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Saturday 29 March 2014
2014 Tour of Spain Day 7 Salamanca to Madrid - 72 mies
Day 7
The miles are starting to take there toll on my body now, from Day 1 my usual problem with my left knee started and I have to take care to keep my leg aligned straight with the cleats, anything right and especially left of centre just opens the joint a bit on each turn of the pedals and multiply that by about a million and you can see why I need to be careful.
Well last night I awoke in bed with both knees putting with pain just from the pressure of the bedclothes on them, when it was time to get up at 7:45 (yes I overslept) the pain had gone which was good news.
I walked into the Plaza Major which was 20 yards from my hotel for breakfast and had a ham toastie with a coffee and an orange, oh and a great view across the square ... All for €6 - not bad in my book!
The walk up 2 flights of stairs back to my hotel room told me my legs were not 100% so today would certainly be interesting with on paper a 135 mile ride into Madrid with 10,000 feet of climbs.. In practice I knew that anywhere after Avila I could catch a train but may have to come back for my bike or put it in the bag if the was time. So off I set and I dropped straight down to the river in Salamanca and coming back up the other side my Garmin started recalculating the route and sending me silly, it said first riggt which I took, next it said double back on yourself around the n3xt roundabout, so I ignored it till I was out of town then switched off the auto-calculate route function.
I stopped at a garage to get some energy drinks and some snacks for the route as today there was very little between Salamanca and Avila and I doubted any of the villages en route would have a shop or bar.
One of the assistants was interested how far I was cycling but I didnt know the spanish for 100 to say 100km which is the rough distance to Avila so I said Avila and he looked puzzled so I said the city Cuidad Avila - he then said yes he knew and started to ask his colleagues how far it was, I paid and left and headed for Alba de Tormes which was the first and biggest village en route
Unfortunately I had came out of the city slightly too far south due to the stupid Garmin and I had to pick across through a new urbanization called Carbajosa de la Sagrada, unfotunately it went up a 200 feet climb which was about 10% gradient - it tested the legs but I could have done without it, at least I knew I had some energy left in them.
So the remainder of the day was very alike - if you turn a saw on its back and imagine cycling from the end to the handle over the teeth, well it was like that hill after hill, up and down, but every up was that bit higher than the previous.The wind which gad been westerly all week (when I was cycling Southwest) now decided it would blow from the east as I was heading east today and as if the hills weren't hatd enough the wind made them twice as hard.
I looked at the profle and could see Avila was over 4000 feet up (Salamanca is only 2500) andin the last 15 miles there were 4 major climbs each one getting bigger than the last culminating in a 1200 feet climb, a 1000 feet drop and another 1500 feet climb to reach Avila. I knew then that that would be as far as I cycled today.
The countryside was very rocky full of boulders and outcrops but what struck me was it was all fenced off, now tgere were occasional fields with bulls in them so I was glad thaey were fenced off but mile after mile of countryside seemed to be inaccesible and the only bits you were allowed on was the road.
I remember seeing a fox run ontonthe road just near Munico it saw me then turned and ran back into the field it came from, I also saw two mallards fly up from the roadside ditch right in front of me and a white van ivertook me , the second duck was about to be wiped out till it took evasive action and just missed both the van and myself.
Every km to Avila was signposted from 49 out and the progress was tedious but at last I reached the 300 feet drop which was before the 2 big climbs, Avila was getting close now, within 15 miles and when I checked my Garmin I realised the second big hill was after Avila, I only had one 1200 feet climb to do then it was al, downhill to Avila ... Jubilation, I fair flew up that hill and at the top I peaked out for the day and the tour at 4450 feet above sea level. There was no sign to say top of tbe hill or anything, the nearest sign to the top showed a bull so I stopped there and took my picture full of anticpation for an 8 mile descent into town dropping 1000feet.
As I crowned the apex the wind once again hit me gusting at what felt like 50mph, the descent was not as easy as it looked and at times I couldnt get onto the big chainring and to show ho hard the wind was I didnt once get above 20mph coming down hat massive hill.
Eventually I saw Avila an impressive walled city, although the walls weren't as big or as thick as I expected and they looked quite new but they are extensive and still impressive. I cycled round them and found the train station straight away so now just the awkward job of getting my bike on or not onto the train.
The girl at the counter didnt speak English, not a good start so I asked for a ticket to Madrid and pointing at my bike said bicicleta so miraculously said that was ok and did I want the 17:30 - it was now 1725 so I asked for the nxt one -this wasn't till 19:05 so I said the 17:30 and thought I will need to suss this quickly, the girl then took 3 more minutes to lprint the ticket which was doing my stress levels no good, but she tgen said tgere were no bicycle places on the 17:30 so the 19:05 made sense and I enjoyed some food and drink at the station whilst typing up this blog.
As its now 18:50 and I have to get to platform 2 and figure out how to put the bike on I am signing off for now
As a postscript the Renfe trains are excellent with 3 apaces to hang a bike and for 1 euro to lock it in place, the platform attendant was most helpful and I am now on my way to Madrid, the temperature has dropped to zero and it looks bleak outside so for once the train is a good option.
Thursday 27 March 2014
2014 Tour of Spain Day 6 Valladolid to Salamanca - 77.54 miles
Day 6
This morning I was awake early again and once more had a good breakfast to set me up for the day's ride, or so I thought... Today I would not be at my best despite feeling good this morning.
The day started much better than arriving in Valladolid yesterday and within 400 yards from my hotel I was on a cycle path leading out of the city which just got better and better, it lasted 8 miles and after I cleared the City at about 4 miles it turned into what I can only describe as a cycle road alongside the main road, it was set back 20 yards and about half the size and the surface was perfect
What made it even better was that it was going through a pine forest - not our type of pines though the smaller Spanish type that form a ball rather than going up more than about 20 -30 feet. The type of pines that I know too well from experience that do not ever ever let a golf ball go through !
I paused to take photos as there as the sky was clear and brilliant blue making the trees look fantastic. There was some type of military base nearby, this morning at my hotel there were lots of army type checking out when I went for breakfast and all the way along the cycle path there were squads out running through the forest tracks.
At 10 miles by now I was on normal roads and I crossed a very small looking Deura, or to give it its correct Portuguese name ... The Douro but nowhere near its magnificent size in Porto.
The coutry opened out into a massive flat plateau which kept rolling 100 feet up then 100 down just to annoy me, it was also so open there was absolutely no sheltering from the wind which was yet again a straight headwind. This was starting to feel tough, I had left my base layer off and my gore jacket this morning thinking I would be hot with the usual 5 layers on but tgat wind was cold and the distance between the villages was big making it tough. I eventualy passed through Nava del Rey at 32 miles and wondered what Nava meant - I thought to myself add an L for Naval del Rey and the town would have been called the Kings Belly Button, that amused me but I still dont know what Nava means
Another 10 miles with nothing but rolling roads and wind an I rwached Alejos where I planned ( and needed) lunch. I cycled into a town that waz a rabbit warren of small stone building deserted streets but I would see the rough direction the church was and I could smell food. I eventually found a slightly bigger street which turned into a small market square where strangely enough there was a market on.
I could see a roast chicken van which was tempting but I spotted a bar restaurant in the square so I parmed up the bike and went in. It was really authentic with lots of old timers catching up on talk.
By now I was determined a hot lunch would arrive today unlike yesterday in Antiguedad. I asked the barman for a hot coffee and asked if there was anything hot, a girl I suspect was his daughter appeared wearing a chefs outfit and proper hat, I asked for bocadillolo caliente gain and she asked what I wanted in it, she rhymed off a list I didn't understand but I did catch tortilla and jambon so I ordered a hot omelette and ham sandwich and that's exactly what arrived and it hit the spot as I think I had developed a bit of a chill from cycling, I ordered a second coffee and settled the bill €6 which was amazing as it was 3/4 of a baguette.
I put on my gore jacket to keep the wind out and headed off feeling much warmer, but did I suffer, it was like constantly cycling to Ely, you would see a church 10 miles in the distance and a dead straight road into the wind and the churches just seemed to never get any closer. Progress was so slow I hardly managed to get onto the big chainring due to the wind and was beatly doing 10mph having to stop frequently as there was no let up - give me hills to wind any day !
So those last 35 miles tok over 4 hours and Salamance refused to arrive, even 2 miles from my hotel I was still in the countryside but then the town started and after a series of infuriating traffic lights I arrived but just couldnt see my hotel, I was right in the Grand Plaza so I thought it must be just before the Plaza and sure enough the it was in a very nice looking square. I chained my bike up and decamped and was pleased to find the hotel allowed me to take my bike inside again.
So that was day 6 ... A bad day at the office lets hope tomorrow is better as I have 135 miles to Madrid and the weather seems to be conspiring again, there may be rain in the afternoon and thatwind that has been from the SWall week while I have been cycling SW ... well I have seen a forecast that suggested its going to turn to the east tomorrow ... Guess what direction Madrid is ? Unbelievable.
This morning I was awake early again and once more had a good breakfast to set me up for the day's ride, or so I thought... Today I would not be at my best despite feeling good this morning.
The day started much better than arriving in Valladolid yesterday and within 400 yards from my hotel I was on a cycle path leading out of the city which just got better and better, it lasted 8 miles and after I cleared the City at about 4 miles it turned into what I can only describe as a cycle road alongside the main road, it was set back 20 yards and about half the size and the surface was perfect
What made it even better was that it was going through a pine forest - not our type of pines though the smaller Spanish type that form a ball rather than going up more than about 20 -30 feet. The type of pines that I know too well from experience that do not ever ever let a golf ball go through !
I paused to take photos as there as the sky was clear and brilliant blue making the trees look fantastic. There was some type of military base nearby, this morning at my hotel there were lots of army type checking out when I went for breakfast and all the way along the cycle path there were squads out running through the forest tracks.
At 10 miles by now I was on normal roads and I crossed a very small looking Deura, or to give it its correct Portuguese name ... The Douro but nowhere near its magnificent size in Porto.
The coutry opened out into a massive flat plateau which kept rolling 100 feet up then 100 down just to annoy me, it was also so open there was absolutely no sheltering from the wind which was yet again a straight headwind. This was starting to feel tough, I had left my base layer off and my gore jacket this morning thinking I would be hot with the usual 5 layers on but tgat wind was cold and the distance between the villages was big making it tough. I eventualy passed through Nava del Rey at 32 miles and wondered what Nava meant - I thought to myself add an L for Naval del Rey and the town would have been called the Kings Belly Button, that amused me but I still dont know what Nava means
Another 10 miles with nothing but rolling roads and wind an I rwached Alejos where I planned ( and needed) lunch. I cycled into a town that waz a rabbit warren of small stone building deserted streets but I would see the rough direction the church was and I could smell food. I eventually found a slightly bigger street which turned into a small market square where strangely enough there was a market on.
I could see a roast chicken van which was tempting but I spotted a bar restaurant in the square so I parmed up the bike and went in. It was really authentic with lots of old timers catching up on talk.
By now I was determined a hot lunch would arrive today unlike yesterday in Antiguedad. I asked the barman for a hot coffee and asked if there was anything hot, a girl I suspect was his daughter appeared wearing a chefs outfit and proper hat, I asked for bocadillolo caliente gain and she asked what I wanted in it, she rhymed off a list I didn't understand but I did catch tortilla and jambon so I ordered a hot omelette and ham sandwich and that's exactly what arrived and it hit the spot as I think I had developed a bit of a chill from cycling, I ordered a second coffee and settled the bill €6 which was amazing as it was 3/4 of a baguette.
I put on my gore jacket to keep the wind out and headed off feeling much warmer, but did I suffer, it was like constantly cycling to Ely, you would see a church 10 miles in the distance and a dead straight road into the wind and the churches just seemed to never get any closer. Progress was so slow I hardly managed to get onto the big chainring due to the wind and was beatly doing 10mph having to stop frequently as there was no let up - give me hills to wind any day !
So those last 35 miles tok over 4 hours and Salamance refused to arrive, even 2 miles from my hotel I was still in the countryside but then the town started and after a series of infuriating traffic lights I arrived but just couldnt see my hotel, I was right in the Grand Plaza so I thought it must be just before the Plaza and sure enough the it was in a very nice looking square. I chained my bike up and decamped and was pleased to find the hotel allowed me to take my bike inside again.
So that was day 6 ... A bad day at the office lets hope tomorrow is better as I have 135 miles to Madrid and the weather seems to be conspiring again, there may be rain in the afternoon and thatwind that has been from the SWall week while I have been cycling SW ... well I have seen a forecast that suggested its going to turn to the east tomorrow ... Guess what direction Madrid is ? Unbelievable.
Wednesday 26 March 2014
2014 Tour of Spain Day 5 : Burgos to Vallodolid - 89.07 miles
Day5
I awoke early and although I could feel my thighs were tight overall I felt in good shape after the exploits of yesterday. My hotel was excellent albeit I didn,t even leave it last night when I arrived as there was a great bar downstairs with food and drink and free wifi. I looked out and Iwas pleased to see blue sky so I thought fantastic, a decent day for cycling. After showering and re-packing my paniers I headed down to the bar for breakfast and as I stepped onto the street I got a real surprise as there were lumps of snow piled a foot high at the roadside abd carz were going past with 4 to 6 inches of snow on them.
Oh dear I thought, if the City is like that what are the minor roads I would be cycling on like?
I read a spanish newspaper ov breakfast which suggested no rain today, then the tv showed a forecast which showed the temperature not getting above zero which I thought odd (I later guess it was showing the temperatures live at 8am)
Anyway I set off avoiding the metre of slush on the side of the roads meaning I was down the middle but the road I left town on was minor so the traffic was light and I had the usual hill to climb in the first 5miles but today it was only 300 feet and only 2 miles long. At the top the fields were green, brown and white like a massive choc-ice so I lingered to tale photos, it was to become a theme of the day as the weather got better and better and as I was heading south the snow cleared and was replaced with a huge vast plateau with a massive blue sky full of cotton wool clouds.
Also spring ahd sprung in the south og Burgos and the blossom was on the trees, lots more stops cor photos. I had a straignt run of 25 miles to Villahoz and all the signs had been defaced to say Villa z which must mean something to someone, aftert 15 miles I rode through a town called Trevino and had to stop for pictures as Lee Trevino was one of my favourite golfers.
I ventually reached Villahoz and then turned down a Camino Rural which I had looked at on google street view and was pretty sure it was tarmaced all the way but you never know. A long 10 miles and then twoquick 300 feet climbs brought me to Antiguedad where I planned lunch, as I approached town I had to stop and take some more photos because there in the middle of nowhere was a fighter jet mounted on a plinth sitting above the town entrance ... Very unexpected.
I cycled through town and passed a bar that looked closed, then my garmin beeped to say I was off course as I had missed a left turn down what looked a road to oblivion, But before I turned another bar appeared and ir was open.
I went in cor lunch and it resmbled a 1970s club, it had a pool table, plastic tables and even sawdust thrown on the floor, but more impressively it had a blue star on the wall... A proper S&N blue star, albeit it was upside down. The woman behind the bar spoke no English which was a problem, I asked cor a coffe with milk and she showed me a glass tumbler, I asked for a hot sandwich and again she showe me the tumbler, I repeated a hot sandwich in my best Spanish, with chicken or ham & cheese. She then said chorizo and cheese so I said yes and asked fornit hot, once again she showe me the tumbler... I said again a coffee wwith milk and she promptly made me the coffee in the glas tumbler and threw in 2 free biscuits. As I drank the coffe ihad a sinking feeling about the food and sure enough when it arived it was a cold half baguette with cheese and cold chorizo ... Oh dear but it was needed as there was nithing within 20 miles.
doubled back and took the tiny turn my garmin suggested in the knowledge I had 2 qucick back to back 300 feet climbs to negotiate, the back lane twisted through a decrepid town and then ramped up to a ridiculoys gradient cor 100 yards at the top of which it became stone cobbles and next it turned into a grass lane running parallel to the main road I should have stayed on. I dragged my bike across the field and to my surprise I was at the top of the first hill, second negotiated I then had miles of flat country whivh wasbeautiful and peaceful before my last climb of the day up and over a 400 feet climb which dropped me into the esqueva valley which I was to follow vor the last 20 miles into Vallodolid.
The road was straight and into a headwind again limiting me to about 12mph so it was a 90 minute run not helped by milestones every kilometre starting at 32 and working there way down.
I reached 6 and strangely enough for a major city I was still in the country, wthen I reached a turn I should make but they were building a bypass and the road just wasnt there, I only had one option, straight on and after about a mile I reached the edge of townand tried to pick up my route... Which I never quite managed again due to those difficult colours on the garmin.
I was neading into the middle of town and every time I thought I was back on route I wasn't, I then realised I was gojng tge wrong way and it took an eternity to get back as every time I needed to go left or right a one way street prevented me , I never did get back on route I just went for my hotel in ever decreasing circles which worked.
I awoke early and although I could feel my thighs were tight overall I felt in good shape after the exploits of yesterday. My hotel was excellent albeit I didn,t even leave it last night when I arrived as there was a great bar downstairs with food and drink and free wifi. I looked out and Iwas pleased to see blue sky so I thought fantastic, a decent day for cycling. After showering and re-packing my paniers I headed down to the bar for breakfast and as I stepped onto the street I got a real surprise as there were lumps of snow piled a foot high at the roadside abd carz were going past with 4 to 6 inches of snow on them.
Oh dear I thought, if the City is like that what are the minor roads I would be cycling on like?
I read a spanish newspaper ov breakfast which suggested no rain today, then the tv showed a forecast which showed the temperature not getting above zero which I thought odd (I later guess it was showing the temperatures live at 8am)
Anyway I set off avoiding the metre of slush on the side of the roads meaning I was down the middle but the road I left town on was minor so the traffic was light and I had the usual hill to climb in the first 5miles but today it was only 300 feet and only 2 miles long. At the top the fields were green, brown and white like a massive choc-ice so I lingered to tale photos, it was to become a theme of the day as the weather got better and better and as I was heading south the snow cleared and was replaced with a huge vast plateau with a massive blue sky full of cotton wool clouds.
Also spring ahd sprung in the south og Burgos and the blossom was on the trees, lots more stops cor photos. I had a straignt run of 25 miles to Villahoz and all the signs had been defaced to say Villa z which must mean something to someone, aftert 15 miles I rode through a town called Trevino and had to stop for pictures as Lee Trevino was one of my favourite golfers.
I ventually reached Villahoz and then turned down a Camino Rural which I had looked at on google street view and was pretty sure it was tarmaced all the way but you never know. A long 10 miles and then twoquick 300 feet climbs brought me to Antiguedad where I planned lunch, as I approached town I had to stop and take some more photos because there in the middle of nowhere was a fighter jet mounted on a plinth sitting above the town entrance ... Very unexpected.
I cycled through town and passed a bar that looked closed, then my garmin beeped to say I was off course as I had missed a left turn down what looked a road to oblivion, But before I turned another bar appeared and ir was open.
I went in cor lunch and it resmbled a 1970s club, it had a pool table, plastic tables and even sawdust thrown on the floor, but more impressively it had a blue star on the wall... A proper S&N blue star, albeit it was upside down. The woman behind the bar spoke no English which was a problem, I asked cor a coffe with milk and she showed me a glass tumbler, I asked for a hot sandwich and again she showe me the tumbler, I repeated a hot sandwich in my best Spanish, with chicken or ham & cheese. She then said chorizo and cheese so I said yes and asked fornit hot, once again she showe me the tumbler... I said again a coffee wwith milk and she promptly made me the coffee in the glas tumbler and threw in 2 free biscuits. As I drank the coffe ihad a sinking feeling about the food and sure enough when it arived it was a cold half baguette with cheese and cold chorizo ... Oh dear but it was needed as there was nithing within 20 miles.
doubled back and took the tiny turn my garmin suggested in the knowledge I had 2 qucick back to back 300 feet climbs to negotiate, the back lane twisted through a decrepid town and then ramped up to a ridiculoys gradient cor 100 yards at the top of which it became stone cobbles and next it turned into a grass lane running parallel to the main road I should have stayed on. I dragged my bike across the field and to my surprise I was at the top of the first hill, second negotiated I then had miles of flat country whivh wasbeautiful and peaceful before my last climb of the day up and over a 400 feet climb which dropped me into the esqueva valley which I was to follow vor the last 20 miles into Vallodolid.
The road was straight and into a headwind again limiting me to about 12mph so it was a 90 minute run not helped by milestones every kilometre starting at 32 and working there way down.
I reached 6 and strangely enough for a major city I was still in the country, wthen I reached a turn I should make but they were building a bypass and the road just wasnt there, I only had one option, straight on and after about a mile I reached the edge of townand tried to pick up my route... Which I never quite managed again due to those difficult colours on the garmin.
I was neading into the middle of town and every time I thought I was back on route I wasn't, I then realised I was gojng tge wrong way and it took an eternity to get back as every time I needed to go left or right a one way street prevented me , I never did get back on route I just went for my hotel in ever decreasing circles which worked.
Tuesday 25 March 2014
2014 Tour of Spain Day 4 :Vitoria-Gasteiz to Burgos - 82.6 miles
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/467602462
Day 4 stared well I was up early and my legs felt strong and after a buffet breakfastI hit the raods at 8 first cycling round Vitoria to see the impressive murals which are painted on gable ends and they are massive.
So by 9 I was heading out of town and within the first 5 miles I had the usual 1000 feet climb to contend with a nice wake up for the lungs !
The top went through a forest so I stopped and got my video out to record the descent which was magical but knly took 5 minutes compared to 45 minutes getting up and at the bottom a hude plain opened up which looked great cycling country.
A straight run ifollowed into Miranda de Ebro where I stopped to get some energy drinks and a sandwich in case I couldnt find a restaurant on route.
On leaving Miranda the weather turned and I have learned over the years whenever you leave a town on a river theres usually a climb in store - this climb nearly killed me !
I was geading south up a steep gradient into a headwind which was gusting and at times stopping me in my way to the top and there was a great downhill road ahead dropping into a vallwy on a vast plain opening up in dront of me. My route however eent right onto a minor road which went past a rocky outcrop calles Cellorigo which I wanted to see and photograph.
The road went up another 100feet and the rocks came into view just as a squall started, I stopped and got my canera out and took a quick photo but the lens was full of condensation from my jacket, so I pulled off my glives which wasnt easy and got my Nikon out of the panier, carefully I switchwd it on and facing downwind I took the lens cap off. As I looked away from the rocks I saw horizontal rain lashing past at about 50mph, I spun round and pressed the button but within a millisecond the lens was covered in rain.
Gloves back on and camera back in the panier I set off into the teeth of a Blizzard by now it was on the edge of rain and sleet.
I slogged on until the cold became unbearable stopping at a couple of farm buildings where I took off my soaked glives and sucked my fingers to get life back into them. I was in a blizzard on a 3000 feet mountain in the middle of nowhere and I knew I had to get to a town so I continued a few miles and a small town called Treviana saved my life.
I cycled through the very small town and there was nothing open another loop rouns town proved it but I had spotted a building withan empty void underneath so I sheltered there.
I peeled off the golves and sucked my fingers again and I curled up as by now I was shaking vigourously. After 10 minutes still shaking I though my god I've got hypothermia - how bad would that be for a geordie !
I had a top range gore jacket on, an wind cheater, cycle jearsey and base layer underneath sobwhy was I so cold, then I realised the thin hi viz outer jacketvwas holding ice cold water which was lowering my body temp ... so to get warm I stripped off, I took off the hi viz and top 2 layers, I putbon 2 extra cycle tops bwfore putting the body warmer and gore jacket back on, bothnof which were dry, I also put on a second pair of leggings.
I now thouggt I was stuck, where would I spend the night, the nearest sizeable town Belorado was 12 miles away and Burgks was 45 but there was also a pass rising to 39000 feet to get past, thus was nearly 1000 feet above where I was so I natyrally thought I was stuck.
I ate the sandwich I had bought then a miracle happened, the sun came out and althiugh I was still shaking I decidee to make a sash for Belorado which was another tough 12 mikes into a strong wind, I counted telegraph poles along tge way to gelp me progress.
Eventuallybi was in Belorado and i found a bar where I orderd a hot coffee and a hot chicken sandwich bothnof which revived me.
the weather looked good so I struck for the pass, a gruelling 20 miles uphill getting steepertowards tge 3900 feet summit and there I was looking at a 20 mile downhill run into Burgos and it was only 4pm.
I cannot believe I was going to make it after all.
a tough 20 mile still into the wind followed and after 10 an evil black cloud appeared and vefore it reached me I felt piercing sharp hail hitting me. The cloud blacked out everything so I stopped and put lights on and this time without the high viz on my gore jacket did the job.
a painful 30 minutes later I was approaching town, then I smelled a smell ... next I qas passing the San Miguel Brewery and they were brewing by the strong smell of malt
My hotel was excellent, they took my bike and stored it indoors and took me straight to my room before checking in and after a warm bath I went downstairs for more pintxos and some wine to enjoy whilst writing this blog ...
Alls well that ends well and tomorrow Im off to Valladolid and tge forecast is no rain !!!!
Day 4 stared well I was up early and my legs felt strong and after a buffet breakfastI hit the raods at 8 first cycling round Vitoria to see the impressive murals which are painted on gable ends and they are massive.
So by 9 I was heading out of town and within the first 5 miles I had the usual 1000 feet climb to contend with a nice wake up for the lungs !
The top went through a forest so I stopped and got my video out to record the descent which was magical but knly took 5 minutes compared to 45 minutes getting up and at the bottom a hude plain opened up which looked great cycling country.
A straight run ifollowed into Miranda de Ebro where I stopped to get some energy drinks and a sandwich in case I couldnt find a restaurant on route.
On leaving Miranda the weather turned and I have learned over the years whenever you leave a town on a river theres usually a climb in store - this climb nearly killed me !
I was geading south up a steep gradient into a headwind which was gusting and at times stopping me in my way to the top and there was a great downhill road ahead dropping into a vallwy on a vast plain opening up in dront of me. My route however eent right onto a minor road which went past a rocky outcrop calles Cellorigo which I wanted to see and photograph.
The road went up another 100feet and the rocks came into view just as a squall started, I stopped and got my canera out and took a quick photo but the lens was full of condensation from my jacket, so I pulled off my glives which wasnt easy and got my Nikon out of the panier, carefully I switchwd it on and facing downwind I took the lens cap off. As I looked away from the rocks I saw horizontal rain lashing past at about 50mph, I spun round and pressed the button but within a millisecond the lens was covered in rain.
Gloves back on and camera back in the panier I set off into the teeth of a Blizzard by now it was on the edge of rain and sleet.
I slogged on until the cold became unbearable stopping at a couple of farm buildings where I took off my soaked glives and sucked my fingers to get life back into them. I was in a blizzard on a 3000 feet mountain in the middle of nowhere and I knew I had to get to a town so I continued a few miles and a small town called Treviana saved my life.
I cycled through the very small town and there was nothing open another loop rouns town proved it but I had spotted a building withan empty void underneath so I sheltered there.
I peeled off the golves and sucked my fingers again and I curled up as by now I was shaking vigourously. After 10 minutes still shaking I though my god I've got hypothermia - how bad would that be for a geordie !
I had a top range gore jacket on, an wind cheater, cycle jearsey and base layer underneath sobwhy was I so cold, then I realised the thin hi viz outer jacketvwas holding ice cold water which was lowering my body temp ... so to get warm I stripped off, I took off the hi viz and top 2 layers, I putbon 2 extra cycle tops bwfore putting the body warmer and gore jacket back on, bothnof which were dry, I also put on a second pair of leggings.
I now thouggt I was stuck, where would I spend the night, the nearest sizeable town Belorado was 12 miles away and Burgks was 45 but there was also a pass rising to 39000 feet to get past, thus was nearly 1000 feet above where I was so I natyrally thought I was stuck.
I ate the sandwich I had bought then a miracle happened, the sun came out and althiugh I was still shaking I decidee to make a sash for Belorado which was another tough 12 mikes into a strong wind, I counted telegraph poles along tge way to gelp me progress.
Eventuallybi was in Belorado and i found a bar where I orderd a hot coffee and a hot chicken sandwich bothnof which revived me.
the weather looked good so I struck for the pass, a gruelling 20 miles uphill getting steepertowards tge 3900 feet summit and there I was looking at a 20 mile downhill run into Burgos and it was only 4pm.
I cannot believe I was going to make it after all.
a tough 20 mile still into the wind followed and after 10 an evil black cloud appeared and vefore it reached me I felt piercing sharp hail hitting me. The cloud blacked out everything so I stopped and put lights on and this time without the high viz on my gore jacket did the job.
a painful 30 minutes later I was approaching town, then I smelled a smell ... next I qas passing the San Miguel Brewery and they were brewing by the strong smell of malt
My hotel was excellent, they took my bike and stored it indoors and took me straight to my room before checking in and after a warm bath I went downstairs for more pintxos and some wine to enjoy whilst writing this blog ...
Alls well that ends well and tomorrow Im off to Valladolid and tge forecast is no rain !!!!
Monday 24 March 2014
2014 Tour of Spain Day 3 : Pamplona to Vitoria-Gasteiz 79.2 miles
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/467023271
Day 3 : I will admit that I started today with some trepidation, I wondered if the excesses of climbing 2 pyrennean passes in freezing weather yesterday would have an effect on my body and in particular my legs. Add to that another horrible weather forecast and two more big climbs today taking me over 2000 and 2500 feet respectively.
I set off early to try to beat the impending rain but always knew it would get me especially as I was cycling North West towards it.
In the first 5 miles I passed a dozen or so pilgrims on one of the Caminos de Santiago ans I was to follow clode to the route for the first 40 miles today.
I climbed out of town through some new suburbs and after 5 miles I wasin the countryside and also in the mist which was developing into a pea souper.Sothe next 15 miles were unspectacular, cold and no view.
Eventually I dr opped into a beautiful river valley and the sun came out with perfect timing and I tooksome pictures along the river but didnt stop too long, remember the rain !
Next was the first dreaded climb of the day up from the river at 1000 feet to over 2000 feet at the top, it looked intimidating on the mapans who knows how my legs would hold out. Well they did and Ifound the climb very bearableexcept that last 200feet where it seemed to get much steeper,but after taking on water a last push saw me heading through a hilltop village caled Guiguillano and half a mie later I was at the top of the pass by the same name and the legs were fine
I videoed part of the descent but braking on one brake round hairpins and tge fact my hand was numb even with gloves on I stopped just as a huge lake came into view which I cycled along and near the end of it eagles soared above. At the end I coul see what looked a small dam only maybe 50 feet across but when the road passed it it dropped through a series of spectacular hairpin bends and the small damwas a big lump of concrete wedged between two huge rock faces. The ride down was fun and I took some pics at the bottom.
I then had a difficult rolling ride into Estella which was amost halfway and I eventualy found a restaurant for food, not having anywhere for the bike it was behind a neighbouring building with all my gear in the panniers so Iordered in best Spanish which I dont speak a Jambon Boccadllo Caliente and gestured I wanted to rake it ou, the guy disappeared out back and when he returned I also asked for a coffee as I saw a table near the door where I could see my bike - the coffe arrived as did the sandwich wrapped in tin foil !
So I set off and leaving townan old man was looking at a hedge on my side of the road up ahead , he had a stick with a sickle on it and I rang my bell to warn him I was approaching, no reaction and Ijust knew it was trouble and sue enough as I was 4 yards away he swung the guillotine at head height right in front of were I would have been had I not given him a wide berth in the midde of the road .. Good Call that one !
The next 10 miles was quite pleasant, pretty flat good roads foor cycling and the rain was steady, at 50 miles the wind came up and the temerature dropped and the rain doubled/tripled, it was nasty and I was fa cing ths biggest climb of the day. Again the legs held out and despite freezing wind chill and rain close to hail I managed a climb up to almost 3000 feet the ride down the other side cannot be described as enjoyable it was painful and fraught with concentration, 25 - 30 mph on flooded roads isn't good.
A 3 mile descent and all that was left was a straight I mile run into town and to my Hotel, Central which is right in the middle near the beautiful old town.The guy on the desk was just opening and he managed to keep me wet and soaking cold in reception for 30 minutes to check in and when I got to my room the card wouldnt open the door so another 10 minutes to reprogramme it an I was eventually in, striped off, radiator on full with all my clothes (and shoes) on it and I was in the hot shower .... Heaven
Day 3 : I will admit that I started today with some trepidation, I wondered if the excesses of climbing 2 pyrennean passes in freezing weather yesterday would have an effect on my body and in particular my legs. Add to that another horrible weather forecast and two more big climbs today taking me over 2000 and 2500 feet respectively.
I set off early to try to beat the impending rain but always knew it would get me especially as I was cycling North West towards it.
In the first 5 miles I passed a dozen or so pilgrims on one of the Caminos de Santiago ans I was to follow clode to the route for the first 40 miles today.
I climbed out of town through some new suburbs and after 5 miles I wasin the countryside and also in the mist which was developing into a pea souper.Sothe next 15 miles were unspectacular, cold and no view.
Eventually I dr opped into a beautiful river valley and the sun came out with perfect timing and I tooksome pictures along the river but didnt stop too long, remember the rain !
Next was the first dreaded climb of the day up from the river at 1000 feet to over 2000 feet at the top, it looked intimidating on the mapans who knows how my legs would hold out. Well they did and Ifound the climb very bearableexcept that last 200feet where it seemed to get much steeper,but after taking on water a last push saw me heading through a hilltop village caled Guiguillano and half a mie later I was at the top of the pass by the same name and the legs were fine
I videoed part of the descent but braking on one brake round hairpins and tge fact my hand was numb even with gloves on I stopped just as a huge lake came into view which I cycled along and near the end of it eagles soared above. At the end I coul see what looked a small dam only maybe 50 feet across but when the road passed it it dropped through a series of spectacular hairpin bends and the small damwas a big lump of concrete wedged between two huge rock faces. The ride down was fun and I took some pics at the bottom.
I then had a difficult rolling ride into Estella which was amost halfway and I eventualy found a restaurant for food, not having anywhere for the bike it was behind a neighbouring building with all my gear in the panniers so Iordered in best Spanish which I dont speak a Jambon Boccadllo Caliente and gestured I wanted to rake it ou, the guy disappeared out back and when he returned I also asked for a coffee as I saw a table near the door where I could see my bike - the coffe arrived as did the sandwich wrapped in tin foil !
So I set off and leaving townan old man was looking at a hedge on my side of the road up ahead , he had a stick with a sickle on it and I rang my bell to warn him I was approaching, no reaction and Ijust knew it was trouble and sue enough as I was 4 yards away he swung the guillotine at head height right in front of were I would have been had I not given him a wide berth in the midde of the road .. Good Call that one !
The next 10 miles was quite pleasant, pretty flat good roads foor cycling and the rain was steady, at 50 miles the wind came up and the temerature dropped and the rain doubled/tripled, it was nasty and I was fa cing ths biggest climb of the day. Again the legs held out and despite freezing wind chill and rain close to hail I managed a climb up to almost 3000 feet the ride down the other side cannot be described as enjoyable it was painful and fraught with concentration, 25 - 30 mph on flooded roads isn't good.
A 3 mile descent and all that was left was a straight I mile run into town and to my Hotel, Central which is right in the middle near the beautiful old town.The guy on the desk was just opening and he managed to keep me wet and soaking cold in reception for 30 minutes to check in and when I got to my room the card wouldnt open the door so another 10 minutes to reprogramme it an I was eventually in, striped off, radiator on full with all my clothes (and shoes) on it and I was in the hot shower .... Heaven
2014 Tour of Spain : Day 2 San Sebastian to Pamplona - 86.66 miles
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/466636592
Distance = 86.66 miles
Time = 7hrs 44mins 38secs
Elevation Gain = 7244ft
Max Elevation = 3068 ft
Temp = 30.2 - 57.2 F
Calories = 4746
Day 2 and what a day -everything was well as I left San Sebastian but I was already 2 hours late waiting for yet another torrential downpour to stop. It did give me time to get a good breakfast today az I knew I needed plenty energy today.
Having left SS I was first running up the coast to Irun .. Or so I thought - the road firzt goes inland over a 1000 feet climb with great views of the pyrenees which this morning had snow on after yesterdays and overnight torrent.
I dropped down to Irun and stayed on the coast crossing intoFrance at Hendaye and at this point I lost all my maps on my Garmin as I only hVe Spain loaded to make matts worse I wanted to divert from my route as today was not a day to add 20 miles on to see Biarritz.
Next was another climb over to St Jean de Luz but I didnt mind as the coast here is spectacular - a massive sweep of a bay with huge waves pounding in from the Atlantic, but it was the coastline that I fond fascinating with huge folded layers of rocm jetting 3 -400 feet from the sea - beautiful.
Soon I was in St Jean and after I crossed the river I was pleased to find a sign for St Pee which sits on the first slopes of the Pyrenees and it would be the town where I picked up my route again - so a straight forward 12 miles without a map or route worked out welland I was in St Pee and time for a sandwich and some energy bars to get me up the mountains.
From St Pee after 6 miles I reached Spain and my maps started to work again - good news - the bad news was the first climb started, a brute of 1600 feet at a nasty gradient lasting 6 miles and after about 3 I found it pleasant there was snow by the road and after about an hour I reached the summit and did the next 10 miles in about 20 minutes !
I knew there was another mountain to cross but for some reon I thought it was similar height - It wasn't, it was a brute over 3000 metres - Yes I was about ro cycle over Helvellyn !!!
The gradient was even more tortuous and his time the climb was 10 miles at true Category 1 climb in the Pyrenees and there was I carrying 2 panniers .... Mad - and all along both climbs I never saw a single cyclist except the pratt.
After about 30 minutes and 1000 feet up the snowline returned again and I did wonder how bad the top would be, after about an hour I was about 1 mile away from the previous spot but had covered about 4 miles in hairpins and I was 2000 feet up and the snowline was now about 2 feet deep.
As I reached 2500 I heard a noise coming down the hill and a snow plough appeared round the corner ploughing my side of the road which wasnt much wider than the plough by now. I ran to the other edge and jumped off the road sinking miserably to my thighs in the snow drift.
I clambered out and as the final gradient steepened it started to snow for good measure and suddenly wow I wS at the top a mile before my Garmin indicated .... Wrong - a false top I still had 500 feet to go, a miserable wet horrible 500feet in the last mile of the clim.
When I did reach the summit the peaks dissapeared into cloud and the views although not complete due to the weather did show how high I was - I stripped off to put on as many layers as possible, 5 in total and then headed for a much desrved descent I would remember for long time or so I thought.
The plough came back and had another go at me, this time I stood my ground and he swerved past me un-nervingly close and at speed.The descent was not nice, the road was icy so I had to descend almost as slowly as I went up and by now everything around was frozen and white and my fingers were starting to develop frost bite and the 5 layers ... They weren't enough !
A very slow and painful descent which was dropping at a much much lower gradient prolonging the pain - After about a half hour I started to emerge from deep deep frozen wonderland and as the trees parted I reached a main road and headed towards Pamplona only 25 miles away now, I rodae along apst a massive lake with a massive dam at the far end which you were allowed to walk along so I did and took some photos. Time was now against me so I slogged out a fast 20 odd miles as it turned dusk and I reached the outzkirts of Pamplona before the dark arrived, in all honesty I only put my front light on for the last 3 miles in the City, the back had been on since the first climb.
And there I was at the Avenida Hotel with a very helpful receptionist who spoke English and even opened up the downstairs bar to keep my bike in as it isnt used anymore.
Off to my room and everything put on charge, all my clothes hung in front of the aircon ramped up to full to dry and probably the best shower I have ever had.
Off into town and there waz a dirth of bars or restaurants but I fell on my feet in a back lane I found a fantastic Pintxos Bar and as a bonus el Classico is on ( I didn't even know Real Madrid were playing Barcelkna tonight) and its a great game - current score is 3 - 3 with Real down to 10 men
Nice end to a tough day
Distance = 86.66 miles
Time = 7hrs 44mins 38secs
Elevation Gain = 7244ft
Max Elevation = 3068 ft
Temp = 30.2 - 57.2 F
Calories = 4746
Day 2 and what a day -everything was well as I left San Sebastian but I was already 2 hours late waiting for yet another torrential downpour to stop. It did give me time to get a good breakfast today az I knew I needed plenty energy today.
Having left SS I was first running up the coast to Irun .. Or so I thought - the road firzt goes inland over a 1000 feet climb with great views of the pyrenees which this morning had snow on after yesterdays and overnight torrent.
I dropped down to Irun and stayed on the coast crossing intoFrance at Hendaye and at this point I lost all my maps on my Garmin as I only hVe Spain loaded to make matts worse I wanted to divert from my route as today was not a day to add 20 miles on to see Biarritz.
Next was another climb over to St Jean de Luz but I didnt mind as the coast here is spectacular - a massive sweep of a bay with huge waves pounding in from the Atlantic, but it was the coastline that I fond fascinating with huge folded layers of rocm jetting 3 -400 feet from the sea - beautiful.
Soon I was in St Jean and after I crossed the river I was pleased to find a sign for St Pee which sits on the first slopes of the Pyrenees and it would be the town where I picked up my route again - so a straight forward 12 miles without a map or route worked out welland I was in St Pee and time for a sandwich and some energy bars to get me up the mountains.
From St Pee after 6 miles I reached Spain and my maps started to work again - good news - the bad news was the first climb started, a brute of 1600 feet at a nasty gradient lasting 6 miles and after about 3 I found it pleasant there was snow by the road and after about an hour I reached the summit and did the next 10 miles in about 20 minutes !
I knew there was another mountain to cross but for some reon I thought it was similar height - It wasn't, it was a brute over 3000 metres - Yes I was about ro cycle over Helvellyn !!!
The gradient was even more tortuous and his time the climb was 10 miles at true Category 1 climb in the Pyrenees and there was I carrying 2 panniers .... Mad - and all along both climbs I never saw a single cyclist except the pratt.
After about 30 minutes and 1000 feet up the snowline returned again and I did wonder how bad the top would be, after about an hour I was about 1 mile away from the previous spot but had covered about 4 miles in hairpins and I was 2000 feet up and the snowline was now about 2 feet deep.
As I reached 2500 I heard a noise coming down the hill and a snow plough appeared round the corner ploughing my side of the road which wasnt much wider than the plough by now. I ran to the other edge and jumped off the road sinking miserably to my thighs in the snow drift.
I clambered out and as the final gradient steepened it started to snow for good measure and suddenly wow I wS at the top a mile before my Garmin indicated .... Wrong - a false top I still had 500 feet to go, a miserable wet horrible 500feet in the last mile of the clim.
When I did reach the summit the peaks dissapeared into cloud and the views although not complete due to the weather did show how high I was - I stripped off to put on as many layers as possible, 5 in total and then headed for a much desrved descent I would remember for long time or so I thought.
The plough came back and had another go at me, this time I stood my ground and he swerved past me un-nervingly close and at speed.The descent was not nice, the road was icy so I had to descend almost as slowly as I went up and by now everything around was frozen and white and my fingers were starting to develop frost bite and the 5 layers ... They weren't enough !
A very slow and painful descent which was dropping at a much much lower gradient prolonging the pain - After about a half hour I started to emerge from deep deep frozen wonderland and as the trees parted I reached a main road and headed towards Pamplona only 25 miles away now, I rodae along apst a massive lake with a massive dam at the far end which you were allowed to walk along so I did and took some photos. Time was now against me so I slogged out a fast 20 odd miles as it turned dusk and I reached the outzkirts of Pamplona before the dark arrived, in all honesty I only put my front light on for the last 3 miles in the City, the back had been on since the first climb.
And there I was at the Avenida Hotel with a very helpful receptionist who spoke English and even opened up the downstairs bar to keep my bike in as it isnt used anymore.
Off to my room and everything put on charge, all my clothes hung in front of the aircon ramped up to full to dry and probably the best shower I have ever had.
Off into town and there waz a dirth of bars or restaurants but I fell on my feet in a back lane I found a fantastic Pintxos Bar and as a bonus el Classico is on ( I didn't even know Real Madrid were playing Barcelkna tonight) and its a great game - current score is 3 - 3 with Real down to 10 men
Nice end to a tough day
Saturday 22 March 2014
2014 Tour of Spain : Day 1 Bilbao to San Sebastian - 91.45 miles
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/338584167
Well Day 1 did not go as planned ... at all
I cycled along the river and stopped at tbe Guggenheim to take some early morning pictures and then it was off along the river trying to follow my Garmin which is quite tricky at the best of times as most roads are coloured purple on the maps and when you plot a route guess waht colour those kjnd people at Garmin make the route .... yes purple ! It's crazy they even give you an option to change to a different colour so I chose lime green but as soon as you start to navigate it goes ... purple aaaargh
Anyway I headed up the river zig zagging side to side following Bilbaos crazy road system and stopping to take lots of pics so I was already an hour behind schedule.
When I got to Basauri after 5 miles it went wrong - the rain started heavy and I missed a turn and well 7 miles later I was heading to the mountains I checked a very wet screen and realised I was on the wrong purple and there was no way across so it was a full 14 miles additional riding !
I was back on route after 2 hours by which time I was only 6 miles from the start so I set offwith Duarngo at 28 miles I
in mind and arrived very sodden and managed to find a shop to buy a sandwich as I had nobreakfast as there was nothing open at 8am in Bilbao.
Next I had a 1000 feet climb up past Zandibar and once at the summit it was smoothe riding diwn through Eibar to the coast at Deba
The waves were crashung the shore and the road hung on the edge of a huge rock where the sediments and strata could be seen wearing and hanging precariously over the road parts of which were single file due to collapses.
Unfortunately from Beba the road turns inland over another 800 feet climb before heading back down to the coast and when I reached Orio there was a regatta going on with lots of boats on the river
Next my problems started again ... my garmin had been indicating low battery for a while and it finally died so I was left to get the last 12 miles into San Sebastian on my instincts which proved prtty good albeit when I cae to a huge motorway interchange even finding a road I could use was difficult and at one stage I was sure I was about to join the motorway to Irun anyway there were no signs for San Sebastian only lots of suburbs none of which I knew and I couldnt even fix a direction on the sun as it was well and truly out of sight behind a monster raincloud which I was now sick of.
I remebered a route in past the Unversity and saw a sign with a word that looked like university but had lots of xs in in true basque style
Eventually I reached the coast and headed along the bay to the headland where my hotel was on San Juan which was another nightmare eventually after about an hour I found a tiny sign on a door indicated reception was on the second floor
So that was it ... until I came to upload my ride and discovered when it powered down it didnt save the data ... Not a good day -Tomorrow I take on the pyrenees and the forecast is RAIN ... Not Impressed
Well Day 1 did not go as planned ... at all
I cycled along the river and stopped at tbe Guggenheim to take some early morning pictures and then it was off along the river trying to follow my Garmin which is quite tricky at the best of times as most roads are coloured purple on the maps and when you plot a route guess waht colour those kjnd people at Garmin make the route .... yes purple ! It's crazy they even give you an option to change to a different colour so I chose lime green but as soon as you start to navigate it goes ... purple aaaargh
Anyway I headed up the river zig zagging side to side following Bilbaos crazy road system and stopping to take lots of pics so I was already an hour behind schedule.
When I got to Basauri after 5 miles it went wrong - the rain started heavy and I missed a turn and well 7 miles later I was heading to the mountains I checked a very wet screen and realised I was on the wrong purple and there was no way across so it was a full 14 miles additional riding !
I was back on route after 2 hours by which time I was only 6 miles from the start so I set offwith Duarngo at 28 miles I
in mind and arrived very sodden and managed to find a shop to buy a sandwich as I had nobreakfast as there was nothing open at 8am in Bilbao.
Next I had a 1000 feet climb up past Zandibar and once at the summit it was smoothe riding diwn through Eibar to the coast at Deba
The waves were crashung the shore and the road hung on the edge of a huge rock where the sediments and strata could be seen wearing and hanging precariously over the road parts of which were single file due to collapses.
Unfortunately from Beba the road turns inland over another 800 feet climb before heading back down to the coast and when I reached Orio there was a regatta going on with lots of boats on the river
Next my problems started again ... my garmin had been indicating low battery for a while and it finally died so I was left to get the last 12 miles into San Sebastian on my instincts which proved prtty good albeit when I cae to a huge motorway interchange even finding a road I could use was difficult and at one stage I was sure I was about to join the motorway to Irun anyway there were no signs for San Sebastian only lots of suburbs none of which I knew and I couldnt even fix a direction on the sun as it was well and truly out of sight behind a monster raincloud which I was now sick of.
I remebered a route in past the Unversity and saw a sign with a word that looked like university but had lots of xs in in true basque style
Eventually I reached the coast and headed along the bay to the headland where my hotel was on San Juan which was another nightmare eventually after about an hour I found a tiny sign on a door indicated reception was on the second floor
So that was it ... until I came to upload my ride and discovered when it powered down it didnt save the data ... Not a good day -Tomorrow I take on the pyrenees and the forecast is RAIN ... Not Impressed
Wednesday 19 March 2014
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