Castilblanco De Los Arroyos to El Real de la Jara - (electric wheelchair style)

After yesterday’s concerns re avoiding stepping stones, marsh and streams, I stuck to the road for this leg. 

Once again I cruised it, finishing by about 9:30 so decided to push on. The 2nd leg after Almadén was also part of the Sierra Norte de Seville National Park and very beautiful in a harsh and rugged way. My pictures will show the type of habitat and scenery. I can imagine it covered in snow as well.

Most of the terrain was vehicle width tracks which work for me. In places where it is very steep, loose or eroded, I get off and push. Segway’s have a self-powered mode that kicks in when you aren’t sitting or standing on them. This keeps my wheels upright and if I press the seat down, it is in drive mode without me on it. If you know what you are doing and are careful, this provides the energy to negotiate difficult terrain. Im sure it’s not in the how-to handbook but it works for me.

Decent from the highest point had a section requiring this technique. I would call it a steep downhill scramble for about 100m. It took a while but I made it zigzagging on and off the path. Down to the last bar on the battery level indicator - unknown territory😳

Made it to El Real de la Jara only to find the albergue was full so back on my own again and €30 for a quiet hotel room. It has advantages but also a good set of steps to negotiate before I can charge my wheels.

This is a nice town, clean streets and smiling people. The pavements are shaded with orange trees, there is a castle on the hill and a church with storks nesting.