Jaca to Mora de Rubielos
The Sun has got his hat on
Hip hip hip hooray
The Sun has got his hat on
And he's coming out to play
(Just Elsewhere, that is)
It rained so hard last night it actually woke me up at 3am. I suppose I'm getting picky. I've been so used to good weather over the summer that I've really been spoiled. Eventually, after listening to the rain for half an hour I drift off and wake up just after 9.30, so pretty late, and it's still sodding raining.
The Hotel owner again jokes about me not getting in the lift and breaking it again. I'd be upset if it wasn't actually the truth- too many Menu Del Dias, Bocadillos, Tapas, general nibbles and Estrella. I really must see to that.
Said Hotel chappy says that it’s the first rain they've seen since July 15th, so he's more pleased to see it than I think we are. Over breakfast we break out the computer, and Sat24.com gives us a comedy satellite picture of a huge bank of cloud with an outline of Spain beneath. Not promising. So we pondered what we should do today: Have a lazy day and stay again, assured of another quality meal tonight, and a nice venue in Jaca, or move on.
We meet the owners of the 2 very new S1000RR's and the K1300S that are sat in the garage. Their Ferry to Santander was cancelled, so they rode all the way here, and now it is raining cats and dogs, they don't seem exactly chuffed about things. They're going out to have a wander in town.
Steve and Clive are heading North, back to the Pyrenees and in the General direction of Calais. They ponder whether to go over the top or through the tunnel. A French couple tell of Snow on the peaks, and I think that kind of makes the decision for them, that said they're no strangers to snow from chatting last night
Well 'ard..!
Eventually we conclude to move on, and a route is hatched to join up with some Michelin Green routes to East of Zaragoza that head South. It might be good, it might be rubbish, you pays your money, you takes your choice. By the time I've got my stormtrooper suit on and gotten down to the bikes the rain has stopped, and things don't look so bad.
Observe: Rotund GS'ers ride; Lithe, irritatingly fit S1000RR riders go shopping
And so to the road we go.
More local Street Furniture..
The newly replenished rivers are a rather fetching beige colour..
Never has the turn of phrase 'You snooze, you lose' been more appropriate. The riding is great stuff- I'm so glad we hadn't taken the easy option to stay at the hotel.
Great scenery, yet again..
Aside from a small boring part navigating around Zaragoza itself all on the road is, as I say, very good indeed. The Michelin Green Road we eventually take South is particularly spectacular. The sun comes out and the roads are deserted, leaving us to have a leisurely play on the tarmac.
Passes to navigate..
Towns up in the hills..
After some 250 miles, the last one hundred or so being a real riot, we take a break where we are. The place looks good; I get a good vibe. I find a promising looking place on the internet. I lead in to town for the destination, and after about 200 meters of leading Brian to the destination I turn the corner.. and.. straight in to a Brass Band. Seriously..
I missed the band during avoidance manouevers and wasn't quick enough with the camera, but here's some of the following parade. I think she likes me...
Aha. It turns out tonight is festival 'San Miguel'. Four days of celebrations, beginning later tonight. There will be bullfighting, bands, booze, food, all that sort of stuff. And we have a balcony overlooking the place. How cool is that?
The most helpful hotel manager gets us garage space just up the road and we're set for the evening. He's careful to tell us that 'they don't kill the bull tonight' as not to offend our tree-hugging non-spanish sensitivities..
Celebrations..
Spanish Dodgems are just as traffic free and empty as Spanish roads
Sort of a bullfight..
Careful, now..
As Brian has already kindly observed, I (and I should say actually,
we were not able to participate in evasion activities as we were both too fat to fit through the bars to the refuge)
We buy a revolving chicken for dinner.. Quality peasant fayre it is too..
The Palancia band (who start at 1am..)
It's a great sight to see with the locals partying it up and dancing about. We turn in at about 2.30am as we'll be riding tomorrow and the temperature has really dropped, not at all flip flop friendly- I'm freezing! Back at HQ we can still hear the partying- the band have a break at around 3.45 but are still going when I'm nodded off at about 4.15 or so I guess. And its only Wednesday night/Thursday Morning as it were, and day one of the Festival..
What a gobsmackingly curious and interesting experience… wow