TOLEDO & AVILA and a TYRE BLOW OUT

TOLEDO & AVILA and a TYRE BLOW OUT

The drive westward to Toledo from Aranjuez was less than one hour on almost deserted roads through open farming country. Again we found a parking area close to the River and city by www.park4night.com. As often there are notices advising no camping with image of a tent. Parking is defined in Spain as with any vehicle (even if sleeping inside) but Camping is where windows open out to the side, or objects such as tables and chairs are put outside the vehicle. The Police don’t always recognise this distinction and ours was one of about seven vehicles in the car park without disturbance in the night.

Before dark we walked to explore the City, crossing an ancient pedestrian bridge over the river Tajo.

We climbed up many steps to the city at the top. Toledo is the Provincial Capital of the autonomous region of Castilla-La Mancha. It is steeped in history and as well as being a fortified city has many attractive streets and buildings including a huge Cathedral and the Alcázar which dominates the skyline. It was also home to the painter El Greco as well as being a City where three religions lived side by side, Christian, Muslim and Jewish. 

We stopped outside the Cathedral to speak with a street musician who was singing the Reggae song of Bob Marley, Three Little Birds. Jão from Mauritius told us he had left his home island many years ago and used to play in a Reggae band in Spain until the “Crisis”

We were amazed that so many shops were selling swords and dangerous knoves. I don’t think they can be sold in England? Later we learned that Toledo historically was the place of manufacture of these weapons. There is also a museum of Torture.

We woke on Sunday morning to the sounds of a commentator of an event. Later we found it was a running event. We walked along the river in both directions. The walk is part of long distance paths across the country and most attractive.

In the early afternoon we drove to Avila, famous for it’s beautiful and complete city walls, but only made a meal stop. One day we should return and walk within the walls.

Continuing north in the darkness up the A6 before Vallodolid I felt some wobble from side to side, and then a small noise. Within seconds there was an explosion at the rear and I could see white smoke and debris in the mirror. The nearside rear tyre had shredded and the explosion also blew away park of the “skirt” at the bottom of the caravan.

I slowed and was able to reach the start of a slip road to a Repsol service area. Safely off the fast road I put the two warning triangles behind the vehicle, wearing my high visibility jacket.

As I was searching for the number to call for assistance (In Spain assistance is an obligatory part of vehicle insurance), and details of policy and location two Guardia Civil Police Officers came to me and told me to drive very slowly into the “gasolinera”, there being some rubber to protect the wheel rim. They told me we were at Km 154 and left me to call for help.

Within about 90 minutes the assistance had managed to jack up the vehicle with two large jacks and to put on the spare wheel and we continued for another 63 km up the road before sleeping for the night. Tomorrow we can reach out friends near to León. We were lucky to have been so close to the service area and to be safe, but we have the cost of two new tyres which does not help the winter budget.