May 11, 2023. San Lorenzo to Avila. Distance: 38 miles. Elevation: 4,070

Today was our first cool day. We wore leggings and jackets and caps under our helmets to keep our head and ears warm. It was sunny all day but a chilly North wind was blowing and by afternoon it was a 20mph cross wind and for a tandem that’s substantial. Here’s a view from along one of the three major climbs today. You can see San Lorenzo (where we started our ride this morning) in the center back and some of the switchbacks on the way up.

Spain has many mountain ranges separated by wide river valleys. Most of our rides consist of climbing up and over a mountain range then crossing the wide flat valleys and repeat.

After stopping for a late mid-day meal we arrived at the Hotel Palacio de los Velada in the late afternoon.

We showered and did a quick tour of the city before our 6pm Happy Hour meeting. Here’s a view over the city. There’s the top a mountain pass in the background and if you look closely you’ll see a line of modern wind turbines lining the crest. We biked by those wind turbines on our way to Avila. And boy were those turbines spinning.

The walled city of Avila is the highest provincial capital in the country at 3,711 feet above sea level. It is famous for its perfectly preserved medieval walls. Built around 1100 its wall is the most complete in all of Spain.

Across the street from the hotel is the Cathedral of the Saviour. It was built in the late Romanesque and Gothic architectural traditions in the 12th century and was planned as a cathedral-fortress, its apse being one of the turrets of the city wall.

As with all Cathedrals throughout Europe the interior is massive.

And I’ll leave you with this. The square in front of the Cathedral was lined with Lions on pedestals but I couldn’t help noticing all the lion butts hanging over the back of each pedestal.