First ride

On the train,  just opened my eyes after a short snooze while listening to the mesmeirising sound of the trains wheels humming along. the bikes are happily tucked away in a compartment, their bags under our seats. sitting here trying to realize the moment, not quite getting there but close enough.

First off I need to thank everyone that on many different levels gave us a helping hand. Ever since my birthday party I've been meaning to pen out something but ended up, due to brain overload, deciding to wait for a relaxed moment. What's more relaxing than a comfortable train journey with six weeks biking in front of us from, in case you didn't know, Irun, Spain, and NOT Iran! That will be the next trip around May. Anyway we're hoping to make it to Lisbon in Portugal. But really you are all reponsibe for the big push and the only words that come to mind is a great big, deeply felt, THANK YOU!

Tonight we sleep in our new tent, our new top of the art matresses, cooking pots and all that is needed to insure a comfortable night on a satisfied stomach!

*a couple of days later........... 

Our first day out on the bike was placed right on top of the pile, along with northern Laos, as some of the most difficult biking we'd ever done!!! Perhaps it was the fact that it was our first day out, don't think so, perhaps because we're a bit older, perhaps, or could it have been the fact that the reason it took three hours in stifling heat to go eight kms was because the gradient of about seven or eight percent was unforgiving!!! We're not sure how we made it but indeed we did; try to imagine the jubilation as we gave each other high fives as we stood on wobbley legs having difficulty putting one foot in front of the other! As difficult the ride was, on the other side of the ledger was the fact that the sheer beauty of the landscape was breath taking which we had stopped to absorb several times as a result of tired legs but we were rejuvinated by what we were seeing!

Just to add a word, Anna here, we cycled along a steep ridge that looked down  a 400 metre drop to the great blue atlantic stretching away to the far horizon. several small herds of thickset palomino poneys and cattle with finely curved horns for company. so green here after the parched hills of the Corbières. i stopped a couple of times to stretch out under the sturdy clumps of pines feeling wretched and nauseous after the effort.

Next we needed to find a camping spot in a narrow port between high cliffs but a flat piece of land was miles out of town, NOT AN OPTION! We thought of a cheap hostel/hotel but the only one available was up a lot of narrow flights of stairs , 'escalentes!' which wasn't an option considering the bikes and bags. By this time it was getting late and I began to accept the fact that a bench that bordered the ocean was a reasonable option UNTIL, Anna spoke with someone who said there was a hostel for pilgrims on the ..santiago de  campostella trail  and perhaps we could find lodgings there or the very least a bit of grass to pitch a tent. The downside was the fact that it was up about forty steep narrow steps but Anna decided to give it a go while I looked after the bikes and watched a group of kids diving for money locals and tourists threw into the water; most of the time they came up empty handed! Anna came back wondering how her legs carried her up the stairs BUT, even though the hostel was full, the woman in charge offered tent space just in front of the hostel AND she said there was a road around the back and there we would avoid the steps. The thought of at the  very least a cold shower got us moving. The road out of town was ok but if it hadn't been for two fine local ladies that took us to the path, we would never have found it. Half way up the rather steep path, when we were forced to push the bikes, we came to another set of dreaded stairs! Not as many but at least fifteen where we had to carry the bikes and bags seperately making about four trips each; both our legs were singing! However the piece of grass she offered us was so steep it was almost like standing, not to mention the hidden dog shit we had to clean up first! As much of a joke as it was, the tent was up UNTIL, a lovely lady came up to us to ask why we had set the tent up where it was and not around the corner in front of the church where it was flatter and virtually no dog shit. You see, dogs don't shit on sacred ground! We looked at each other, shook our heads in affirmative unison and proceeded to dismantle the tent and drag it to its new site! We were rewarded by a WARM shower and then ran our butts off, down those fucking steps and drowned ourselves in a couple of COLD beers before ordering food and a bottle of wine to boot!

Up the stairs but this time we were totally merry as a result of the alchohol and we knew there was a comfortable bed, ahem, awaiting us. We literally fell into the tent and slept fully clothed until the following morning where we were met with, "there is a serious storm coming this afternoon so find a campsite in San Sebastian as the rain is predicted to last at least three days! We decided to hoof it to San Sebastian where we would hopefully find a cheap pension to stop for three days rather than in a tent. We got lucky first try thanks to the tourist office and yes, the storm came, while we were snoozing on the beach after our first dip in the Atlantic Ocean. We made it back to our room, a little damp but thrilled with our decision. We took the room for three days so we'll get to see San Sebastian which has already presented itself as a pretty impressive place.

We are both feeling more relaxed and feel it's really nice to be back on the fully loaded bikes with the many unforeseen adventures that come with it. We weren't going to do a blog but reversed that decision after  friends asked us to stay in touch and we decided this was the easiest way. Normally we do blogs when we're raising money for a charity which we'll do on a proposed bigger ride next May. So save your money until next May and hopefully get a bit of pleasure from coming along on this ride.

Hope you're all well. We're warm and dry!!!

Down the road........

g&a