Cycling from Huddersfield to Gibraltar Day 13.

Los Yebenes to Fuencaliente

Well the barman was right about the weather today.. Its Raining! oh no.. Well I suppose I have done very well with the weather up to now, so I can't complain. I'm heading out of what I named as Lebanon :-) and heading my way towards Ciudad Real (The place where I would have liked to have got to yesterday, but it doesn't aways work out the way you planned)

The road out towards Ciudad Real is a road with a few climbs and descents, but very nice hilly views along the way but most of the tops are covered in mist. The road is the N401. As I get closer to Ciudad Real the road get flatter and with lakes either side (Very nice).

Its around midday now and I'm nearly into the main town centre and the sun is coming out :-) I see a supermarket and call in. Its always a tricky situation when getting supplies from a larger supermarket as I leave my bike just outside main doors just enough so when I'm inside I can still catch a glimpse of it. I just have a vision that I pay for my goods and the bike has gone :-(

I cycle a little more into the main centre of Ciudad Real and notice a Pasta restaurant! I have memories of another one earlier in my adventure and think I like Pasta (It gives me lots of Energy) so I'm in there trying to order Pasta from the menu, not as easy as it sounds, but luckily enough there is a guy who speaks English who works there (Result! and a great Meat - just the job) as I head on out of here and make my way heading towards Cordoba.

I'm flying on the bike after that pasta :-) Brilliant energy, really lifts my spirits and the sun is back out "Hooray" the weather is back how it has been for majority of my cycle (Sunny).

Later in the afternoon I see storm clouds building in the distance and they always look as if they are heading your way !! Well these are..... so, I'm currently cycling past a garage, and decide to pull in under cover waiting for the rain to start! So I take advantage of the stop and eat a few cookies, have some chocolate, and drink plenty of water and Red bull, also take a leak while I'm there.. After about an hour or so.. there is no sign of rain and the clouds are starting to break up, with the sun coming back through!

So its off again on the road, its quite flat for most of the afternoon, when oh no..... Big climbs ahead, not too bad its up and over (Still Sunny so great) then down the mountain, yes this feels great. Not long after its back up again! then down again until early evening and it looks like I'm cycling through another National park, its very scenic, plenty of hills and wooded areas but not as sparse as Sore in France.

I'm looking at my map now and thinking I need to stop soon and book into somewhere. The place that catches my eye is Fuencaliente, so I'm headed there. Around 7pm I'm here just coming into the place/village I see a Hostel on my right, and I cycle towards and walk in to see if there is a room tonight. Greeted by a small chap I try to speak Spanish (Not very well again) and ask for a room! Hes doing a lot of shouting for a small bloke, seems to be saying "Manyana" a lot.... and my first thought is "What?" is he talking about me, is there something wrong with me with him saying "Manyana" I thought this word was "man" !!

After getting my phrase book out I see what it means lol (Tomorrow!!!) well I never would have thought that. Then he started putting fingers up in front of me (8 in total) I then knew what he was on about, he was trying to tell me that he would be up in the morning at 8am to open the reception area :-) Result! he did also put more fingers up to let me know that dinner is served at 9pm tonight if I wanted something to eat.. I said "See" I will be down at 9pm for food. Before that though I was thirsty and ordered a Beer from his bar, then I went outside, sat down and that Beer went straight down in one (See first pic) Brilliant :-)

I did think that I may get a plate of cheese here too for dinner, but luckily when I sat in the food room this time he came out with a list of products he only had available to cook.. on that list which was very well written, I could make out Soup for starter and Pollo for main :-) Brilliant, what I thought could have been a crap dinner was in fact a very nice one ..... After a few Beers too it was back to my room, where I may add he let me take my bike up to my room (Double result) .

Total miles = 105 miles.

Average speed = 13.2 mph.

Cycling from Huddersfield to Gibraltar Day 12.

Its normally around 8am or 9am when I get sorted and get on the road each morning, it's another nice day again by the looks of it. Oh by the way, I received an email this morning regarding my Wedding Ring! They say "No ring found" Crikey!! I could be in Trouble now...

The road out of town is a steady climb out towards the M300 I'm going up the steep hill, all of a sudden a load of Cyclists whizz by me saying something in Spanish, but I couldn't understand.. Onwards and upwards anyway until BANG!! I thought the noise was a Gunshot.. (Panic over it was my back tyre) blown out.. Its over to the side of the road to fix it, plus a bit a little chocolate is required to perk me up :-)

Its fixed now, I'm an inner tube less now as I need to replace that one - its too big of a hole, and while I'm at it.. I put a new Tyre on the back. It would probably last but it has got me from home to here! It feels so much better when you replace a tyre with a new one, very smooth again and I'm off along the M300 little headwind since I got over into Spain :-(

The roads are very smooth again which helps. I'm heading through Loeches towards Argenda del Ray. My target place for today to reach was Ciudad Real. I'm doing well and on route to Aranjuez. Just before I cycle into this town I stop at a garage to top up my supplies, it is hot today and I need more water. While I'm in the garage there is a few guy's smoking on the forecourt!! I'm thinking What ya doing ?? I go inside to get my drinks and there are another two guy's inside smoking too ?? What the!!! I pay quickly and get out of there Fast :-)

Aranjuez is very nice town, I cycle around for a short while and see a Burger King? Do I go in ? No. I have cycled around more than enough and I need to get on if I'm going to make my target for today (Ciudad Real). I'm now cycling along the CM1005 and CM4005 they are very long roads now with little around for longer periods of time, next place to go through is Mora then onto Orgaz (Funny name! I can remember updating that sign to Twitter and Face book ) Its a very tiny town with nothing much happening there. the road out of there is very easy to find it's the N401 the time is late afternoon now and my thoughts are that I may not make as far as I planned. I carry on and eventually get to a part of the road that says Tunnel closed take diversion! I look at my map app and the road takes a route up a steep winding climb up to this hill top... So I head off puffing and panting until I reach the top, I take in just how high I have cycled up here. I look down and its a flat plain in front of me, then down the other side of the hill its a similar route with Mountains in the far distance (That's where I'm headed)

I'm in a town called Los Yebanes (I named it Lebanon cos there is nothing here) and nobody around.. To make things worse it was around 6pm now and my target was still about 30-40miles away !! On top of this there are some nasty looking clouds heading my way very slowly :-( I have a choice now, do I stay put and try to find a place to stay here ? or do I hammer it out of here and go for it.... could be about 10pm if I do go for it!

Well I'm heading down this hill towards my planned destination, until BANG/STRIKE !! Lightning like I've never seen before (Lots of forks) Damn.. I head back to look for a place to stay its too risky and silly to risk it. I somehow find a hostel here "1 key" rating and it shows.. I sign in for the night and have my bike taken to a lockup garage round the back of the hostel, then I'm getting settled in my room, I open one pannier and I hear outside the heavens open ! Phew... good choice to stay put me thinks..

I make my way down to the bar as that's all there is here a bar with a few tables, and a dining room area though a doorway (Dining room's in darkness) not sure if I will get any food tonight until the barman Say's "Food in room 9pm" Great I thought, I will be getting fed tonight. Happy with that, I order another Beer he serves it in a half glass, I ask for a Big Beer he goes and finds me another glass and says "This" ? "Gracias" I say.. the locals in the corner of the bar who are watching telly look behind themselves at me, and comment in Spanish and laugh a little (Don't know what they are saying but I don't care I have Beer and some food later and a roof over my head out of that heavy rain) The barman who speaks little English says "Its going to rain all day tomorrow in Spain" Damn I think, oh well I suppose I have been very lucky with the weather since I started my trip.

Later I'm in the restaurant, well its a room (Dark room with some wood tables and chairs) the guy hands me the menu.. I get my phrase book out to look what's what, but because I'm the only one dining and hes stood behind me, and I can feel him staring , waiting for me to order. It looks like a column for the starters and the column in the middle of page must be the mains ! on the menu... I take a risk and point to one of starters (Don't know what it is) then I pick one out of the main list (I see word Queso think that's Cheese in it) so that will do..

The starter comes Salad with Tomato's and bread roll, looks OK and taste OK too.. Result for the starter, after 5mins of finishing my mains comes out and lands on the table... the guy goes back into kitchen and I'm staring at my mains in disbelief!! A FULL plate of Cheese ?? and I mean its FULL PLATE of Cheese ! (Not kidding its a KILO at least) And, there is nothing else coming through from the kitchen, I reckon the guy has now finished serving for the night and I'm left to finish my meal. I eat three quarters and I still don't know how I managed that! I was convinced it was going to be Nightmare city tonight after all that lot.

I head back into the bar area where the guy behind the bar say "Enjoy"? I reply "Cheese... too much" he says "Good yeah" I just say to him "Big Beer please" after that beer I'm back to my room busting with Cheese :-)

Total miles = 94 miles.

Average speed = 12.6 mph.

Cycling from Huddersfield to Gibraltar Day 11.

Its another Sunny day, but coldish morning and I'm off again heading out of Almazan, small place but nice to stay. I did contact the Pamplona hotel before setting off this morning, and they informed me they will email me later if they find my wedding ring! (We can but hope).

There are 2 roads to follow today (Easy). Its the CL101 and the CM101, finally its the CM1003 down to Guadalajara. This will be the first time on such roads so not sure what to expect but straight off its hilly! And its like that for most of the morning, and places are few and far between.. I reach a town called Baraona and its a place where I reckon I need to top up on water as today looks baron. I stop at a Bar, inside a few guys, I go to the bar and ask for Agua x 2 bottles. That's OK 2 bottles over the bar and I'm back on the bike out of that town.

Its around 12pm ish and I'm thinking the next town I need some food due to the lack of civilisation around these roads. I come into a place called Jadraque I just make it into a bar to get something to eat, I see at the bar there is a plate of what looks like Potato salad, I ask for this please! The lady behind the bar gives me a massive plate full complete with bread rolls. I order a coke too. Its enough to get me filled up for the rest of the day! That's for sure.. she also gives me extra Bread rolls when I finish the previous (What service) and the bill was minimal for that lot. My belly is full, my morale is high after just catching a place to eat before it closes for siesta.

Well back to it Andy, I'm out of here back on the road out of Jadraque, the road out is uphill, around some bends and More ! uphill.... Blimey this road out of this town goes into Pyrenees style Switchback roads... Phew! Its hard going, good job I did get something to eat just then or I would not have been able to tackle this monster hill. Great views at the top overlooking a Castle of this town.

Once on the top road, its back to normal.. bit hilly but OK. I'm on the road heading to Guadalajara. Its like a national park around these parts again but very nice, after an afternoon of fantastic scenery I'm dropping down towards Guadalajara... when Arrhh! I'm at a roundabout with 3 exits (Not usually a problem) but this is..... All these exits lead onto Motorways ! Wheres this main road gone too ? I check my iphone map, and there's a road somewhere! But where I'm thinking. It can't be that one surely !! (Dirt track leading under one of the motorways)

Well after cycling down this dirt track, I find this is the main road ! Wow! I would never have thought that this is the road to the next town. (Thank god for the iphone map) After some bumpy terrain I'm in a town close to Guadalajara. Soon after I'm heading into the main place (Guadalajara) Its very big, could be a city I reckon. Its not really mega miles though today if I stop here! I stop at an Aldi to stock up on supplies before I decide to make my way out of here and to find another place to stay for the night.

I'm heading on the road I thought was out of this place but No... It's not and I'm on the opposite side of a busy Motorway, and need to be on the other side! Well its a case of a bit of a de-tour back into the centre to find my way out of where I went wrong! Eventually I'm heading in the right direction, its about 5pm now. I've got a place called Acala de Henares in my sights now for the night, and I should land around 8pm ish..

I'm heading up hill again out of town (Its hot in this heat, must be around late 70's) I see a road on map that looks like a short cut! But hey.. its one of those roads again (A dirt track that looks like it goes nowhere) I'm going down this track.... bump, bump, clatter, clatter hoping my panniers don't fall off, when the road goes into a smooth track, I'm in a little village (Looks rough) and I stand out like a sore thumb! People looking /watching as I try to look at my phones tracker map to see if I'm heading out of this place lol.

I do eventually get on a main road to Acala de Hanares and reach there for around 8pm, I check into a hotel that I cycled past on the way into the town, after going well past then coming back on myself to check in at the start of the town (I remember this well, as when I first got to the town there was a McDs straight off) so eventually I'm in a hotel, back to back with McDs! Results lol.

Later on that evening I stroll over there for a coffee and donut and choc (deal for 1 euro if I remember rightly)

Total miles = 114miles.

Average speed = 12.4 mph.

Cycling from Huddersfield to Gibraltar Day 10.

This particular morning I'm in need of a shave, I go down to reception and ask to buy a razor, the lady on reception lets me have one for free (Great!) I'm headed back up to my room for a shave. I have a ritual each morning to put on my Live strong wristband and my wedding ring. I had already done this before I decided to have a shave, so when I came back to room to have a shave, I removed my wedding ring, due to the soap getting underneath and irritating the skin. Had a shave I felt much better now, but now I'm a little later setting off than usual.

Its rush - rush - rush now to get myself checked out and get on my bike to the next stop.. looking at the map Almazan looks a fair distance. I'm heading out of Pamplona its a cloudy start to the day and a little chilly! Its not too long until I see a Aldi just on the way out of town, I stop there to build up some supplies and top up water and Red bull.

I'm taking the road N121 out of Pamplona, I have heard about the Ash cloud back home that is causing chaos! I'm cycling down the road and pass the Airport, there are Planes busy coming and going at this Airport.. The road is downhill for most of the morning, which makes me a bit uneasy about whats ahead (Is there a big climb coming) but no... it seems to be quite good today the roads are quite flattish! I'm doing well its quite a straight forward route today, in the afternoon I'm onto the N113 (I'm into Rioja country now) nice Red Wine if I recall..

Mid afternoon and I'm hitting some very high mountains again (Thought the Pyrenees had been left behind) The villages are spread apart on these roads, I'm onto another type road now the CL101 Along this road I can look behind me or in some places to my right and see the Pyrenees in the distance (Wow, I have come quite a way today from those Mountains) But there is a Mountain range in my front view too and to my left side (They have patchy Snow on their tops too)

The CL101 is generally a flat road for some distance, mid afternoon and Its starting to spit.. (Its Spitting , its Spitting" I'm saying to myself :-) I see a Truckstop to my right, I cycle on in there, go inside for a coffee, cake and another 2 coffee's until it stops raining.. It seem like ages to Almazan. But around 7pm to 8pm I'm in the town looking on my phone for a place to stay. I find one just at the opposite side of town. I make my way in and ask for a room, there is a barman passing reception who likes Cycling and speaks good English, he assists me in booking in as the girl on reception does not speak English. I'm in! Bike in a room behind reception, and I'm headed off up to my room. I have a shower /change (Usual routine by now) and its back down to the bar/restaurant for some food. Things are going great until !!! Power cut. Damn I'm hungry.. its about and hour before its back on (Hooray!) Its back to order my food.

Just going back to the start of the day (My Shave)... Well, while I was having a shower at the current Hotel, I notice my wedding ring is not here ? Damn. (Well I said shite actually!) Where's my ring gone ? I knew where it was, it was at the last hotel in Pamplona! I had to ring that hotel so they can check my room to see it, after speaking to them they say ring back in the morning when the Cleaners are in (They will let me know if they found it) OK I say, I will ring back in the morning.... (It should be there. Shouldn't it ? - No probs).

Total miles = 124 miles.

Average Speed = 13.8 mph.

Cycling from Huddersfield to Gibraltar Day 9.

It's morning, and a nice sleep.. although not ideal food last night for tea apart from my chocky bar. I've packed up my gear and its off downstairs of this place, it must be a hotel although it just seems like a big house with a cafe part downstairs and bar area. I'm in the dining area and I see places set for Breakfast ? Wonder if one of those places is set for me, but last night the lady who booked me in quickly didn't understand that I was asking for food ! Well I will risk it and sit down.. there's a guy at the bar area (Must be that woman who checked me in last night husband)

I say "Bonjour" and he brings me Coffee with Milk ! (Result :-)) then a baguette with butter and jam (Fantastic) I'm tucking into that great.... Just about to finish and the woman appears from last night who checked me in.... "Oh no" I thought! I maybe not allowed to have this breakfast.. but shes OK :-)

I eat everything on my plate and table, and its off to their garage for my bike.. I bring it back to the entrance and start to check the spokes. There are a few that need a tighten.. I try to sort them out then spin the wheel round only to find I have put the wheel out of balance ! (Shit!) Don't panic, think about it Andy lol After a good 10Min's of messing around with the spoke tool I get the wheel back in line (Fluke or what?)

Right, I get the panniers back on the bike, ask the lady for my water bottles to be filled up, shes OK with that, I say "Bye" I'm thinking she will say "Money for Breakfast" but No... I'm out of here. Heading back to the D933.

I'm back on the D933 and heading towards the Spanish border :-) The views are excellent as I near the Pyrenees. I cycle into a place called "Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port" very nice village and the buildings are really nice in these parts. I stop at a cafe for a few Coffees, and they were so good I had three ! I was just sat outside watching the world go by it was Brill!

After a good hour I payed up and was off again towards the border. I'm cycling for around 3 hrs and I see the border (No checkpoint, just a hanging sign and a change from the D933 to the N135 (Weird, I was expecting to get my passport out to show - but no! just cycled straight along the road and into Spain)

"I'm in Spain", "I'm in Spain" I keep saying - Amazed I have made it this far from my house.

After the buzz of making it to the border the climbs start! Up and up, up and up, winding roads, head winds :-( Blimey it's getting tough now) I reach a shop just before it closes for the afternoon.. I get Red bull and water and sandwich's just in time :-) Then its onwards and upwards for seems like forever. Eventually after a lot of sweat I reach the summit church Ibaneta 1057m. Time for a photo or 2 :-)

After this summit its weeeeeeeeeeeeeee......... weeeeeeeeeeeee......... All the way down the other side of the Mountain (Brilliant !) I've never gone down any descents like this before (Switchbacks) what a great experience. I'm on the N135 towards Pamplona the rest of the journey that day was very smooth and ups and downs but nothing too hard. By around 5pm I'm on the edge of Pamplona and think I'm staying here tonight its an early finish for me I reckon, so after cycling into the centre of Pamplona I'm booked in a hotel, washed, changed and kit all sorted for about 7pm.. I'm now off out to sample the centre (Its packed out lots of people in one of the main squares, I look around before choosing a place to eat, I sit and have my well earned Spag bol complete with 3 Beers :-)

Nice stroll back to the hotel after sunset and its bedtime once again (Great day over the Pyrenees today)

Total miles = 71 miles.

Average speed = 11.0 mph.