Tag Archives: Spain

Spain Bike Trip – Day 31

26 Friday May 2023

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May 25, 2023. Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France to San Sebastian, Spain. Distance. 50 miles. Elevation 3,180

!!!WE MADE IT!!!

We had a wonderful last day of riding – no rain, no rain gear, no long-fingered gloves, no warm caps under our helmets, no wool socks. Just a beautiful perfect day for cycling. A few short steep climbs and lovely long descents. Lush, dense vegetation, mostly quiet, small two-lane roads.

Mid-morning we stopped for coffee and a croissant. Then around 12:30 we stopped for a sandwich where I had a Basque Coke.

Then instead of tackling the last mega climb getting in to San Sebastian most of the group took the train the last 15 miles. It was an interesting challenge getting our bikes on board – but we did it.

From the train station we had another 3 miles to bike to our hotel. Our ride along the Atlantic, the Bay of Biscay, was amazing. It was so great to be back on the coast.

Eventually we got to our Hotel Barcelo Costa Vasca for a grand celebration of a successful trip. We have so many new friends and happy memories.

Spain Bike Trip – Day 31

25 Thursday May 2023

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May 24, 2023. Pamplona to Saint Etienne-de-Baigorry, France

Not much to report today. It was very cloudy and the rain that was predicted did not materialize. The ride up the mountain was wonderful as we rode along the banks of the Rio Arga which was a babbling stream heading back down the mountain. The dense green foliage was beautiful.

We were well into the clouds at the summit as we looked out at where the amazing view would have been on a clear day.

We got to our Hotel Juantorena around 1:45

and learned they stopped serving food at 2. So we went straight to the restaurant at the hotel and got the meal of the day. Took a walk around this tiny village and discovered an amazing chocolate shop. People were raving about the hot chocolate. It was very good.

Back to the hotel for Happy Hour/meeting then group dinner at the hotel. Finally back to the room by 10:15. Tomorrow is our long ride back to San Sebastian. The last day of our ride.

Here’s the view from our window. As you can see this little town in France is very different from all the towns we visited in Spain. And look how lush and green everything is!

Do you see a couple of sheep grazing about half way up the hill?

Spain Bike Trip – Day 30

24 Wednesday May 2023

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May 23, 2023 Estrella to Pamplona. Distance: 36 miles. Elevation. 2,880 feet

Today we climbed up and over another mountain range. Here’s a view from the top looking down at where we’d been. It was a long slow climb with lush vegetation along the way.

Here’s a look at where we’re headed – down down down the other side.

You can see part of the long descent below that rock wall.

This rock formation is very popular with rock climbers. Here are some of the routes (I took this from the last night’s Happy Hour/meeting presentation.

We got to our Hotel Tres Reyes around 1pm.

Here’s the view from our window.

There’s an Austin Martin/Healey event in front of our hotel. (Covered up for the rain)

After the Happy Hour/meeting we headed out for some pintxos (Basque for tapas).

Then it was off to Ernest Hemmingway’s favorite hangout, the Cafe Iruna to experience Hemmingway’s haunts.

We even got to hang out with him a bit.

To top off the night here’s a shot of Pamplona at dusk.

Tomorrow it’s up and over the Pyrenees and into France (for one night before the 100+km ride to San Sebastian).

Spain Bike Trip – Day 29

23 Tuesday May 2023

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May 22, 2023. Laguardia to Estella. Distance: 42 miles Elevation: 3,190 feet

We got off to an early-ish start today. First thing we did was to start climbing up and over the Sierra de Cantabria Mountain Range.

Once up and over the top we crossed a wide river valley with gently rolling hills.

About 5 kilometers out of Estella (our destination) we stopped at an old monastery (built in the 12th century)

that has a Fountain of Wine

where we filled our water bottles – just kidding – we just had a taste or two. It was pretty good.

It’s mainly for the pilgrims passing along the Camino de Santiago. We met a young pilgrim there who was from Connecticut!

We got to our hotel around 2pm

showered and explored this cathedral/fortress right across from our hotel.

Note the light colored building across from the steps is our hotel.

Church of San Miguel

The highlight of this visit was when one of our fellow cyclists Chuck stepped up to the alter area and sang the hymn “How Great though Art”. Turns out he has an amazing baritone voice and he loves to sing in these old cathedrals just to experience the incredible acoustics. It was truly breath taking.

Later we walked across the bridge for a group dinner right on the river shore.

And here is Estella at dusk on our walk back to the hotel.

Spain Bike Trip – Day 28

22 Monday May 2023

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May 21, 2023. Laguardia Rest Day

Since breakfast was not until 8:30 this morning we took a stroll outside the city walls.

Trees holding hands

After breakfast we wandered out of the walled city and took this dirt road to some ponds that would have had a lot of birds if the ponds hadn’t dried up. Our bird watching comrades were happy to hear and see plenty of birds here.

It was a lovely walk through the vineyards.

Here’s the view looking back at the town of Laguardia.

Back at our hotel they were preparing for the owner’s daughter Elsa’s 1st communion celebration. She’s 8 years old.

We had a very leisurely lunch at our hotel where we sat outside in the sunshine and watched the comings and goings on the square. After an afternoon nap we set out for Bodegas Ysios

down a little dirt road that was headed straight towards the winery. But it turned out to be a dead end so back we went to the hotel for our daily Happy Hour/Meeting at 6. We walked nearly 9 miles today.

After the meeting we went out for a light dinner and ended up at an Irish Pub since most places were closed ’cause it’s Sunday or because they don’t open until 8pm at the earliest. We figured it was a good evening to get to bed early.

When we got back to the Square in front of the hotel we discovered a community band had just begun to play a concert – right under our window.

They were quite good and fun to watch the square fill up with spectators. A pleasant surprise to top off the day.

Spain Bike Trip – Day 27

21 Sunday May 2023

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May 20, 2023. Santo Domingos to Laguardia. Distance: 37 miles. Elevation: 2,680 feet

The weather forecast called for colder and wetter weather than yesterday so we really bundled up today since we got a bit too cold and too wet yesterday. Plastic baggies between our socks and shoes to keep our feet drier. Plastic hotel shower caps over our helmets to keep the rain from dripping down our heads to our necks and beyond. And wouldn’t you know it – we only got a few sprinkles. I felt like I was “hermetically sealed in a mayonnaise jar”. (Who remembers this quote?)

It was a fairly easy ride today with only about three climbs of 12 – 14% grade. We are now in serious wine country. Here’s what the terrain looked like most of the day.

with an occasional fortress here and there. I felt so protected on this ride.

We got to our hotel Hospederia de los Parajeds in Laguardia around 2pm

where we opened the door to our room and found this palatial place!

And the view from our balcony!

The town square and the path we came in on.

Looking right.

And looking left.

A local red and white – always incredibly tasty.

Every night at 8pm the clock chimes and out come these little dancers for a short jig.

And I’ll close with this sweet bicicleta.

Tomorrow is a rest day.

Spain Bike Trip – Day 26

21 Sunday May 2023

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May 19, 2023. Burgos to Santo Domingo Distance: 54 miles Elevation: 3,020

We headed out under cloudy skies with temperatures in the low 40’s. We had an uneventful ride with two major climbs and the headwinds were a bit less severe. At about a third of the way to our destination the cloudy skies got really dark and it began to rain. It rained off and on the rest of the ride, sometimes just a drizzle, sometimes more. By the time we got to our Hotel/Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada

the clouds parted and out came the sun. We were pretty wet and cold but as usual after a hot shower we were off to explore Santo Domingo.

Our first stop was the Cathedral of El Salvador.

Very interesting front door.

This theme was carried out throughout the cathedral where several windows were replace with more modern stained glass.

Even Jesus on the cross was given a new look.

Below the church the burial vault was quite amazing with modern mosaics covering the walls.

Next stop was the free standing bell tower right next to the cathedral.

Here’s one of the bells in the bell tower.

The view from the top.

And here’s another view of our hotel.

Spain Bike Trip – Day 25

19 Friday May 2023

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May 18, 2023. Burgos rest day.

After breakfasts we climbed up (and down) to the ruins of the Burgos Castle.

Here’s the view of Burgos from up there.

If you zoom in on the horizon you can see lots of windmills on the ridge.

Amazing bronze relief map of the sites we could see.

Then it was off to explore the Cathedral.

This place is massive and what impressed me most were the ceilings in the various alcoves. They remind me of looking through a kaleidoscope.

After we left the cathedral we checked out a place that was known for it’s hot chocolate.

Intense hot dark chocolate with churros.

Next we spent a few hours in the Museum of Human Evolution. Quite an impressive place and very interesting.

On our way back to the hotel we stopped to visit with one of the pilgrims.

Then back to the hotel for naps, then Happy Hour at 6pm and out for tapas with friends for dinner.

And back on the road tomorrow.

Spain Bike Trip – Day 24

19 Friday May 2023

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May 17, 2023. Lerma to Burgos. Distance: 53 Elevation: 3,157

I must say we were all sweating today’s ride. Yesterday we had an incredibly strong head wind and today it was expected to be even stronger. As we left the hotel at 9am the wind was blowing 16mph and was expected to increase every hour until it reached 20 mph by noon where it was to stay at 20 most of the afternoon. The weather report said winds 20-30mph with gusts over 40. Yikes!

Lucky for us it turned out to be a beautiful day – in spite of the wind. Beautiful countryside. We climbed up and over a mountain pass where there were trees to block the wind. We stopped around 10:30 in a small town for a coffee and snack along with a few of our comrades.

Throughout Spain there are many pilgrimage trails, the most well known is the Camino de Santiago across Northern Spain. We have seen pilgrims walking along footpaths as we bike by. Most pilgrims walk but others ride mountain bikes or go on horseback – thus the horse parked outside the cafe.

Once we left the cafe we cycled along this beautiful river walk to reconnect with our route

which then took us up onto a wide open plain where the wind was howling. With a 20mph headwind it is very slow going.

Along the way we met up with El Cid.

The wind must blow a lot in this area as there were rows of windmills along every ridge. And boy were they turning.

As we climbed up the next ridge

We came very close to some of the windmills.

Finally we crossed the river and entered the arch of Burgos.

Even though we were a mere 2 kilometers from the hotel we stopped in the town square to join some of our fellow riders for lunch.

I had to take a picture of my endive salad ’cause it was so pretty and picture perfect.

Once settled in we wandered the town where we walked by the great Cathedral of Burgos – which we’ll explore tomorrow.

Stay tuned…

Spain Bike Trip – Day 23

17 Wednesday May 2023

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May 16, 2023. Penafiel to Lerma. Distance: 50 miles Elevation: 2,210 feet

So far on this trip we had record breaking heat, then record breaking cold. Now we’ve hit record breaking wind. This morning just as we got going the wind kicked up to maybe 9mph out of the NNE. It continued to increase to 22mph with gusts throughout the day of well over 20mph. Tomorrow will be the same except stronger winds but still out of the NNE. We just happen to be traveling NNE so it will be another slow, hard day. Very exhausting riding.

Aside from the wind it was a beautiful ride. Quiet country roads, very little traffic. Lots of vineyards and wheat fields. And poppies.

Looking back to where we started this morning in Penafiel in the distance.

We got to our hotel the Perador de Lerma around 2pm.

We were surprised to see this amazing setup for our bikes down in the “car park” under the hotel. They are set up for Cicloturismo.

Here’s the view from our room. Right over the front door looking out over the square.

Once we got settled and showered we headed off for some tapas. Then wandered a bit and got to our Happy Hour/meeting at 6pm where the birthday boy was serenaded with Happy Birthday as he was presented with his little birthday brownie with a #7 candle on top.

Later we went out for more tapas with a couple of friends, still really cold and windy.

And here’s the end to a lovely day of riding and celebrating the big 7-0!