well i,m now sat in Spain relaxing after a tough 630miles (over 1000km) of cycling, i knew that the challenge was going to be tough because mother had mentioned that there was a couple of mountain ranges to cross !!!!!!!!!!!
I would like to say a big thanks to Vix and the boys for there understanding, Ductclean (UK) for the supply of the bike and allowing me the time off to take up the challenge, and the promise to double all monies raised ( i,ve only been with them 3 months !) .
All the team at Phoenix gym Okehampton for there help and advise ! flat coke and a pinch of salt !! and hold your core whilst breathing (deeply in many cases of the mountains).
Howells & Sons Formentera Spain who have promised to take the bike back to the uk for free !
All of you for your words of support and donations
and Mum and Roy x
Friday 8 June 2012
Thursday 7 June 2012
Wednesday 6 June 2012
Made it !
Yes I got to La Zenia at 3pm after leaving Amansa at 6.50 this morning! Covered 89 miles today. Met mum and Roy at the beach!
Keeping this brief as I'm off to the pub for a pint or 2 !
Many thanks for your words of encouragement they meant a lot when I needed them most. X
Keeping this brief as I'm off to the pub for a pint or 2 !
Many thanks for your words of encouragement they meant a lot when I needed them most. X
Tuesday 5 June 2012
Singing in the rain tunnel
With all the dead snakes on the road I sure didn't know what would be inside this ! 
Alcula del jucar
I wondered what the squiggles on my map represented ! 2.5km from top to bottom then 3.5 km to get out of the canyon it was as hot as you like within the canyon walls climbing out but the views within were stunning ! Basically the Spanish have developed the art of cave dwelling !!!!!
Monday 4 June 2012
2 days left I hope !
Starting the day with coffee solo, and freshly squeezed orange juice ( really nice )
I know today is going to start with a mountain section as I have seen them in the distance from around 30m out! And they appeared to wrap the whole of the landscape so no getting away from them ! So another up up and away !
I need to hit a supermarket or garage as a bit low on snacks ( down to my last slice of cake ! ) and water !
Plan to get to at least yecla today which is 65m away that should leave 50 ish to the beach !!!!!!!
Mum tells me that the English radio station want an interview when I get there good job they will only here me cus clothing is getting a bit ripe !!!!!!!
I know today is going to start with a mountain section as I have seen them in the distance from around 30m out! And they appeared to wrap the whole of the landscape so no getting away from them ! So another up up and away !
I need to hit a supermarket or garage as a bit low on snacks ( down to my last slice of cake ! ) and water !
Plan to get to at least yecla today which is 65m away that should leave 50 ish to the beach !!!!!!!
Mum tells me that the English radio station want an interview when I get there good job they will only here me cus clothing is getting a bit ripe !!!!!!!
Cuenta / cassas ibanez
Got to say had a bloody good nights sleep last night, so much that I had trouble dragging myself out of bed at 7.30 !
Had breakfast topped up with fluids then left the hotel only to find a gym next door so raided there drinks machine for energy drinks !
I knew that just south of where I was was a hill climb of 1200 meters as it was marked on my map ! But to be honest I breezed up it ! (sleep is good ) the rest of the day went well with regular stops for water then a food stop at around 3 pm. I had a goal for today so after a sandwich I ploughed on to ibanez getting here around 6 pm with 75 miles done,
The hotel is good But it's called Romero and there's a classy nude on the wall. God knows what tonight is gunna bring !!!!!
Had breakfast topped up with fluids then left the hotel only to find a gym next door so raided there drinks machine for energy drinks !
I knew that just south of where I was was a hill climb of 1200 meters as it was marked on my map ! But to be honest I breezed up it ! (sleep is good ) the rest of the day went well with regular stops for water then a food stop at around 3 pm. I had a goal for today so after a sandwich I ploughed on to ibanez getting here around 6 pm with 75 miles done,
The hotel is good But it's called Romero and there's a classy nude on the wall. God knows what tonight is gunna bring !!!!!
1200 m
Yes saw this on the map last night and was tempted to reroute but then again a challenge met, concurred and freewheeled down !
Sunday 3 June 2012
No sleep = tired legs
As predicted last night was very lively in the town square next to my room, the battle of the bands kicked of at about 6 and to be honest was pretty good, I watched for a while then took myself of for tapas ( three fish dishes that were great ) went back to my hostel by now about 10 and nothing had started on the main stage so I assumed that was for Sunday ! Oh how I got that wrong ! It kicked of at about 11 with a number of singers blasting out anything from abba to Jackson 5 and anything in between , this continued untill 2 Ish then the disco started ! They were having a whale of a time ! Even using there own instruments to join in ( in my corridor ! To be fair they kept good rhythm ) drums and trombones make a racket! Finally went quiet at 5 Ish and my alarm went of at 7 pretty pointless as no one at reception till 9 !
The ride itself this morning started with a climb from hell 4 miles ni on vertical but once over the top I just kept it steady all day and arrived in cuenta at around 5
Found a hotel pretty easy now in the high street waiting on a pizza ( I think ) gunna have an early one tonight as I'm sodding knackered (55m covered today )
The ride itself this morning started with a climb from hell 4 miles ni on vertical but once over the top I just kept it steady all day and arrived in cuenta at around 5
Found a hotel pretty easy now in the high street waiting on a pizza ( I think ) gunna have an early one tonight as I'm sodding knackered (55m covered today )
Saturday 2 June 2012
Siguenza - sacedon
Well after yesterdays tip off regarding a mountain climb as soon as I leave town I decided to get on the bike early, 730 ! And yes it was mountainous for the next 20miles, but surprisingly not to difficult and had knocked them out by 10am, this had taken me to a junction with the A2 however this being a motorway I couldnt do the mile to the n204 so a bit of enginuaty saw me taking a forest road ( tricky on a racing bike fitted with panniers ) however today's gamble payed of and found myself emerging at a truck stop ( result coke and omelette brekie ).
The rest of the day was a series of climbs followed by downhills with fantastic views over the valley to the river bellow. Not to many dramas today except my poor feet !
I finally arrive at Sacedon at around 4 pm to find a small town about to have a music festival in the village square so my hostel is full of youngsters crashing and banging about ! Sleep may be difficult tonight !!!! 64m covered today .
The rest of the day was a series of climbs followed by downhills with fantastic views over the valley to the river bellow. Not to many dramas today except my poor feet !
I finally arrive at Sacedon at around 4 pm to find a small town about to have a music festival in the village square so my hostel is full of youngsters crashing and banging about ! Sleep may be difficult tonight !!!! 64m covered today .
Friday 1 June 2012
It started so well
Well after a good nights rest I was up at 630 slapping the factor 50 on ! Had a hearty breakfast headed down into the garage to pick up the bike and came across some quads and a tyi z (one for corky )
I had a game plan wich was to take a short cut to siguenza by taking some minor roads cutting out almazan should save 10 m or so ! Yea that backfired big time ! Minor roads made up of pea shingle and Tarmac uneven all morning was even traveling down hill in single figures ! Didn't see a sole appart from 1 farmer for the 56 km it took to get across ! No shops or canteens, by the time I got back on the c101 I was down to my last 1 ltr of water, I rested at a bus shelter then found a local pub who gave me some local water ! ( didn't drink it but had it just in case ) found a canteen in a little village called Imon no food but got some ice cold water, had a chat with some locals who I think we're amazed at how far I had travelled and was traveling to ! However I have been reliably informed I'm in for a 20m mountain climb in the morning !
Left them to there drinking and headed of for the last 15km to siguenza ! 15km of the worst road I've been on here how I haven't broke a wheel or a spoke I don't know as it was pot hole after pot hole it even shook my rack to bits so a roadside repair had to be carried out on that
52 miles covered on a ham croissant 4 bananas 4 muesli bars 1 bottle of coke and 7 Ltrs of water
I had a game plan wich was to take a short cut to siguenza by taking some minor roads cutting out almazan should save 10 m or so ! Yea that backfired big time ! Minor roads made up of pea shingle and Tarmac uneven all morning was even traveling down hill in single figures ! Didn't see a sole appart from 1 farmer for the 56 km it took to get across ! No shops or canteens, by the time I got back on the c101 I was down to my last 1 ltr of water, I rested at a bus shelter then found a local pub who gave me some local water ! ( didn't drink it but had it just in case ) found a canteen in a little village called Imon no food but got some ice cold water, had a chat with some locals who I think we're amazed at how far I had travelled and was traveling to ! However I have been reliably informed I'm in for a 20m mountain climb in the morning !
Left them to there drinking and headed of for the last 15km to siguenza ! 15km of the worst road I've been on here how I haven't broke a wheel or a spoke I don't know as it was pot hole after pot hole it even shook my rack to bits so a roadside repair had to be carried out on that
52 miles covered on a ham croissant 4 bananas 4 muesli bars 1 bottle of coke and 7 Ltrs of water
Thursday 31 May 2012
Down hill baby !
I am pointing to the road bellow wich is what I'm about to descend down to ! Didn't bother taking one of the way up ! Did however overtake a mountain biker on the way down ( let the brakes of ya wimp ! ) 
Sore feet, no sleep
Last night turned out eventful, turns out I had booked in to a truck stop, so lorrys crashing banging reversing till about 1 then started again at 5, not a lot of sleep! Managed to order a fish paella ! Thought I was getting a pizza so that was also a surprise ( mmmmm black squid ink my favourite ) also had 2attacks of cramp in my legs one whilst eating the said paella in front of all the truckers watching the Spain verses correa football ( to there amusement )
Started riding at 845 this morning things started out ok but then spent 1/2 hour going up and down a sodding hill trying to get my road to match the map. Sod it stopped for a coffee and food to find the road I wanted on the other side of town ( bloody map) hurrah for iPhone !. However the road I wanted turned in to another mountain pass! The view from the top was stunning, the way down took 10 minutes and was a series of hairpin turns, only got up to 35 ish before braking hard to go around the next bend ! Even managed to scrape the pedal on the ground ! (scary). However once at the bottom I had 24km to the next town ! By the time I got to el burgo de osma my feet were in tatters (hard day yesterday telling tolls ) so as I entered the town at the cross roads was the hotel Virrey and that was as far as I got today (50m). Had a shower then a hot bath and am now chilling on my bed ! And the baths full of whites !!!!! Have some pics on the phone so will upload them soon
Started riding at 845 this morning things started out ok but then spent 1/2 hour going up and down a sodding hill trying to get my road to match the map. Sod it stopped for a coffee and food to find the road I wanted on the other side of town ( bloody map) hurrah for iPhone !. However the road I wanted turned in to another mountain pass! The view from the top was stunning, the way down took 10 minutes and was a series of hairpin turns, only got up to 35 ish before braking hard to go around the next bend ! Even managed to scrape the pedal on the ground ! (scary). However once at the bottom I had 24km to the next town ! By the time I got to el burgo de osma my feet were in tatters (hard day yesterday telling tolls ) so as I entered the town at the cross roads was the hotel Virrey and that was as far as I got today (50m). Had a shower then a hot bath and am now chilling on my bed ! And the baths full of whites !!!!! Have some pics on the phone so will upload them soon
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Burgos
Just a couple of random snaps from Burgos yesterday, what's with the dinosaur? & a large old complex by San pedro de cardena ! 
Burgos and beyond
Well the hotel last night was good managed fish soup followed by fish in tomatoes followed by cold rice pudding all with a bottle of wine for 10 euros. This obviously set me up for today as I was on the road at 8.30 of to burgos, did some tactical riding which got me to just outside Burgos for lunch 45m down by 11am the rest of the day quickly went down hill getting in to the city with the neon sign showing 31 deg, the road I wanted to take was only accessible via a motorway so had to go across country! Welcome to mountainous Spain again ! Finally found my way out on the N234 20 miles south of where I wanted to be with no food and .5 ltr of water. A quick rethink saw me head of to a village 10 miles along the way! Next problem the town water tower was broke so the hotel was shut! Now up to 90 m, in pointing gestures a local informed me of 2 hotels a bit further on 5m so yes I am now nursing sore feet and will now have to rethink my route for tomorrow as I've done 30 miles of it already !!!!!!!
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Corrales - Aguilar
Well the day started ok finding a cafe at the foot of what appeared to be a modest climb, so tortilla and coke it was with a couple of chorizo rolls for lunch. Spoke with the guy in the cafe who told me what my day had in store and even in Spanish I can say he didn't hold back - yes the next 3.5 hrs had me climbing a mountain range all the way to reinosa by the time I got there I had consumed all but a mouthfull of my mornings water rations 4 ltrs, then the oasis of lidel emerged, stocked up on rations and headed of to aguilar still climbing with hardly a down hill to remember arrived at 4pm only 40m done but what a 40 ! 
Monday 28 May 2012
Santander to corrales de buelna
A nice easy day to start with, left the. Ferry port at about 1 pm and then peddled around Santander for a while trying to find my way out, headed out of the city on the n611 to torrelavega then on to corrales. Stopped of before I got to my hotel for some lunch but as no one in the bar spoke English and I don't speak Spanish I ended up with a coke and a slice of tortilla ! I don't know if you can tell how steep the climb is in the picture but I got 48 mph down the other side 
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