Vamos a España

[BrownMouse]

Day Four

Today we moved west to our new digs, starting down a road I did two days ago, this time, not only could I see the road I could see other mountains

And a quick side road to get up to a viewpoint a mile high.

More windy up and down main road later we turned off to get into the heart of the Picos de Europa. Immedately we encountered a heard of sheep which brought us to a halt and one of the guys said over the radio ‘shall we just keep to the main road’. I said to myself ‘fuck you’ then over the radio said they could go their own way if they wanted and I passed them and headed to the sheep who’s farmer and dogs was ushering them off the road so we could pass. The other guys followed me and I rode feeing angry and resented them being there restricting my enjoyment.

We were heading to a cafe at a dead end road 30km away but when we hit and butercup and daisy meadow with those mountains, I just had to stop to take in paradise for a few minutes. The other guys past me and I cursed myself again for agree to come with other people, I just wanted to spend the whole day here and couldn’t.

As I passed allong the most beautiful road in existance I had tears in my eyes, I think it was something akin to grief of knowing that I couldn’t spend the time here I wanted, and I may never get this exerience again. I stopped several more times to try and make the most of things as best I could. Pictures don’t do justince to the road to Cain, in perfect spring sunshine.

When I got to the cafe my friends were there drinking coffee and very pleased they’d come this way.

After a good long rest and two coffees we headed off again back the way we came. I had calmed down a lot by now and we had a good long ride down to Riaño. Along a reservoir where we stopped for a photo, but there were better views later where if I was alone I would have stopped again.

After waiting in a queue of bikes to fuel up we set off again into the mountains. Stopping at another reservoir for a rest and picnic.

The final hour was on roads through more mountains and towns which seemed to be set up for skiing or winter sports activities.

Finally, at five, we arrived at our home for the next 3 days.

It was a mile each way walk to the supermarket to get supplies, my firends stopping at a bar close to digs for some local cider whilst I continued home to put something in the microwave and sit outside typing this.

[Dave49]

What fabulous scenery!

[MrsVisor]

Beautiful place; I remember riding along being blown away by the scenery more often than not!

[DCS222]

Loving the write up… soak it in whenever you can @BrownMouse, you can always meet your friends at the end points.

[Oldskool]

Always tricky travelling with others…! But it looks like you are having a better time than your last trip. Relax and enjoy ..!

[BrownMouse]

Day Five

Today we each did our own thing, so I had a lazy start to the day, getting myself properly clean, and cooking some breakfast.

The other half of the baguette had cheese and churizo in to make a packed lunch.

Around 11 I set off to do some mountain climbing. 45 minutes away I passed the start of an 8 km side road that satnav swore was unpaved, but the start looked like it had tarmac so I thought I’d see how far I could go. As it turned out, all the way to the top

It was a strange single track road with a white line up the middle to split it into two lanes (Admitedy most of the other traffic was cyclists with a couple of cars.)

It was a sunny Saturday so when back on the main mountain road there were quite a few local sportsbikes wizzing past me as I did my tourist amble.

My next planned viewpoint was on a valley side, and said valley had lots of villages and people out for weekend activities, so that was my first experience of busy trafic this holiday. Until I got up to the view.

When I got there there was a couple using a monocular on a tripod to look at the other side of the valley and after they left someone on a Tiger arrived to eat his lunch (as I was doing) he then got out a pair of binoculars. Through use of our mutual poor Spanish/English and some miming I think he (and the earlier couple) may have been looking for bears.

My final destination was a mountain top and satnav’s ‘fastest’ route setting sent me down several valley, though endess little rural hamlets on broken up single track roads. In the half hour that took I probably didn’t go above 20 mph, still enjoyable though

This led to the main road at an altitude of 500m and that had endless hairpins to go up another kilometre, revealing a 180° view of the valleys, the sea allong the north horizon, and what I beleive to be the snow capped Picos de Europa 100 km away (?). You just just don’t get the sense of vastnes from photos.

The route down was on smooth roads then turned into one of those endlessly twisty roads through forested mountains where you flip from leaning one side to the next every couple of seconds and it feels fast when only doing 30mph.

The final straight main-road section included a fuel stop near base where I bought an icecream to take the edge off the heat when I got back.

The other guys were back before me, so we rode to the shops together to get supplies for a barbeque tonight and food for tomorrow. (We expect a lot of places will be shut Sunday,)

[Dawsy]

Just wonderful pictures and good that the weather is playing now! Thanks for posting

[Dave49]

Great narrative and photos again.
Could you do us a ‘looking for bears’ mime?

[DCS222]

Loving this touring follow…

[Wessa]

Pleased your trip is going well. Hope you have ongoing sunshine mate.

[Vulpes]

Looks like you’re having a good one mate. Keep it up!

[MrsVisor]

It’s nice to see the sun shining on you now!!

[Oldskool]

You have found some amazing places. Glad the weather has improved. Your photo of your bike on top of the mountain has stolen Photo of the year and its only May…!

[BrownMouse]

Day Six

Hope this doesn’t start a riot, but no photos today.

Last night we all agreed we were somewhat finished with mountains for now and coastal roads would be nice. There’s a weather front passing this afternoon and tomorrow, so rather than visit coast today we decided to look for a coatal place to stay when move tomorrow. (That decision is to come tonight.)

For today, I had another poor night’s sleeping with the hard bed hurting my hips and my room-mates snoring going through my earplugs like they weren’t there. I was first to stir at 8, and even after two coffees and breakfast my head still felt fuzzy come 10 when we statrted thinking about what to do with the day.

One of the guys planned a 3 hour loop with some mountains, lakes and main roads so I decided to join in to avoid having to make decisions.

Today is the hotest day so far (25°C) so I was pleased that after about 45 minutes our leader waved directions to a hotel/bar/cafe where we sat in the shade, me having lemonade with ice.

After some urban areas and main roads we turned off onto a road heading into a Parque Natural. This road was very undulating and uncomfratble to ride at the 40mph we were doing, so after a dozen km I was glad when satnav showed a turn. Unfortunately that was onto another ten km of road that was so bad it would would give the worst UK road a run for the money. I ended up at 10 mph trying to thread the least worst route though potholes whilst radiator fan was howling.

I was saying to myself that there better be some spectacular view at the end of this, but when I came to a parking area where the other two were waiting, the view looked pretty average for Spain and I’d had lots better yesterday. (To be fair to my friend who was leading this ride, he had no idea this road would be so bad.)

I didn’t stop at parking area because it was in the open sun, so continued for a minute until I could pull off into the shade of a tree to eat and drink the supplies I had with me.

Once recovered I set off to complete the last rought bit of road before reaching ‘civiliastion’ and complete the final hour of the ride back to base.

[Dave49]

@BrownMouse

I had another poor night’s sleeping with the hard bed hurting my hips and my room-mates snoring going through my earplugs like they weren’t there.

A suggestion…

[DCS222]

@BrownMouse

Hope this doesn’t start a riot, but no photos today.

The peasants are revolting…

[BrownMouse]

OK, better quell this revolt…

One of the guys got the barbeque going which brought on the black clouds.

We were treated to thunder and lightning and eventually some lumpy rain so we went inside leaving one to tend the BBQ in waterproofs. It was worth him getting wet though

We now have a 3 bedroom place near coast booked, so hopefully I’ll get some good sleep…

[BrownMouse]

Day Seven

We had heavy rain overnight which continued as we were making breakfast and packing bags, fortunately it stopped by the time we came to loading up bikes. Our new accommodation was about 90 minutes north west so we headed off south aiming to make the most of the day.

After about 20 minutes the Guzzi that was leading pulled over because his bike was showing a big red ‘Alarm Service’ warning on the TFT. Following half and hour internet searching and fiddling with bike we came to the conclusion that no one knew how to get bike to tell us what the problem was. Part of my vast just-in-case-i-need-it things I carried was a multimeter with which we checked battery voltage when bike was running. This proved alternator and regulator were good, and as the bike was running OK we decided to carry on as normal.

After some nice but damp mountain roads we stopped for fuel then headed west along a very nice valley. The sun made a short appearance and I stopped in road to take a quick snap.

The road led up through some hairpins with some nicer views but couldn’t stop for a proper look as they other guys were disapearing into the distance. At end of that valley we crossed over the motorway into a more grey valley.

All this time I’d been riding without the thermal liner in my jacket and I was getting very cold, as well as very hungry. So even though the leader had turned off our route to try and find a cafe I felt I had reached my breaking point and pulled into a layby without telling them. I put on my warm layers and I intended to eat my sandwiches and abandon them. But I knew really this wasn’t an option, I still had to live with them at some point on the trip, from pre-booked accomodation to the ferry cabin.

Setting off again I found them at a cafe, so with my warm clothing now on and something to keep me going I was a little happier.

We hadn’t eaten proper food at cafe, and we had all brought picnic supplies, but leader was determined to look for a restaurant for the proper Spanish experience. Over the next hour that opportunity didn’t arise so he finally said about pulling over for a picnic, hurrah! But he then rode past a viewpoint at the top of a pass, boo! So not for the first time I said ‘fuckem’ and pulled in to take time to enjoy the view and finally eat my lunch grub at 3pm.

I had sent a message by our group chat to say I would meet them at the night’s accommodation. So when I set off after about 20 minutes it was at a slow amble to enjoy the view of the valley as I rode down. As it happened my friends were at the bottom having their own picnic so I had another good stop there with a view back.

The weather had cheered up by now, so had I, so we had a pleasant ride along what seemed to be a never ending valley that turned into a tree lined gorge with cliffs on one ride and fast river on other.

After a garage stop for some fizzy pop and icecream be arrived at our digs for two nights.

I even had my own bedroom.

Nearest town with a supermarket was 5 miles away along the coast. Here I bought a €2.50 pizza and my Guzzi friend spent time talking to lady at meat counter who was slicing meat off cured pigs legs, so he went for the authentic Spanish experience at €14 for 100g.

After food and beer it was time to retire to bed, but this was not without drama. As I reached into my toiletries bag for my toothbrush I caught the tip of my left index finger on the blade of a disposable razor. This resulted in a very deep cut with blood virtually pumping out. Fortunately, Guzzi riders day job means he’s qualified and equipped for this sort of thing. So he glued me back together with Steri-strips, medical super glue and a dressing.

[Dave49]

@BrownMouse

Fortunately, Guzzi riders day job means he’s qualified and equipped for this sort of thing.

It looks as if riding with others sometimes has its ups as well as its downs.

[BrownMouse]

Day Eight

With a poorly finger, my intention was to have a day of rest, to give said finger a chance that start healing without subjecting it to lots of action operating the cluch.

So after breakfast I sat on the balcony writing up the previous day’s experiences whilst my companion planned their own short individual excursions.

After they left I watched some YouTube then went to the local shop to get some excerercise and supplies.

My lazy day was interrupted by a phonecall from Guzzi rider to say he needed help because he’d dropped his bike and couldn’t get it upright. This was only 10 miles away and I arrived with my other friend to find the Guzzi lying on a steep cratered road that had only about a quarter coverage in tarmac. That’s what happens when you follow Google maps to a coastal viewpoint.

I took all three of us to get the bike upright the walk it to a good bit of road. The viewpoint itself turned out to not have paved access so we rendezvoused at an accessible carpark to at least get a nice seaview out of the escapade.

We reflected on our omission of taking a photo of the stricken bike and that it seemed to have cleared the warning fault on the Guzzi, or at least made it intermittent and seemingly related to just a dodgy clutch switch or connector.

Once back at base we opened beers and got some accommodation booked for tomorrow and day after. The other two decided to walk to the nearby bar/cafe/shop to get something for an evening meal. I stayed home with the supplies I already had.