Category Archives: Uncategorized

Had a lovely day today – I judged the distance much better and did only 60km and the hills were smaller – only 1000m of ascent. So by 5.00pm I was checked in at my reasonably priced hotel and on the beach. The route was all on tarmac which I find boring, but I hadContinue reading “17th July 2013”

My knee had been very bad so I took today off. I though I could not afford to slow down though, so I sneakily got the train from Zamudio to Laredo. My hotel, called Bisabuela Martina, is above the town and was great – it has it’s own pool, is reasonably priced and the ownerContinue reading “14th July 2013”

This was a long day – as I was leaving Itziar I was advised by 2 local chaps, independently, that the Camino norte was not doable on a mountain bike – especially with a trailer. I’d be carrying both up a long way. So I took the road which though easier was longer – inContinue reading “12th July 2013”

Today is my first day on the Camino de Santiago norte…the northern route. I can tell from the gps profile that there are no big climbs and some tarmac and I reckon I can do 60-70km. So I have booked a hotel in Itziar and am aiming for that.  The day starts well with anContinue reading “11th July 2013”

This is the last leg of my trip along the Transpirinecia route, and it is a short but fun one. I learn from my mistake of yesterday and set off early before the day gets too hot. After a climb on tarmac I get my first view of the Atlantic ocean at a pass, the ColContinue reading “7th July 2013”

Didn’t sleep well last night – suspect red wine. It often keeps me awake if I don’t drink enough of it and I only had 2 glasses. So I got up late, set off late and was doing a 600m climb in the heat of the late morning. The first part was on tarmac andContinue reading “6th July 2013”

I’m back on the road today with eye and knee mended and bike performing well. The route from Roncesvalles to Elizondo was absofuckinglutely gorgeous. It was just like England should be, and it was warm, so I had all the smells and sounds of a warm summer day. Rolling hills, songbirds, fields full of hay,Continue reading “5th July 2013”

Today is my last day of blogging for a while – I am taking a rest, as everything is knackered. I am knackered physically – my left knee hurts and my left eye has exploded – and the bike is knackered. Here is my eye: As I said, the bike is also knackered, and hasContinue reading “23rd June 2013”

Today was  very muddy day. It has been raining here for 3 days and today’s route took me through some excellent single-track down hill that had been turned into steep mudslides. The first muddy descent was to Anso along the ER11. It was tricky, slippy and included some up-hill (outrageous). I arrived in Anso coveredContinue reading “21st June 2013”

I got in early today so thought I’d add up my totals. I have traveled 1,790km (1,118m) through Spain and pedaled up 43,306m (142,000ft) of ascent. That’s 5 times up Everest. This is my third consecutive day of riding – I usually take a rest day every 3rd day but I need to get furtherContinue reading “19th June 2013”