Has Winter arrived, or is it just a very cold Autumn?

I think winter has arrived. Technically we're still in autumn, actually only really the beginning of autumn but the Gods decided it would be entertaining to dump a few million truckloads of snow on Spain.

Last night's news broadcast was all about the various places around Spain where thick snow fell and prevented trucks and cars from getting through mountain passes or where farmers suddenly found themselves having to put their animals into shelter.

We were treated to a particularly good scene showing a truck driver grabbing his radio and telling his boss he couldn't make his delivery on time because of the snow, and hearing the boss reply in curses not being aware the conversation was being filmed.

In another scene we saw a basque farmer with a cute Austrian style house leading his dairy cattle, each of which had giant swiss style bells around their necks. I say Austrian style, in fact roaming around the Basque countryside you'd be forgiven for thinking you were in the Tyrol of Austria, language is about the only difference, and of course getting to the Basque countryside is a lot closer for Spaniards.

Here in Ronda the temperature dropped considerably although we don't have snow. Apparently a light dusting of something cold and white has fallen on the upper reaches of the Sierra de las Nieves, and Ronda sits on it's doorstep.

Yesterday the temperature in Ronda was around 15 degrees celsius, but combined with the wind it felt like about 5 degrees, and this poor schmuck only has one jumper and a couple of jackets. I think a small shopping trip is called for, at the very least to get more jumpers and a beanie for my head. Cycling around Ronda when it's this cold isn't much fun.