 days unwashed shorts and shirt, shrugged into my ever used overshoot and went out to greet the day.

A glory to behold, mist covering the valleys and mountains shining in a multitude of different colours. A long sigh of the joy of every day.

My tent was sodden, I rammed it into it’s bag… I’ll deal with that tonight I hope. Wiping the rat shit off the bike (hmmm that must have been what the noise was). Filled each bag with its specific piece of equipment.

As I rounded the front of the barn I saw a car and lorry and 2 guys emptying the lorry, dodgy business, probably, I just ride on by.

20 mins later I got into a cafe for breakfast coffee, toast rubbed with garlic and tomatoes lashings of olive oil and Pinga… the guys in the cafe recommended it.