Cuevas de San Marcos-Rute

Folks,
A short day today.The lady in the pension asked for her money because she
was going to Antequera. She left me in the house on my own, telling me to
pull the door to when I left.
The day was cold and overcast, so I dressed warm. Of course, within ten
minutes the clouds had disappeared and the sun was beating down.
At about 9.30 I crossed over the Rio Genil into the province of Cordoba,
and was therefore into the second half of the journey. I've travelled 360
km in the last three weeks: I'm quite pleased with myself.
The path on the other side of the river folows the line of an old road. It
cuts through a rock and follows the river for 300 metres before turning
north to Rute. Or at least it did 50 years ago. Now the road has fallen
into the river and the path clings precariously to the crumbling rock for a
while, then gives up hope and stops. I had to make a two kmdiversion
through more olive trees to rejoin the road. There's a great development
opportunity for someone here: an abandoned olive oil factory, probably
built in the thirties, surrounded by palm trees, and in good condition.
With some hefty financial help from the European Regional Development Fund,
it would make a great rural hotel.
After climbing up over more hills covered with olive trees, I was overcome
by the view. Cuevas de San Marcos is at the end of a very large reservoir
'el embalse de Iznajar', but it can't be seen from the town. Now, on the
hill, and with the mist gone, the reservoir was below me, a perfect blue in
the sunlight. It was a good moment.
Ariived in Rute, I looked for Hostal Las Rosas in calle Toledo. The barman
in the bar next door told me it had closed, so once again it had to be a
hotel. When I was a young lad you could go to anywhere in Spain and find a
pension or somewhere where they would take you in. I suppose it''s just not
worth people's while any more. The kind of people travelling regularly
these days want anonymous hotels on the outskirts of town where they can
park their BMWs.
Rute is definitely a town, if a bit down on its uppers. It's famous for
anis and pastries. (And olives of course). I used to know someone who came
from Rute when I was in Granada 30 years ago. His name was Pepe and he was
studying law. I expected to see him walking down the street towards me.

The picture is of the river where the road is cut.
Total distance today 14km.
Tomorrow, the Sierra Subbetica.
Pip-pip!
___
A wayfarer in Spain