Bad weather was on it’s way. The tale end of Hurricane Helene, which had just hit Florida, was making it’s way across the Atlantic to Northern Spain. Having experienced quite enough rain on Tour 10 already we decided to drive south towards Castilla La Mancha. The weather forecast for that area was much better and, anyway, we had never been to that particular Region of Spain before.
On the way, still some 40 miles north of Madrid, we stopped at Gargantilla del Lozoya for the night. The full name of this small village is Gargantilla del Lozoya y Pinilla de Buitrago but you’ll understand if I refer to it simply as Gargantilla
We checked into the Camping Monte Holiday and I had it in mind to walk the few kilometres to the town of Lozoya on the Pinilla Reservoir. However, a couple of locals advised against it because of the threatened bad weather and instead; I made the much shorter walk along a dirt track road to the village of Gargantilla.
It didn’t take more than half an hour to reach the village and I enjoyed the walk. The track was clear and there were sufficient reference points along the way (the reservoir and a railway line) to keep me on the right heading.
The village is small with just over 300 inhabitants and it holds little of interest other than a bus stop, a tiny church (Iglesia de San Benito) and a very friendly bar.
I sat in the bar nursing a couple of small beers for a good hour. It was fairly busy and there was a great atmosphere about the place. A group of four elderly men were playing small stakes dominoes at one of the tables and there were two other younger groups at the bar vying good naturedly with each other for the barmaid’s attention (or was it her company). The beer was good and a small tapas accompanied each drink. It was as good an example of a local bar as I have seen in Spain.
The walk back to the campsite was considerably quicker. I’d forgotten I had reserved a table in the campsite restaurant.
I made it back to the campsite in time and ordered a couple of drinks. I chose a beer while Vanya opted for Coca Cola. Those two drinks came to 5 Euros (with the coke costing more than the beer) but then some tapas arrived – 4 plates of tapas, free with the drinks. If they’d brought any more to the table, we would have had to cancel the meal; as it was we didn’t bother with a starter. Value for money or what!?!
