Day 7 Soria to Calatayud

A tapis evening last night in Soria - downed with a glass or two of Rioja . Early up this morning as we have to get to Calatayud - and that is about 100km - but I didn't tell her that ! Had a rather lovely buttery croissant & con letcha in a rather smart cafe round the corner from us. We followed the River Duero for about 30km to Gomora and then another river Henar and through its lovely valley . The landscape was changing from combine harvesting into fortified gorges . Little did we know that we were entering Charlton Heston country...El Cid to the locals ! It was here that we met ( actually they were quite easily over taking us ) rather smartly attired cyclists - Alfo and Blanco? - who were actually cycling the Camino -El Cid . Apparently it's been devised as a new tourist route - and in their best Spanglish explained to us all about the El Cid Routa . Fascinating stuff and a lovely couple - one meets so many really interesting people only to say a hello and a farewell - never to meet again .
I was still having problems with my rear tyre - (and actually my rear as well ) but as I was only a few km from from a beer and shower - I kept plumping it up . Got to just outside Calatayud and going to give it a final pump - no pump ! Left it back 10km ! Do I just leave it - buy a new one ? No - I'll send Nicola back to get it ! Actually - I thought about it - but in the end I rode her bike ( strange saddle ) back an hour. Still I recovered it . And there was a bike shop right outside the hotel - luck must be changing .
And while I was waiting for the repairs I had a beer at Bobbies Bar - real name Roberto ! And what a great guy he is . He's lived and worked in the UK and had great stories to tell . We ended up having supper there - fantastic ! Whitebait to start - salmon and hake . For anyone who knows Santinies ( in Portugal ) then you know how good our meal will have been . We went back there for breakfast .... And said our goodbyes . CU

Day 5

I did say that the hardest cycle day was the first . Well it's not ! It's the 4th ! So - after sleeping out under the stars the night before - Nicola calls it sleeping rough - we made steady headway up - one can only describe it as - Table Top Mountain . As I'm about 2km ahead of Nic I was on my own and in perfect harmony with the world and bike . There were no tractors - no cars and no cyclists ... so I thought ! And then I heard an 'Ola' from nowhere . 'Where u goin' 'where u come from' 'wos your name' . Never had time to answer any of his questions. 'Ma namm is Alberto - Alberto of the mountains' .
Now for anyone who's ever skied with my great friend Patrick Patrini in Chamonix you know that to get a word in edge ways is nigh on impossible - something about being in the mountains with no one to talk to . Alberto rode with us for about 20km . In that time he showed us where his grandad lived - where his father worked at this water mill, we passed - the purest water fountain in Christendom and eagles - and then he took a right and disappeared .
This evening we are tapising in Soria - one of my mostest favourite towns in Spain but Nic asked that if there was anyone 'out there' could they forward a map with gradients on ! CU

Day 4 - Pineda de la Sierra to Salas

This holiday - sorry trip - just gets better and better - for cowboys that is ! There is something about sleeping under a starry starry night by a river - rabbit BBQing on an open fire - counting shooting stars in the sky . And then there is camping 'au savage'. This is true boys stuff - unfortunately I've got the wife with me !
I've been carrying these flicking sleeping bags for years - like an insurance policy - waiting for the perfect moment . And here it was !
Not that we didn't try to find somewhere to stay - but there comes a point when you have to except the inevitable . Anyway - as I pointed out to her - it was a beautiful night - we had a bar to drink at, a restaurant to eat in - and a river to pitch by . And it was . I slept like a log - helped by copious amounts of Spanish brandy. On waking I discovered she apparently hadn't slept at all, having been attacked by ants spiders and wild creatures and accusing me of hogging all the soft grass! Oh well there you go!
We started the day with a 1450 meter climb over the Sierra's - not a car or cyclist to be seen - apart from one . More about Alberto tomorrow . Anyway - we did the long descend into Salas leaving the beautiful Sierras behind .... for a well deserved shower and loo !!! CU
PS - photo not clear - thank god - me 'skinney dipping' inthe river .

Day 3 - Briviesca to Pineda de la Sierra

What a lovely place Briviesca is . Only stopped here because of its convenience - but a real gem . They had some sort of fate / market in the main square which gave it a nice feel . I think Nicola over did the next days picnic - a kilo of mountain cheese - 6 apples and a ton of peaches and a bottle of Rioja - and it's 'muggins' here whose gona have to carry it !
I reckon it was this extra weight that made me have my first puncture for near on 3 trips . We were late leaving anyway - so by the time we had 'faffed' around we were way behind schedule . And then we had an option of routes - to go high through The Sierra de la Demanda - or around on a main road . Being the 'devil may care' sort've people that we are went for the scenic way . And it was scenic! And high ! This area is also a National Park and is worth spending a few days .... which is just as well as it looks like what we will have to do! Times like these I stay well ahead of the wife ... and out of ear contact! And hotels ... none ! Accommodation was only casa rurals and all were full - well it is the weekend - so what could one do ? Find out tomorrow

Day 2 -Medina de Pomar to Briviesca

We were absolutely knackered last night - and do you think we could find a hotel ? No chance ! Then we found out Medina has not got a hotel ! In the words of Victor 'I just can't believe it '. Medina is a bustley town with a lovely old quarter and is sort of on the Pilgrims trail to Santiago - but not a hotel in site ! Anyway - we eventually found a hostel on the outskirts - which was fine - but we did get told off for hanging our washing out of the front window !
This morning we cycled to Incinillas in the Upper Ebro Valley and followed the rapid river to just before Rioja . We turned south - The Ebro went east . The next time we'll meet will be somewhere south of Zaragoza in about a week - by then it'll have grown ten fold . CU

Lierganes to Medina de Pomar

We had a lovely crossing to Santander - there's something very relaxing about 24 hours on a boat in the sun - especially when one knows what's coming up ! The first photo is of a John & Eric - a great couple of characters who we got to know on the boat . They were heading west along the coast to Santiago - but it was Johns hat/helmet which intrigued me ! John is from California - and so's his hat - which is called a Da Brim and is on sale on the internet . I've got my Christmas pressie already sorted !
We left the ferry and took the Feve - a small single track train - out of Santander to Lierganes - a lovely -typical Basque town . The 'madam' of the hotel always seems pleased to see me - but once she knew Nicola was present - well - her attention waned some what ! Anyhow -we had a good supper - sardinas 'pour moi' - dourada 'pour her'. Vino comes comes free with the meal in these parts and I've got to say we - I - did not let them off lightly!
It's strange - but true - the hardest day of the cycle trip is the first . It's a long - and in places steep rise through the Cantabria mountains from virtually sea level . The scenery is really breathtaking - lots of mountain flowers - animals and birds . It took us 6 hours to climb up - 20 minutes to decend !! Photo of Nicola - and she is actually smiling !! That's a first for the day ! CU

On the road ...

... again !
Well - I'm high jacking my horse racing 'la Blog' again for yet another year for my - oops 'our'. - cycle ride from our home in Swanmore to Ceret - through Spain . Not sure how many years I've doing this this trip - may be a half dozen or so - but it sure beats sending post cards !
I've had various companions over the years ( cycling - that is ) - none seem to come back for more ( cycling that is ) . Nothing to do with the company - I think- or the snoring which accompanies that company - I hasten to say ! Anyway - for the second year running Nicola has decided to come along with me - uninvited but coming anyway !
It takes about 2 hours to cycle the 25km from home to the ferry port at Portsmouth - and even in this short time we managed to somehow separate ! One minute she was there - the next gone . As all MALE. cyclists know - and the FEMALE doesn't - is that when one is leading one can't keep looking back . Anyway - a few lefts and rights and the next thing was I had a phone call . I only answered it because I thought it might be important - never thought it was my Nic wondering where the f......g hell I had gone ! Anyway - like all good husbands do - I took the unjust criticism on the chin and then bought us nice bottle of fizz on board ( hence the photo ) which seemed to cheer her up immensely ... thank god ! CU

Mid-summer Report ... cont...

A few photos of the summer -

Geoffrey out at grass

George enjoying his new career

Little Miss Dynamite - with her proud owners

An memorable evening at La Drakkar with the Pipes - Lady Caroline & Eric

Mid-summer report

Hello my reader somewhere out there - how u doin'? I'm off on my annual cycle ride next week through Spain to Ceret - so thought about time for some stuff ! So - here goes .
Had a wonderfull couple of days at the Arquana sales in Deauville . Didn't buy this year but caught up with DP - MCP and the lovely Carol P ( think she feels the same about me ) and the lovely Lady Caroline Tisdall . The President of Arquana - Eric Hoyeau - treated us to a rather stupendous meal at the Restaurant Drakkar ( think it was in recognition of the two brothers being bought at the Arquana sales .... or perhaps it was something to do with MCP - anyhow - I digress ) . An evening to remember .
Also caught up with Emmanuel Clayeau and will visit them for a couple of days in August - hopefully when Vichy races are on . I think Emmanual came third in the French Trainers table and also passed 1m€ for the first time - so well done to him .
DP was certainly very active in the sales ring - buying 6 horses ( 3 for Lady Caroline ) for a total near on 650k € ! Willie Mullins was asked if he had bought anything and replied that he tried - but the Pipes got them all ! Here goes with the list -
Baby Jane - 18k€
Époque Misselot - 63k€
Barret - 65k€ ( a Dom Alco which Lady C asked me to share )
Brenda De Ronceray -70k€
Northern Bay -150k€
Batavia - 180k€
Best tip of the year ? DP to win trainers championship in the next 3years ! CU

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