Will the Rain In Spain Be On The Plain?

[Boxerboy55]

Must have been lazy or sleepy yesterday.

Sunday 4th I enjoyed a leisurely start, having asked GPS to give me a westerly round loop to Chaves. A pin in a map. The first stretch to Vinhais on N103 was brilliant. Almost 20 miles of pristine tarmac. Rolling road with umpteen curves. A mix of roads followed. Not so brilliant country roads to very rough country lanes. Some I regretted. Then a road closed caused me to jump on the A52 for a while.

I was caught in a heavy shower. Stopped at a bus shelter to add a layer and change gloves. I was a lonely rider on a sweeping main road in terrible rain for half an hour or so. Then things dried out the rest of the afternoon. On the whole a nice ride.

Today Monday 4/5 my target was Potes.
I’d swithered, but needed to fill a night. A longer ride than usual and I added to it because I wanted to ride the Vinhais N103 again. In the opposite direction but worth every mile. And I enjoyed it twice. Both ways. Quiet road even on a weekday. Excellent.

Then in a NE direction. A couple of M/way stretches were useful. Around 1.15 a really heavy shower wiped the smile off my face. Felt like hail stones. So heavy. Fairly short so I dried out. Till the next time.

The last hour got wet again. Spoiled the twisty ride north to Potes. The hill climb got up to 1300m and the temp dropped to 4 DegC. I didn’t bring my hot vest. Again I was one of very few road users. Hotel Valdecoro was a welcome site. I was dripping. Almost 300 miles today. Lots of bikes already there. And a few followed. Clearly popular. I was lucky yesterday to clinch a room.

Thankfully fuel price has reduced a bit. 1.549/L tonight. I’m good at fighting off the optimistic garage attendants who want to fumble the pump. And insist on the full receipt with Litros. Twats.

The rain continued and prevented a stroll. Except to the nearby Lupa store for a snack. 1.82 for a Litre bottle of San Miguel. Thank you.

Roll on a dry day.

ps - stretched my top speed burst to higher figure than last week. It’s a big country with lots of deserted straight roads

 

[G&T]

Thankfully fuel price has reduced a bit. 1.549/L tonight. I’m good at fighting off the optimistic garage attendants who want to fumble the pump. And insist on the full receipt with Litros. Twats.

Am I missing some dodgy scam here? I like being attended too. Lucky to get a smile out of the girl who’s behind the till pressing a button in the UK.

 

[Deise]

enjoying your trip

is that devil El Zungarron in Rio negro del Puente ?

 

[Boxerboy55]

Tuesday 5th is 10th day. Many bikes seem to have departed quietly. Heard only a few rumbles before I enjoyed breakfast. By the time I loaded up there were only 3 left. One was a UK RS12 maybe more filthy than mine after recent wet roads.

Today’s destination is Cangas de Onis. Hotel Granda. Sounds posh. And turned out old style smart. Biggest 4 berth double door shower I’ve ever met.

Anyway, back to setting off on dry roads and silly me had forgotten that I’d ridden part of this road last week in the opposite direction. Climbing happily up a winding road I paused at a deer ornament. A group of bikes moving on up hill. Same bloody ornament I met in sunshine last week coming downhill from the bear. But today was cold. Actually fine snow falling. Bonny snow capped hills. And I’m friggin’ cold. This is meant to be a “summer holiday”.

3 degrees. Sing me a song.

The direct route is north then west. Maybe 50 miles.
But I went south. West. North. East. Nearly 200 miles.

Sunshine. Damp roads. Dry roads. Warm. Pishing rain. Almost freezing. Bumpy roads. Smooth roads. 4 seasons.

First day I’ve actually passed through urban areas. Horrible it is riding through a few towns and enduring other vehicles at times. I’m an open road all alone fan. No 200kph jollies today.

Highlight point after old friend the deer was “Puerto de Pajaresis a mountain pass through the Cantabrian Mountains”. In a lay-by was a custom made truck monument. My best guess of the plaque was a momento to a truck driver.

Dinner was s pavement cafe for a good old fashioned Hawaiian Pizza and a real big pint glass of beer. Or 2!

 

[Boxerboy55]

Passing through lots of little towns and villages I see a lot of unoccupied buldings. Crumbling hotels, houses and various previous businesses.

Things have changed over many years.

Ps - learned that only 14 pics can be attached so one above lost a few

 

[wessie]

Passing through lots of little towns and villages I see a lot of unoccupied buldings. Crumbling hotels, houses and various previous businesses.

Things have changed over many years.

Ps - learned that only 14 pics can be attached so one above lost a few

Most of your route was in Asturias rather than Cantabria. A favourite area of mine that many do not travel to, beyond the eastern edge at Cangas.
Parts of it reminded me of South Wales in respect to deserted villages as they were serving long gone coal mining industries.

 

[Arsey]

Most of your route was in Asturias rather than Cantabria. A favourite area of mine that many do not travel to, beyond the eastern edge at Cangas.
Parts of it reminded me of South Wales in respect to deserted villages as they were serving long gone coal mining industries.

Cangas de Onis isn’t really on the edge of Asturias . The border with Cantabria is about 70km further east near towns such as Unquera.
Cangas arrowed.




But you’re right about it being a good place to explore .
Been doing it most years for the last decade and it’s stunning , with empty roads that are mainly surfaced like a race track .
Some great coastal towns/villages such as Cudillero, Luarca and Navia

 

[Boxerboy55]

Day 16 (no matter what I said yesterday). Wednesday 6 May. As day dawned with a very pleasant dry appearance I decided to take a very short ride up the Covadonga Climb.

A big breakfast room only had 6 rooms to deal with. An English couple with a camper van outside. Heading for Plymouth ferry while I head for Rosslare ferry. Loads of time to avoid M/ways.

Today’s ride was a mere 33 mile round trip. Being a narrow, twisty road it took quite a while. 1000+ metres upwards to enjoy some views and a couple of wee lakes. Several early start riders were coming down so I was reassured that the road went somewhere. My eyes were out on stalks when I saw full size buses and lots of mini buses and cars in the car parks. Hunners of keen strollers all over the hillside. A few snaps and a KitKat saw me head downwards.

Then met the fuckin’ obvious expected problem. 2 big buses meeting head to head on a slope. One a 6 wheeler. How stupid allowing coaches up this road. No planning. No control. Must happen a lot.

A Q of cars and campers behind each bus.

The road is barely wide enough for 2 cars to pass. No passing places like the good old Highlands. A few wide corners.

I could slide past all the cars and bus on my side. The opposing bus was trying to inch backwards uphill. A longer string of cars were dicking around trying to back up. No idea where they were going.

I got past bus 2 and waited politely for 2 or 3 tossers who can’t reverse and blocked the whole road to clear my path.

I was gone. Cannot imagine how long it took to clear the blockage. Probably still there.

While I enjoy my first beer of the day in the town square having stood on the Roman bridge.

Unfortunately some old bint has lit up her fag and is polluting this shelter so I’ll have to go find beer number 2.

Yesterday’s pizza cafe served up a lovely non-pizza lunch. With a big beer. And a Wi-Fi connection. And an hour or 2 later a second Big Beer in a big glass with a handle.

Squeezed a lovey tub of ice cream in along the way.

Must pack my 2 saddle bags such that my shoes end up on the ferry tomorrow. Hope the Bay Of Biscay is smooth again.

 

[Boxerboy55]

Day 17, Thursday 7/5. The day before my wife’s birthday.

Lots of “making up” to do on Saturday.

Last morning in Spain. Nice old style hotel. I’m glad the heavy chains & shackles saved the 3 UK bikes tied together for the night. It worked. (Yes I’m sarcastic)


A mere 150 miles to Bilbao ferry. And the sun shone most of the way. And the GPS kept me off the M/way as planned. Made for some surprisingly good roads.

As the ferry is called Santona I thought it decent to swing by the town between Santander and Bilbao. I should have popped in to see my bank manager too.

The GPS cleverly took me over a hill and into the ferry via the back door. Pleasant surprise.

Right now the captain is revving up to head for Ireland.

I hoping for a smooth ride.

 

[Jockser]

Enjoyed that, thanks for writing it up

I loved the N103 as well, all the way from Chaves to Bragança & back

 

[geotim]

nice, thanks for sharing

 

[jefformston]

Sunday 26/4

A leisurely start. Aguilar de Campoo to Salamanca.
Another meagre brekky. Lovely sunny morning. But cool so fully kitted up. Avoiding motorway most of the time results in my 198 miles. Roads amazingly quiet. I rode 40 miles before another vehicle appeared in my lane. I played the “Look No Hands” a few times. Three times I managed at least 1.5 miles in a straight line.

As far as the eye can see, agricultural is the name of the game on this 800m high plateau.

My “Avoid Motorway” strategy was aborted when a narrow, rough lane (corrugated sheeting style roadway) was a loser. Reset GPS and whacked a few M/way miles. 120kph soon eats a few clicks.

I bailed out of the fast track and found a wee rough cafe in a quiet town for “lunch”. Man must have thought I was mad ordering 2 glass tumblers of his best Americano coffee to wash down a big chocolate filled croissant thing.

Somewhere I was running parallel to the motorway on a 5 star A road. I could smell the new tarmac.

Then - I was on a very quiet (just me) arrow straight smooth road and enjoyed a few squirts that I don’t ever do in the UK. My trusty banger is a real do it all.

Dash said 67mpg this morning. At fill up time the dash said 265 range.

220 is my default tank range.

With temperature hitting 23 DegC the short screen shows its strength. Allows more air to get to me. And the air on my torso lets me rest my fingers on the bars without gripping.

Tho’ I was more like a Chimp In A Hurricane at 3 figure speed

I find the SHOEI helmet allows much more air in on a hot day compared with previous SCHUBERTH helmet. Both very comfortable.

After a stretch a good A road I reached a busy wee town. Main street closed for hundreds of cars and people to enjoy some kind of gala day. What a contrast negotiating tiny lanes to get round the action. A few miles of fairly rough road changed to super tarmac when the Region council line changed. Nice.

One little Near Miss moment could have written off my day, my trip. Passing through a busy town at slow speed, 2 lanes into a roundabout with big white arrows for straight to 12 o’clock. My road. The Merc on my right entered the roundabout slightly ahead of me. Oh, only 1 lane for the 12 o’clock exit. Oops! The Merc isn’t exiting where I want to exit, he’s going all the way round. Fortunately for me, my exceptional defensive skills let me lift off and tuck in behind the Merc and carry on my way. This was slow. Rather than lying on the road.

I later noticed that local drivers do like to go round roundabouts in lane 1 no matter which exit they’re going to use. But it is Sunday so more dicks are out and about. I don’t think my pulse speeded up.

As today is Sunday, Salamanca is sleeping so rolling up to my IBIS hotel in the centre was easy. Forking out 11EU per night to park my bike in their basement was painful. Bastids. That’s almost 15% of what I’ve paid for B&B.

Evening time wandered down to Busy Street. I want beer and food, but food isn’t served till 8pm. Bugger. Got to kill an hour. Hey Ho. More beer. 2 tapas plates were very tasty. A wee glass of Rioja seemed mandatory.

After dinner I strolled up the lane and had a Eureka moment when I entered the “Plaza Mayor Salamanca”. A stunning 18th century construction. 4 stories all round. Plenty dining options for tomorrow.

Today’s fuel was 1.579 EU/L.

Might take a day off the bike

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The default for roundabouts in Spain is lane 1. As ever though not everyone follows the rules so keep your wits about you. Enjoy.

 

[Mongoose]

Great photos and an unusual route, enjoyed this, thanks.

 

[Boxerboy55]

To round off my trip . . . . . . . .

The postman dropped a letter through my door today. All the way from Spain. Not good news

A speeding ticket.

I guess it's a Fair Cop! I did enjoy many roads in 2 weeks and I can't deny I was on the M-505 on the 1st May around 1510h.
Good job it wasn't the afternoon I was almost flat out on a long country road.

My Garmin / Basecamp track shows that I was indeed enjoying that road on a sunny afternoon from the Madrid Air Museum back to my nice hotel at Avila.

A funny system that says the fine is 100 EU, but you get 50% discount if you pay sharpish. Online payment was quite simple.
So be it.

 

[G&T]

Welcome to the club.

 

[siddo]

To round off my trip . . . . . . . .

The postman dropped a letter through my door today. All the way from Spain. Not good news

A speeding ticket.

I guess it's a Fair Cop! I did enjoy many roads in 2 weeks and I can't deny I was on the M-505 on the 1st May around 1510h.
Good job it wasn't the afternoon I was almost flat out on a long country road.

My Garmin / Basecamp track shows that I was indeed enjoying that road on a sunny afternoon from the Madrid Air Museum back to my nice hotel at Avila.

A funny system that says the fine is 100 EU, but you get 50% discount if you pay sharpish. Online payment was quite simple.
So be it.

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I got 100% discount on mine. I just ignored both of them.