I was in a little bit of a valley close to a stream and in the middle of the night i woke feeling cold. As i was using my quilt as a pillow, i had to modify not easy at that time.

No alarm I woke at 4.30. It takes a little to orientate at that time. I had cold porridge and 2 yoghurts for breakfast expecting to get coffee at a cafe soon.

Packing in the pitchblack with only the headtorch is an eerie experience. But i was up and riding in under an hour.

Soon the route turned off the road onto a track once again my dynamo light blaring out the path but anything outside that beam could be anything. The sliver of a moon giving minimal guidance.

High up through pine covered mountains. It kept going up at a reasonable gradient on a beautiful gravel track. Oh what a great morning.

Then into the terrain of my dreams. Water and wind cut mountains reminiscent of the westerns of my youth. Oh its like riding through a dream. I stopped repeatedly to take photos. Temperatures are now sweltering and concentrated in these narrow valleys.

Wow it was hot and unshaded, i did lie under a tree for a couple of hours. Then i pushed on to Gorafe i celebrated with an ice cream and a lemonade.

Everything told me to get into a hotel, it was 6pm but stupidly i rode on, such a steep climb out but luckily flat after.

Its so desolate here i just selected a flat piece of ground by the side of the track. 8pm still no tent up, but i have consumed food.