We thought a short (40+ km) flat day would be relaxing.

and we were right. It certainly started out that way.

We left Alzira and got out of the city in record time. We were on a bike path and quiet country roads which passed through interesting farmland and managed wet lands growing rice!

The orchards were astounding, acres and acres of citrus fruit. Oranges, manderines, tangerines, kumquats and persimmons!

On one side there were trees ripe with fruits then, on the other side the pickers and trucks were busy at work putting fruit into trucks to be loaded off into other parts of Europe. And then further on workers pulling out old orchards and burning the trees and then newly planted trees.

we also saw a field of Fava Beans

There were rice firelds and we saw different types of water birds, egrets, black ibis, plover-y type of things, kestrel and other birds.

the final 15km was full on city cycling.

we started in the traffic lanes, with busses, cars, scooters and cyclists, then came the cycle lanes. Which were REALLY BUSY. It was approx 2:30pm and it was rush hour traffic. On the street and in the bike lanes.

The bike lanes were full of scooters and cyclists with giant insulated food packaging back packs along with city commuters with their business attire, and people with 2 litre water jugs on each handlebar. Everyone seemed to get along and knew where they were going…

ecxept us,

At one point there was a 4 lane each way intersection, with bike lanes and pedestrians and train/trolley tracks in the middle. Meyham!

We got to our accommodations and relaxed.!

The weather has been on our side for a while now and it looks like we may be holed up here with rain in the forecast.