Day 46 Puenta La Reina to Arnedillo

Day 46                                           3/9/16

 

63 miles (Puenta la Reina to Arnedillo ) Average speed 9.3 mph Top speed 30 mph

6hrs 44 but a total time of 14 hrs out in dark and sun. Sunrise was great but it went from 21°C to very cold as the sun came up with mist everywhere.

This day started very early!!!

I had to get out of that sweat box of hostel hell.
At 2.30 am I had had enough of hostel life, what with 14 smelly people in one room and as I was on the top bunk I had to deal with the heat and the fear of falling out! So I grabbed all my gear and wet washing and carried my bike up 5 steps. Got a coffee from the kitchen full of flies and prepared for some night riding.

All was good until I ran out of street lights and couldn’t see because the bar bag was in the way of the front light. Dug deep in panniers and found my head torch and it worked a treat. I spent the next two hours following a white line and saw very little else. Then at about 20 miles I realised why my bum was sore. I didn’t have cycling shorts on and as they were easily accessible in front pannier I changed on the side of the road. Good job there was no traffic to see my bare arse! As all my socks are wet I’m  riding without socks too.

So here I am, sat on the step of a bakers at 6am in Lerin, hoping a bar will open soon as I could do with a drink.

I don’t think it’s very likely as the sun doesn’t come up for another hour.

I think I’ll try San Adrian up the road. I waited a bit before leaving and checked out the vending machines in which you could buy all sorts including blow up dolls and penomitors for measuring your sex!

 

Had a couple of coffees for €2 there and a decent rest. Also had a very sugary fried bread looking out over the Ebro.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then on to Calahorra. Took satnav ‘s advice and went round the  hills and on to Autol. Which was great with a race up the steps going on with the loudest p.a. ever.

Then around the corner I saw the magnificent red rocks.

This was one hell of a ride with eagles and flocks of birds everywhere it was truly memorable but I still hadn’t had any lunch. I then found cycle path to Arnedillo which was good to cross the massive river bed and found a good spot for lunch of bread and blue cheese.

Eventually found a good place to stay after waiting 30 minutes for tourist office to open late! There is no camping at all in this region. Found some spa bathing to heal all ailments which I may try in the morning.

It turned into a very long day of 14 hours from start to finding a bed, but tonight I’ll have you know I’m in a twin room with sink and shower. I didn’t realise how much I missed my privacy. I’m now so relaxed it’s unbelievable. Only €18 and my bike is in their living room! I am in room 101 so I hope I’m still here in the morning!

Teresa is looking after me even though we can only converse through pointing. I’ve just had a beer or two in the bar and went to a restaurant over the road to be told they don’t serve till eight. I’ll need to adjust to Spanish ways and learn to relax. I told myself off for walking too fast earlier! I think I’ll go and see which footy is on tonight and have some tapas. Views are amazing even from my room. Watching eagles as I write. It’s incredible to hear them talking to each other as it is so quiet you can hear them way up above.

It was still a great day following eagles and stunning red rocks into Arnedillo. After seeing the sunrise and enjoying the Ebro. At 3.30 this morning I think I realised how mad I am.

(Ermintrude : that has taken a while, we all thought you knew!)

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