Sierra de Guadarrama

Número Secreto Correcto !

I keep repeating this in my mind, you know when we get something stuck in your head. In English it means 'Your Pin is correct' saw it again today as I filled my bike up with petrol and stuck it on my credit card ready for a blast around the mountain range north of Madrid.

Today's ride (Friday) should have been on Saturday, but Lindsay quite rightly suggested there would be less traffic today as the weekend day trippers from Madrid would be out. So we save the day trip into Segovia town for tomorrow. 

The route we took was featured in Ride magazine Spain edition a 170 mile loop through the mountains.

So, we set off early, skipping breakfast at the camp site, and grabbed something 20 miles in to the ride a Cafe la Leche with a slice of Spanish omelette at a cafe in some small town as we climbed up into the mountains. Loads of trucks, at first we thought we may have got it wrong, loads of lorries crawling up the snakey pass through the mountains, but thankfully they were heading for the main Auto Pista ( motorway) to Madrid and we left them as we peeled off on the main road. Now we could have some fun on the twisties up the mountain.

In the distance we could see we were approaching the Valley of the Fallen, a memorial to those who died in Spanish Civil War. A huge crucifix cross I believe is the biggest cross in the world.

As we got closer we saw signs to visit the Basilica, 9 euro entrance fee. We both stumped up and took a ride up the valley to the top. 

Difficult to give a sense of perspective on the sheer size of this cross. The Basilica was amazing too built into the peak, with an dome ceiling with freeze of Christ. No photos allowed, but I did sneak a few with my GoPro. I bumped into Lindsay he was doing the same!

A bit further on we visited a huge 16th Century Monastery, on 1800 metre high Mount Abantos.

Now we are climbing into the hills again.

Eventually could see Skyscrapers of Madrid in the distance as our most southern point took us to the suburbs of  the capital.

As we headed North, by now it was after 5pm and we still had over 40 miles left until we returned to the camp site, so found a great little restaurante, in Miraflores de la Sa off the M 626.  I had the mixed salad with Tuna, Lindsay went for the Steak, they tried to rip him off charging for Sirlojn when he had a Rump. My meal came to 8 Euros but Lindsay's was 20, fortunately he argued then down and paid 12 instead. Nice Restaurant though with an amazing display of fish dishes. 

While stood near my bike two policemen drove by and asked me if I had come all the way from the UK, I said yes and explained how amazing their country was, they agreed and said the food was too, I said I know, I'm in the restaurant over there they laughed and said safe journey... Phew at least we at not on their wanted list for speeding !

Now for the best bit of Sierra de Guadarrama, it was just an amazing ride with a big grin on our faces  as we rise to nearly 2000 meters passing a ski station. 

The road was wonderful riding up through a mixture of terrain, wide open expanses then pine forest valleys, with wild horses by the road as we threaded back down again. A definite Henry Cole experience here !

Back to campsite now after fuelling up and buying beers. Great day !!!

The ride to Segovia

After yesterday's 180 miler most in 40 degree plus heat, we had a well earned lie in, and cooked an Omelette with bacon for breakfast. Afterwards we broke camp and loaded up the bikes and headed for a bit of site seeing in Salamanca.

The TomToms took us through paved streets I don't think we were supposed to ride down, past an outside cafe  Lindsay's wide  panniers almost knocking chairs over ha ha.

Eventually we made it to the centre, Plaza Mayor ...

I had Tarta Manzana ( the tart theme again !) and Lindsay settled for a Burger King milk shake.

On the way out of town we were subjected to the worst drivers I think we have come across so far, no lane discipline cutting each other up including us, we really needed our life-saver riding manoeuvres at all times, even getting cut up by old blokes on scooters in T shirts and slippers!

Soon enough we were on the CL-605 heading for Segovia. A straight road cutting through fields of sunflowers, very dry and later wheat fields as far as the horizon. We even saw a dust storm, swirling up like a mini twister, cutting quite close to the road. 

Eventually we saw this walled town that looked Roman called Madrigal de las Altas Torres.

We were offered Pigs ears or Pigs tongue  

In a cafe with old men playing cards. Lindsay settled for the Choritzo sausage instead! I wondered what part of the Pig that was, and when suggested this to him, he nearly choked !

Old Moat.

Eventually we could see the Sierra de Guadarrama in the distance, the mountains north of Madrid near Segovia.

Found the campsite around 5pm, great little site on the outskirts, with bus links into town. The plan is to stay 3 nights here and ride in to the mountains on one day, and see Segovia on another day. Decide tomorrow!

The Douro valley part 2 and the road to Salamanca

We left the fantastic campsite at Lamego quite early on Wednesday after pre-ordered breakfast ( coffee and croissant) and we decided on the route for the rest of the journey into Salamanca. Another hot day today, so we would take it steady and ensure we have plenty of water to rehydrate.

The plan was to ride the N222 all the way down to Pinao and then double back up to Vila Nova de Foz Coa then head south east to pick up the CL-517 east to Salamanca. 

The road to Pinao hugged the Douro, and was full of fast bends over all too quickly, superb views across the river riding in to the sun, with a real haze from moisture from the river valley. We stopped near the railway for a quick drink.

As we moved away from the river we started to climb up through valleys and really quite twisty riding with the temparature rising all the time. Just past Foz Coa we turned off the main road and headed along a single track valley gorge with a narrow roadside drop either side with no fences or barriers and a sheer drop into the valley below.

We saw the usual vinyards, but now crops included olive trees in orderly rows.

Into the afternoon the temparature on the bikes gauge rose to 43.5 degrees at the highest, never went below 38. The landscape became more arid and dusty and I could smell sandalwood. 

Eventually in the hills we came through a remote village - a small farming community where the locals looks bemused as we waved at them in the way through. We stopped on the outskirts in the shade of a wall.

Later in the day we took the C-517 into Salamanca, great rolling plains of farmland and scrub. The sky became overcast and blustery, we saw a few drops of rain and thought we woul ride through a storm, the temp dropped only a few degrees, but no cool rain for us today!

Angry looking bull.

Me and Lindsay. Me stood on pegs to get some fast air in my jacket !

Made the camp site after 180 miles and I  dived in the shower ... Cold of course!