#5: [26-Jun-14]

#4: [02-Apr-12]

#2: [01-Jun-07]

#1: [12-May-01]

24-Oct-2008 --

General information about the tour

This is the first out of 9 confluences that I reached during a spontaneous weekend-trip to Spain. This time – unfortunately – I couldn’t afford to ride my bicycle. Having only 3 days of time available, the logistics (and costs) of transporting a bike in the plane would not be worth the trouble. Nevertheless, I enjoyed Spain’s beautiful autumn from a rental car and during some nice hikes.

The highlights of this trip are probably the Galician confluences. See how 42°N 7°W has changed after a bush fire. 43°N 7°W is covered with chestnuts. It is the first point where I have been to its antipode in New Zealand as well.

Information about this confluence

Directly after work on Thursday evening I hopped in a plane from Zurich to Madrid. From the airport I continued my trip by a rental car to Segovia. I stayed the night in a “hostal” in Torrecaballeros – a village that is only 2 km beeline from the confluence point.

In the next morning - with the first daylight - I simply started hiking from Torrecaballeros. I had to abandon my first attempt to reach the confluence directly beeline cross-country due to various obstacles such as fences, bulls and hedges. I finally ran along the road N-110 up to a distance of 800 m and left the road continuing across a huge ranch. I could clearly see the cows or bulls grazing besides me. I remembered that the bulls for the Corrida (bullfight) need to be raised somewhere. So I kept a respectful distance to them.

With the orienting sun I reached the exact location – a beautiful place with interesting formations of rocks and a far view of several kilometers into the plains.

Later, I visited the historical town of Segovia which is just 10 km away.

CP Visit Details:

• Distance to an asphalt road: 800 m
• Distance to a track: 800 m
• Distance of parking the car: 1.95 km
• Distance to houses: 1.44 km
• Time starting the hike: 8:40 a.m.
• Time at the CP: 9:05 a.m.
• Measured height: 1188 m
• Minimal distance according to GPS: 0 m
• Position accuracy at the CP: 3 m
• Vegetation: dry grass, lichen on rocks, moss, scattered bushes
• Topography: slight slope
• Time back from hike: 9:30
• Weather: clear, 0° C (felt temperature)
• Description of the CP: On a wide ranch with cattle. Near the historical town of Segovia. At the northern edge of the Sierra de Guadarrama
• Given Name: The Bull Raising Confluence

Story continues at 41°N 5°W.