Sevilla, washed out Easter

It's a hard won fight today with hills and lots of wind and rain. After 40km, I decide to see if I can take a train to Sevilla, but due to Semana Santa, most are booked out and alsp probably too full to accommodate a bike with luggage. It's only 110km by the time I reach the city, but one of the more uncomfortable days I have had biking. 

Luckily, I have found a Couchsurfing hostess, called Marga, who takes care of me from the moment I arrive - shower, private bedroom and food in a nearby bar. 

It rains steadily for the next 3 days, and Ilario keeps saying "incredible, last time it rained here on Good Friday was 75 years ago". The storm is called Nelson and has caused flooding all around Spain. Marga also invites another bike teekjer to stay in the apartment - Mauro - and we are both very relieved to have such hospitality when the weather is so horrendous. 

Semana Santa

Andrés had mentioned that during Semana Santa (Easter week) it usually rained in Andalusia, much to the disappointment of those who spent the last sux months preparing for the parades. And boy, what a difference a week makes. After having weeks of no rain and temperatures ranging around 22C to 25C, this week it is cloudy, rainy and, most annoyingly for bikers, windy in the wrong direction.

Another frustration for me is that it is proving difficult to find hosts, or even cheap hostels. Everyone is on holidays and this means no time or space to help the weary traveller. 

All this means that I am spending a few nights wild camping near Jerez. It is a golden rule of wild camping to stay only one night, so as to not be discovered or disturb anyone. However, this is the best spot I have found this trip... secluded, grassy, flat, quiet and only 2km from the nearest village, La Barca de la Florida. 

Due to the torrential downpour one night, I wake to find my tent's floor immersed in a spontaneous pond. Such are the delights of camping sometimes. 

Jerez, the end of the Eurovelo 8.

Despite wanting to stay one more night in the wonderful company if Louie, I prepare myself for the final stretch of the Eurovelo 8. Although I have deviated from the route often during this trip, I will now be on my own until I hook up with the start of the Eurovelo 1 (Atlantic Way) starting in Faro, Portugal. 

Today the headwinds are strong and the hills constant and every kilometer a struggle. On top of these conditions, it has started to rain intermittently. I call it a day after 75km and find a quiet wold camping spot near Jerez.