A Long and Winding Road

In addition to our ever tougher cycle training (150 very hilly miles last week) to get fit and ready for the rigours of cycling across Spain, there is also a lot of planning involved. For example, how to travel to Spain and having got there, how to find our way to Santiago de Compostela. There are many other things to be resolved. How long will it take? How far can we travel each day? Will we find somewhere to stay each night? Over the last couple of months we have been studying maps, researching on the internet, and trying to answer these and many other questions that need to be answered.

There are 2 main pilgrimage routes across Spain, the Camino Frances (shown in blue in the diagram above), and the Camino del Norte marked in yellow and which has several options branching off.The latter is the obvious route for us because it passes thru Santander where the ferry from Portsmouth docks. In reality the Camino del Norte follows the coast more closely than shown in the diagram. It passes thru the coastal city of Gijon and many small fishing villages where we will have the opportunity to enjoy a glass of Asturian cider with barbecued sardines. Or if we are in an mood adventurous mood, octopus or some such Spanish delicacy!Having reached Ribadeo, the road inland starts a long climb, up and over the mountains where we hope to stay for one night at the beautiful monastery at Sobrado. Los mojes, shown on the diagram above, means the monks. Not too difficult to translate!

Returning from Santiago we will first head east along the Camino Frances, then take the yellow route to the old town of Lugo, famous for it’s encircling Roman walls. The route thru Lugo to Oviedo is known as the Camino Primitivo. It will be the hardest part of our journey, with 3 days in a sparsely populated mountainous region!

After that I need a rest! Hasta luego.

Last of the March Hares

British Summer Time actually felt like it was summer time! With an afternoon temperature of circa 20 degrees and a cloudless blue sky, we could could not have been a better day for getting out on the bike. Christopher, had come back for a short break from his medical studies so we all set off on our own, very circuitous route which became more of a nature trail!

After passing the windmill on Reigate Heath we had our first encounter with Surrey’s wildlife. In a field by the top of Trumpets Hill we came across these strange looking sheep.

And then a mile further on we passed the deer herd sunning themselves in the parkland of Wonham Manor.

We continued on our 34 mile, circuitous ride to the tea shop at Tulley’s Farm. Cycling along a narrow, off-road woodland track at Shipley Bridge we encountered our next bit of wild life. A rather large, running horse which had obviously escaped from it’s field. I don’t know who was frightened the most, us or the charging horse!

Tulley's farm sandwiches and salad platter were very generously portioned.However there was one disappointment.Seeing the sign which said ”No ifs or buts, you must come and see our beautiful bunny girl, wearing nothing but a fur coat!” , this is what we found.

This had been a very interesting ride, much of it thru wooded lanes and the day’s sunshine had worked it’s magic for as we climbed the hill up to Nutfield ridge we saw our first display of very early bluebells. Proof that British Summer Time has indeed arrived!

A short break before our Tuesday ride took us over 100miles for the week. Making the most of this glorious weather we did another circuitous route, to our tea stop at Four Elms. After the long climb up Ide Hill we had the welcome view of Bough Beech Reservoir in the valley below, and proving that spring had definitely sprung, a mass of bluebells on the wooded hill top where we frolicked more or less gaily.

Kent has long been known as the Garden of England, and as we pedaled up the hill into the lovely village of Chiddingstone we had sweeping views of green fields and hedgerows, stretching into the distant high ground of the Weald. And what could be more representative of the farming tradition of the hop fields of the Garden of England than it’s many oast houses.

What happened to Spring?

A couple of mixed weeks weatherwise in which we thought
Spring was finally here only to be horribly disappointed. My training has been
restricted to cycling with the Anerley – sometimes as the only Picos rider but usually meeting up with Des.

Christopher has only been training in his University gym which he thinks is a cool place because it’s attended by some celebrity DJ called David Guetta. No idea who he is but I bet he is not a patch on Sir Jimmy Saville!

Des and I have managed our first 50 mile ride this year to East Grinstead where we were treated to a full English breakfast. I was so hungry that I gobbled mine up before I thought to take a photo but this is an example of what was presented to us after a VERY hilly 30 miles of riding. At £4.99 including tea it was a bargain and worth the trip to East Grinstead in
its own right! I have to admit that my breakfast tasted all the better without
the weekly unappetising viewing of the dead tissue on Ewa’s chilblains. No
wonder the poor girl is so thin...

And finally a new milestone for myself. I was the most senior Tuesday rider out today accompanied by a couple of whippersnappers on shiny new bikes. Jeremy on the left modelling a fixed gear Halfords special and Ricky on the right with his lovely new touring bike.

Ricky has decided to join us on our pilgrimage and is a very welcome companion. He has a very compelling reason for doing the gruelling trip but we'll leave that for another day...

Finally more of the more exotic animals found on British farms these days. What are they? Young ostriches I think?

Well to summarise the last few weeks, you will not be too surprised to find that we are not yet as fit as we need to be!!

Training in February

There was not a lot to commend outdoor cycling this February unless you like the idea of spending the day wearing many layers. The sweat that pours off your brow as you puff and pant up the hills of Kent is quickly chilled and frozen on the way downhill.
Still there is always the compensation of the tea shop where a warm welcome awaits the frozen yet sweaty cyclist. In little cafes we always seem to be ushered into a corner where the air doesn't circulate to put off the other clientele.

Last Sunday's Anerley ride was typically hilly and painful as we meandered our way to Chartwell, Winston Churchill's old place. Des had decided to take his wife out - she probably made him feel guilty about cycling on Valentines day instead of a romantic lunch for two. Thus it was just myself and Christopher suffering for the good of our cause.

Good value tea and scones and a sunny view brought back happy memories of picnics with the family. We were in a comfortable mood with an easy ride home ahead of us when I heard a gunshot bang. The crows in the field rose into the air but alas it was not a shotgun. Ewa's rear tyre had a massive hole in it. Although she insisted that it was recently new the tyre was clearly rotting in the wheel and nothing could be done to patch it up.

A valuable lesson was learned by us all and Ewa managed to maintain a semblance of dignity as she headed off to Four Elms with a 3 mile walk ahead of her.

Off we go again!!!

Des has another ambition (for a 72 year old guy he has a lot of these). To revisit Santiago de Compostela on his trusty bike. When he says 'trusty' I usually think to myself that the 't' is silent.

A change of personnel is called for after a brief meeting with Luke.
Me: "Would you like to go to Compostela?"
Luke: "No!"
Me: "Why not?"
Luke: "Just two reasons. I hate cycling and I hated spending two weeks with you old people."

Oh well, my charms still work on Christopher, now a student doctor. He has agreed to put down his stethoscope and spend three weeks with us so YES we have a team!!