Friday, 3 August 2012
Frias to Logrono (well just outside)
I ran out of time last evening , so I must finish that one first . Now Frais - lovely that it is - has something about it that had we known before hand would have
avoided - like the preverbial plague . It is GAY FRIENDLY !
Naturally we blame each other . The two gorgeous girls at the Office Turismo - much as we tried to chat them up -appeared to be shocked when we were not wholly delighted to be offered lots of rooms with a single bed . Now , I blame Chris's moustach - he says I look like a gay Nazi - but believe me getting a room with single beds was not easy . Well, that's not what Frais is about - is it .
Today's ride . Coffee & croissant to start the day at 8-30 . A lovely ride along the Fontecha river - which runs through a rugged rock faced ravine - to Miranda de Ebro . A short stop and then across the Ebro and up another very pretty river - the Inglares - towards Logrono . Not that we want to stay there - Logrono is a big industrial town - but all roads lead to it .
We are now deep in Roija country and the land has changed from growing wheat to vines all in a few hours of cycling .
Just as we thought we would have to stay in Logrono we noticed a sign to a rural bodegas - with it own vineyard - Senorio de Las Vinas . Their own wine - room - supper - and a pool for good measure . We haven't asked Señora what the price is but who bloody cares ! CU
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avoided - like the preverbial plague . It is GAY FRIENDLY !
Naturally we blame each other . The two gorgeous girls at the Office Turismo - much as we tried to chat them up -appeared to be shocked when we were not wholly delighted to be offered lots of rooms with a single bed . Now , I blame Chris's moustach - he says I look like a gay Nazi - but believe me getting a room with single beds was not easy . Well, that's not what Frais is about - is it .
Today's ride . Coffee & croissant to start the day at 8-30 . A lovely ride along the Fontecha river - which runs through a rugged rock faced ravine - to Miranda de Ebro . A short stop and then across the Ebro and up another very pretty river - the Inglares - towards Logrono . Not that we want to stay there - Logrono is a big industrial town - but all roads lead to it .
We are now deep in Roija country and the land has changed from growing wheat to vines all in a few hours of cycling .
Just as we thought we would have to stay in Logrono we noticed a sign to a rural bodegas - with it own vineyard - Senorio de Las Vinas . Their own wine - room - supper - and a pool for good measure . We haven't asked Señora what the price is but who bloody cares ! CU
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Thursday, 2 August 2012
Lierganes to Frias
Well , what a day ! Sometimes one has to think quite hard of things to say - other times there's too much . Today was the latter .
I love the Basque region . My favorite cycle ride ever was with my Nic from Barritz to St Sebastion - absolutely wonderful . Today's was equally so .
Anyway , first things first . Last night was the festival of St Pedro - something to do with the 1st Aug and the first day of the Spanish holidays . It was good fun - disco rather than live bands - but a lively atmosphere .Too lively for Chris who says he didn't get to sleep till 4-30 cos of the noise . All I can say is that he must be snoring when awake ! ( yes - damn it -we are still sharing ). And to finish yesterday Chris had the 'menu dais' . I got caught by that one last year - but kept that to myself . Anyway , by the end he looked quite ill . I had a plate of sadinas and they were delicious .
We set of today in a light drizzle - obviously holidays have the same effect on the weather here as it does in 'Blighty'. But the further we climbed the sunnier it got - and what a climb ! 34 km uphill to an altitude of 1350m . It was absolutely wonderful and reminded us both of The Lake District.
As we descended on the other side something happened that I've never witnessed before when cycling - Chris had a 'blow out' in his rear tyre . There was like this gunshot bang. He was going a bit quick - and there are no safety barriers up where we were . If you have ever seen old movies - like The Keystone Cops - everything is in quick motion . Well , Chris going off road at 1250m is a sight to behold . He rejoined the road at about 1100m ! He was bit shaky and had a few bramble cuts but apart from that ( and the fact he won't get on a bike ever again ) was in fine heart . Watching him change the tyre though was like something out of Laurel & Hardy !
We are now in a medieval hill top village of Frias and about to eat - along with about 10000 Spaniards . Life doesn't get much better . C U
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I love the Basque region . My favorite cycle ride ever was with my Nic from Barritz to St Sebastion - absolutely wonderful . Today's was equally so .
Anyway , first things first . Last night was the festival of St Pedro - something to do with the 1st Aug and the first day of the Spanish holidays . It was good fun - disco rather than live bands - but a lively atmosphere .Too lively for Chris who says he didn't get to sleep till 4-30 cos of the noise . All I can say is that he must be snoring when awake ! ( yes - damn it -we are still sharing ). And to finish yesterday Chris had the 'menu dais' . I got caught by that one last year - but kept that to myself . Anyway , by the end he looked quite ill . I had a plate of sadinas and they were delicious .
We set of today in a light drizzle - obviously holidays have the same effect on the weather here as it does in 'Blighty'. But the further we climbed the sunnier it got - and what a climb ! 34 km uphill to an altitude of 1350m . It was absolutely wonderful and reminded us both of The Lake District.
As we descended on the other side something happened that I've never witnessed before when cycling - Chris had a 'blow out' in his rear tyre . There was like this gunshot bang. He was going a bit quick - and there are no safety barriers up where we were . If you have ever seen old movies - like The Keystone Cops - everything is in quick motion . Well , Chris going off road at 1250m is a sight to behold . He rejoined the road at about 1100m ! He was bit shaky and had a few bramble cuts but apart from that ( and the fact he won't get on a bike ever again ) was in fine heart . Watching him change the tyre though was like something out of Laurel & Hardy !
We are now in a medieval hill top village of Frias and about to eat - along with about 10000 Spaniards . Life doesn't get much better . C U
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Wednesday, 1 August 2012
Ciclo de la vuelta a Espana 012
Hi to you lot out there . I've got to say that I was quite ' taken-a-back ' last year by the interest everyone showed in my blog . It made my little adventure more fun and thanks to Alex & Pete for setting me up .
So here we go again ! This time though I have a little companion , Chris , who's been itching to join me on tour for a number of years now . He should feel at home in Spain - he's got that ' swarthy spaghetti western ' look that is so appealing to Spanish landladies . He's taking it all VERY seriously and has spent months planning our route with detailed maps ( I don't do detail ) and has got enough equipment to set up his own bike shop . He's also seems to have a sponsor - Team Sky ! All he needs now is some sideburns !
There's not a lot to say about our first day cos we were on the ferry to Santander -pleasant as it was - and there was a really great atmosphere on board when the girls won gold in the sculls and Wiggins won the time trial . Santander has a beautiful port and the sun was shining so it was a lovely start.
We started our bike trip - embarrassing as it may seem - on the train ! We caught the Feve ( a single track railway that serves the local region ) to just out side Santander ,which is hell to get out of , to Nueva Montana and cycled 10km to Lierganes . Some of you might remember that I stayed here last year and yes , we're in the same hotel . The landlady remembered me .... but now has only eyes for my 'swarthy' friend !
It's 10 now and the locals are out & about and we are also ready to order . I will let you know what we ate tomorrow .
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So here we go again ! This time though I have a little companion , Chris , who's been itching to join me on tour for a number of years now . He should feel at home in Spain - he's got that ' swarthy spaghetti western ' look that is so appealing to Spanish landladies . He's taking it all VERY seriously and has spent months planning our route with detailed maps ( I don't do detail ) and has got enough equipment to set up his own bike shop . He's also seems to have a sponsor - Team Sky ! All he needs now is some sideburns !
There's not a lot to say about our first day cos we were on the ferry to Santander -pleasant as it was - and there was a really great atmosphere on board when the girls won gold in the sculls and Wiggins won the time trial . Santander has a beautiful port and the sun was shining so it was a lovely start.
We started our bike trip - embarrassing as it may seem - on the train ! We caught the Feve ( a single track railway that serves the local region ) to just out side Santander ,which is hell to get out of , to Nueva Montana and cycled 10km to Lierganes . Some of you might remember that I stayed here last year and yes , we're in the same hotel . The landlady remembered me .... but now has only eyes for my 'swarthy' friend !
It's 10 now and the locals are out & about and we are also ready to order . I will let you know what we ate tomorrow .
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