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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 !!!!
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