Hot & Cool.

"Phew! Thats better Tanya, 24℃. We will maybe sleep a bit better tonight". 

I started to shut down some of Sadie's open windows. Last night in 'Cordoba', Spain, it stayed stubbornly around the 29.5./ 30℃ all night. Even driving here today the air conditioning, which only functions when the engine is running, was having a job getting Sadies interior below 30℃. I try to keep in reasonably tolerable temperatures rather than invest in an environmentally unfriendly stand alone air conditioner. However; having decided to go directly East across Spain through Seville, Cordoba and the sizzling high plains I knew it had the potential to be hot hot hot. And it was hot, hot ,hot.,

We did despite the heat do a bike ride/walk to 'La Mezquita'  in 'Cordoba'. We were not able to go inside (Doggy issue as usual.) but through its exterior grandeur plus that of the surrounding old town you gained a real sense of this city's former status. Outside of its famed centre however; it is a city, a very nice city, but a city much like any other so we only stayed the one very hot night.

A day on now and here, high in the 'Sierras del Mundo' in the depths of a large Cirque we are at the head of the 'Rio Mundo'. It is definitely cooler. We walked to where the 'Rio Mundo' begins as it gushes out from way up the cliffside and falls in wind driven spray to the rocks below. There it transforms into a conventional waterfall at the bottom of which ripples a deep and deliciously inviting pool. Irresistible! It was a very cold but invigorating skinny dip and only just in time too. As I pulled my clothes back on a couple of late visitors to this popular tourist attraction strode around the corner. Phew!

We stayed overnight but left fairly promptly in the morning just before the tourist buses began to roll in.  On, on, on across the fiercely hot interior with its mile upon mile of Olive trees, towns and villages all showing signs of hardship and decay while sadly, retail parks on the edge of these towns stretched out along the ruler straight roads like wild west clapperboard towns full of their lookalike furniture, kitchen and bed stores.

The road wound down from the high plains and as we entered 'Ontinyent'. Guess what I spotted right below us in the deep gorge? People swimming and diving into the deep clear pure water of the gorge pools. Turns out the actual gorge is virtually dry these days but this particular set of very accessible and safe pools are kept flowing by clever diversion tactics being used on various local springs. Sadie was soon tucked into a blisteringly hot, and only one available, parking spot. Steve was soon fully immersed in the crystal clear, deep blue cool water. Correctly attired I may add. There were lots of people there but in no way was it crowded. Tanya was also dipped to keep her cool.

We are not too far away now. It is 10.pm and I am waiting for Sadie to cool a little before placing my head on pillow. In heat such as we are enjoying just now Sadie tends to act like a storage heater. She soaks up the heat of the day and then of course releases it as the outside nigh time temperatures drop. Take my clothes storage cupboards above the bed for example. Plunging my hand into the neatly packed socks and jumpers is like plunging a hand into a tumble drier full of clothes a couple of minutes after it has finished its heat and dry cycle. 

I know, I know ..... you all feel so sorry for me don't you .... !!