After a very rough crossing, which was helped by beer, we were unfortunately delayed due to someone being airlifted off the boat due to a medical emergency. Instead of arriving at 12.45 European time we arrived at 2.30, to the worst rain I have seen in ages!!!
We headed down the motorway from Bilbao towards Madrid in the hope that the weather was going to improve, unfortunately it did not. 9 degrees and torrential rain for the best part of 2 hours made for cold hands. If I could have had any luxury item at that point it would of been some very big, warm and water proof gloves. Gave us a chance to test the kit was water proof, mine in the main was fine with the exception my riding suite now spreading black dye all over the north of Spain including a petrol station shop floor (not sure the lady was happy with my black dripping). Unfortunately for ian the 2 pockets on his jacket that held all his money were not very water proof so we are now surrounded by drying notes!!
But us being men, we carried on till 6, covering 177.7 km, sorry about the change but everything is now in km. we headed off the motorway to a town called Burgos and found the 1st hotel with parking, it just happened to be an AC by Marriott but only 4 stars
Burgos is the gastronomic capital of Spain for 2013 so we thought we had better try and have a great local meal, so for tea we had fried local black sausage with pickled peppers followed by veal stew for ian and veal steak for me followed by semolina pudding, and maybe a bottle of tinto.
Back at the hotel with a litre of San Miguel for £1.50.
A little bike maintenance in the morning as a couple of things have fallen off, and the chain needs oiling. Hope to get on the road by 9.30 and plan to do 400 km tomorrow, Spain will now take 3 days and not 2, so subject to no problems morocco on Sunday.
The card has now made its third appearance, although a little soggy on the corners! Day 3 challenge complete.
This is the story of 2 friends taking a month out of life to do something we love but with a difference. The plan was to ride somewhere that would offer us a challenge, some danger, and to take us out of our comfort zone!! before we get to old, hence the name. Although the final destination has not been agreed, we will head from a starting point in Herne Bay through Spain in to Morocco and on towards Mauritania (possibly touching on Algeria).
Thursday, 11 April 2013
Day 2
A cold and early start this morning, 3.5 degrees and fogey, up at 6 and out at 8.30 (ian re-packed again)need to improve on our urgency for when we need to move.
40 miles down to Portsmouth, breakfast on the quay side and then on to our boat to Santander, although I (Justin) had booked a ferry to Bilbao, which slightly confused both of us!!
Anyway on boat and nice French man informed us that the boat would be "going much up and much down" which at 4.30 as I write this it is a little.
With 24 hours to spare we Chilled out with a couple of beers and re-worked our route through Spain taking in to account our new arrival port!!! We should arrive at 12.45 Spanish time and then crunch some miles south.
Day 2 pic of card complete!
40 miles down to Portsmouth, breakfast on the quay side and then on to our boat to Santander, although I (Justin) had booked a ferry to Bilbao, which slightly confused both of us!!
Anyway on boat and nice French man informed us that the boat would be "going much up and much down" which at 4.30 as I write this it is a little.
With 24 hours to spare we Chilled out with a couple of beers and re-worked our route through Spain taking in to account our new arrival port!!! We should arrive at 12.45 Spanish time and then crunch some miles south.
Day 2 pic of card complete!
Tuesday, 9 April 2013
Day 1
I won't talk about the leaving bit as that was tougher than I thought!
A couple of Freind's joined us for the ride down to the holiday inn in Winchester, which is I 1st nights stay, 3 hours and 7.5 degrees, thanks chaps.
Now tucking in to burger and beer and trying to work out what we have forgotten and which bag we put things in???
A couple of photos of day one and an early night, emotional day and very tired now, and we only rode 90 miles.
Things are going to get a lot tougher!!
Thanks for all the kind words from everyone it was more than I expected and we have no plans not to return, and we will ride safe, promise.
The challenge now is to get the good luck card out at every evening stop be it boat, hotel, riad or tent. 1st days challenge complete!!!
A couple of Freind's joined us for the ride down to the holiday inn in Winchester, which is I 1st nights stay, 3 hours and 7.5 degrees, thanks chaps.
Now tucking in to burger and beer and trying to work out what we have forgotten and which bag we put things in???
A couple of photos of day one and an early night, emotional day and very tired now, and we only rode 90 miles.
Things are going to get a lot tougher!!
Thanks for all the kind words from everyone it was more than I expected and we have no plans not to return, and we will ride safe, promise.
The challenge now is to get the good luck card out at every evening stop be it boat, hotel, riad or tent. 1st days challenge complete!!!
Monday, 8 April 2013
Very strange feelings
Well here I am finishing off in the office and handing over before I leave the office for 5 weeks, and it feels very strange.
I don't think that I have ever not worked for that long since I left school!!
Quick re-pack in the morning and then off in the afternoon trying to dodge the rain all the way down to Spain, by the looks of it!
look out Morocco here we come!
I don't think that I have ever not worked for that long since I left school!!
Quick re-pack in the morning and then off in the afternoon trying to dodge the rain all the way down to Spain, by the looks of it!
look out Morocco here we come!
Friday, 5 April 2013
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