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
No comments :
Post a Comment