The Excitement's building !!

Thursday 27th May 2010 After a leisurely start to the day, I decided to go to Tarbes,where I had seen an advertisement for a Deacathlon store, intending to purchase some 'Via Ferrata equipment...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_ferrata which I would need as I intended doing some whilst I was away.. Arriving at the store I found some equipment which I thought would do the job, which although expensive,seemed to be what I needed..http://www.mammut.ch/en/viaferrata_explanation.html and so, the purchase was made !! A fill up of Wally with grub, and back to the camsite for a leisurely lunch, and afternoon. In the early evening I rode into Lourdes http://www.lourdes-france.org/index.php?contexte=en&id=405 had a quick look round, and decided to come back over the weekend...if I survived my first 'Via Ferrata' !!

Up and over...

Wednesday 26th May 2010

Up bright and early at Casa Thomas...

Phil made breakfast, and after declining his kind offer of a further night I hit the road,travelling through Bilbao,and then up into the hills on a tortuous route through the mountains towards France -- where Jim had told me the climbing would be better, and I agreed..

the constntly changing scenery was brilliant, so many different sights, one amazing area was as I travelled through Aragon, the road wended its was alongside a turqoise blue lake, which seemed to have flooded everywhere, and amazing hills, very similiar to the 'Badlands' I had seen in Canada last year.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aragon so much to see, and no idea what everything was!

My final town in Spain was Jaca http://jaca.costasur.com/en/index.html which looked like a 'garrison town' and was amazingly 'chiq', although i didn't stop...too much to do !

Eventually I drove through the Somport tunnel. and popped out the other side into France !! I may finally be able to understand what people are saying, and may be able to answer back !I headed for Pau, and then continued to my camsite which was about 5 miles from Lourdes.. http://www.camping-lepratdourey.com/ I arrived around 8-30 p.m., during a rather heavy thunderstorm,and the reception was closed - although they did open up for me, and I settled for the night !! tired to say the least..

Fooled you all...!!

Tuesday 25th May 2010 (2)

Just as I was leaving Turieno, I had contact from an old colleague - Phil Thomas, or as the Spanish call him.... Felipe..inviting me to stay at his home in Liergenes, near Santander, which I would be passing anyway..

I decided to accept the kind offer, and inflict myself upon him..and left Pamplona for another time !

and so early afternoon I arrived in Liergenes, where Phil met me, and took me to his home, his wife Pam, also an old collegaue had 'fled' the country ! (joking) although she was back in the UK.

A great day was had, with the prospect of a real bed, my own bathroom, and the prospects of a hot bath...luxury..

We chatted about old times, and went up into the nearby hills, visiting an old 'Kings counting house' used during the building of the Spanish Armada, when all the surrounding forests were cut down, to be used in building the ships, and forging the cannon to be used in them...the counting house was where the foresters were paid.

In the early evening, Phil made a curry dinner..whilst I had a luxurious bath...heaven, this is what you miss on campsites...

then friends of his Jim and Murdina McColl arrived to share with me some ideas of where to go next ..in the Pyrenees - thanks everyone for the food,company...and ideas.

A night spent in a real bed followed...wonderful

On the Move again !!

Tuesday 25th May 2010 5 weeks of being on the move,away from home !! I'm leaving the Picos de Europa, heading for the Pyrenees, somewhere North of Pamplona to start with... http://www.pamplona.net/verPagina.asp?idPag=1&idioma=5 in fact I may stop nearby, and have a look around, so until I'm back on 'net ....Adios !

Lance Armstrong - eat your heart out !!

Monday 24th May 2010

I was up for 7 a.m.,although lay in till in 8 a.m....

I had decided to cycle to Fuente De again...

two reasons

1) to see if I could do the tortous ride again

2)to check if the campsite was open yet ! -if it was I would move there..

At 9 a.m. I set off on the Road towards Fuente De, it was already quite warm, although there were occasional clouds scooting across the sky,giving me a break !

Immediately the climb was tough, but as I passed through the village of La Iscelles, I knew I had cracked it, I had got over the biggest hill, but still had some way to go, but I knew it was going to be OK...

11 a.m. saw me swooping into Fuente De..2 hours, 2 stops, 2 ceral bars,1 Litre of water !!

I had another ice cream, rested, checked the campsite- still closed !

Then set offf for my return journey...I swooped down the mountain roads, it was fantastic...nothing overtook me (almost) I took the bends like an Olympic rider, I had the Roads to myself, and cut all corners, and bends,brilliant..arriving back at the Campsite in less than thirty minutes !!

Average speed 27.4 MPH, Time 27-06 mins,Max speed 44.4 mph,12.37 miles

Rest, and back to the washing....

Plans for my next move...

Sunday 23rd May 2010 Another bright day dawned, I finished my book, then realised I was a bit late for Church, and so had the bright (!) idea of riding there on my bike... uphill...and hot sunshine... by the time I arrived at mass, just in time, I was like a wet rag....soaking and dripping on everyone around me !! although it had it's benefits as I whizzed back to the campsite, and an easy afternoon, working out my next moves... 4 a.m. I realised it was getting chilly again...it had gone down to 22C ! and I could feel it !! sweet dreams ( and many of them !) Q Why do I think of David and Sian each morning ?? A ???? Prize for anyone who guesses correctly !

The Full Tour

Saturday 22nd May 2010

As I was up early ! I soon had Wally packed and ready for the road..

I paid my dues ( having to explain how to add up correctly !) and set up intending to stay at Canga de Onis http://www.cangasdeonis.com/

so that I could visit the nearby area of Covadonga, and it's lakes http://www.picoseuropa.net/lagos/index.php

Unfortunately when I got there, I found it's only campsite closed !

I did drive through the town of Canga,it looked busy, and exciting...but nowhere for me to stop !

Soon was explained, as I was on the road, looking for another campsite,a massive cycle race passed, more competitors than the Tour de France !,although not many mechanics following...it went on,on and on...with the groups getting slower as time (and no doubt fitness) passed ..

The best I could make out was that it was the 'Covadonga Race 2010' which obviously did a circuit of some of the National Park,. but exactly where was hard to find out..if I'd known earlier I could have joined in, and had some fun!

I then tanked up Wally (for the first time in Spain!) and hit the Road...

thinking I would drive towards Riana, through another spectacular, and twisting road along the River Rio gorge...which went on for miles - just glad it was a Saturday,hot...and hardly anyone on the Road!

As I reached Riana, and stull no sight of a campsite which was open, I headed over the Puerto San Gloria pass, towards my original starting point of Potes !http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_de_San_Glorio

Along the road me and Wally wended our way, glorious country, sunshine..and clear roads, up and over the top - where I had my highest ever ice lolly ! - courtesy of the onboard fidge/freezer (luxury) at 1609 mts,then we wended our way down the pass, towards Potes,and finally back to the campsite at Potes....and t'internet !!

A glorious drive, which had allowed me views of the entire Picos de Europa National Park ..a great journey !