HobbesOnTour
Guru
- Location
- España
Spanish Figary and other Stories…… (A Chris de Burgh reference!)
The catch-up
For anyone reading this, this adventure is a follow on from The Big, Big Trip. While the old one was posted "live" my focus is different here and this is being written up from notes taken at the time. It's not "live" from the road. I have, however, decided to write it as if it were.
I'll post updates when I can and I'm happy to answer most questions so fire away if you have any.
I don't think you need to have read the first Travelogue to follow this one but I will make references to that earlier trip. That's not me bragging or boasting - it's just the reality that this is one big, big trip for me.
I'm not sure how useful this will be to anyone planning a bike tour in Spain except for providing examples of what not to do!
I am blessed to have the time to wander freely and enough experience (and a go anywhere bike) to not be fazed by too many things.
There has been no preparation, no planning worth anything done for this trip - I am travelling effectively blind. I've discovered that I really like this method of travel.
Perhaps I'll visit a place that you're familiar with and ignore a major attraction. Maybe I'll choose one direction over another for the seemingly dumbest of reasons. Remember, I'm travelling blind and choosing to be that way, I'm riding my own tour that is less about "conventional" touring and more about uncovering a country and finding a place to live - you ride yours.
My "plan" such as it is, is to follow the route of Don Quixote by reading the book and doing my best to recreate his journey. I'm told, all in, that that's about 2500km. After that, I think it's about time I check in at home (wherever that may be) so will head north, hopefully hitting Germany, Holland and then on to Ireland. By then I hope to have a destination in Spain to return to.
I will say that Spain is wonderful for the bike tourist. Simply fantastic! So varied, so interesting and with fabulous food and coffee. However, it has been harder, much harder than I expected. Somewhere in the back of my mind I had decided that after the heat of México, the rain of Guatemala, the mountains of Colombia that Spain would be easy. It is not. But it's worth it.
Since I now have a bit of time, I've played around with the layout. You can read about how far, high high and how hot I traveled before seeing the stats. This data will now appear at the end of the day, not the start.
Each day will have a direct link to my Strava record for that day. I have no interest in cycling data but there will be a whole load more photos! And a map!
Anyone can get a Strava account free of charge and view the pictures.
Each day will only be made available to accompany this Travelogue so there'll be no jumping ahead!
I think it would be a gross abuse of the CC servers to fill them up with pictures of all the towns that I get to visit and while I could include them on Strava some pictures will need a context (and a location).
I will do some experimentation on the best way to provide this, most likely a link to a Google Photos album.
Since this is new I thought it would be an idea to bridge the old trip and the new and bring any new readers up to speed on myself and my gear.
I had decided to dump my Exped tent in Ecuador and buy a new one in Spain. I dislike the tent greatly and after an attack of ants the footprint and my own groundsheet addition have holes as does one of the internal mesh doors.
However, in researching flights (and being reluctant to book a flight from Quito while still in Colombia just in case of border issues) I discovered that given the extra purchase of baggage for an economy flight the difference between it and a promotional Business Class fare (with ample included baggage and a no-hassle-with-baggage-over-the-limit policy) was approximately what I expected to pay for a tent. The Exped will live on and I had a very comfortable flight!
I replaced the cassette and chain on Roccado in Quito.
The front wheel has been on since México, the rear changed for a second hand one in Colombia. Cheapy front brakes replaced the Deore ones I added before I left. Excessive sweat and the lack of cable protectors lead to abrasions on the top tube and Roccado now boasts an eccentric colour scheme since Colombia. He's also been welded (Colombia) and is as good as new.
[Spoiler Alert!] When I was attacked in Ipiales the bike landed on the left (non drive) side and my Trangia set got a bit bent. The two halves no longer fit as well together. Still functional, but not perfect.
Ipiales also saw the zip on my Arkel handlebar bag give up the ghost. It's now held in place with some elastic cord. Asking a few luggage repair places in Quito didn't help. Arkel will replace the zip - for a fee but I need an address for that!
Sometime after Medellín my charging system stopped working. The light works fine but the usb charger was dead. Not particularly concerned I didn't pay too much attention as it could be a wiring issue (I have a spare), a connection issue (I have spares) or the usb port itself - I hope not, I've no spare.
Getting Roccado ready for the boxing I realised a slight cost to my decision to run the light cable (from hub to front light) through my rack. Yes, it certainly helped protect the cable but since there's no easy way to disconnect cable from light and the connectors are soldered on the other end of the wire the cable needed to be snipped to remove the rack.
Son use a coaxial cable so I'll need a specialist to hook both up again (like in Charleston) but in the meantime, using a new cable I have my USB charging back.
Speaking of electronics, Gizmo has started to act strange. It can take two or three attempts to load a route before I can see it. Since I was in Ecuador I wasn't too worried - Ecuadorian maps are often commented on as being problematic. However, the problems continue in Spain. If I had access to good WiFi I'd do a hard reset but since I don't I'll just use the other one. The wonky one is the unit I bought when in CDMX, which was replaced when I arrived in Colombia due to the damaged back. I repaired the back myself and have continued to use it.
My point and shoot camera has been acting up and seems to be losing clarity. My new phone, bought in Ipiales, seems to have either a poor camera or some kind of defect. It can be slow to focus, sometimes throws up just coloured lines and is particularly poor in dull conditions.
Physically, my back, especially my tailbone, has been acting up a bit. I'm hoping that that's down to a few days downtime, sleeping on concrete in Quito and a general change of routine. It was a problem in my back that nearly put paid to this adventure all that time ago so I'm being particularly careful.
And there we have it - an up to date picture of the condition of bike and gear and yours truly.
Oh, mentally, I'm beyond excited to hit the road!
Enjoy!
The catch-up
For anyone reading this, this adventure is a follow on from The Big, Big Trip. While the old one was posted "live" my focus is different here and this is being written up from notes taken at the time. It's not "live" from the road. I have, however, decided to write it as if it were.
I'll post updates when I can and I'm happy to answer most questions so fire away if you have any.
I don't think you need to have read the first Travelogue to follow this one but I will make references to that earlier trip. That's not me bragging or boasting - it's just the reality that this is one big, big trip for me.
I'm not sure how useful this will be to anyone planning a bike tour in Spain except for providing examples of what not to do!
I am blessed to have the time to wander freely and enough experience (and a go anywhere bike) to not be fazed by too many things.
There has been no preparation, no planning worth anything done for this trip - I am travelling effectively blind. I've discovered that I really like this method of travel.
Perhaps I'll visit a place that you're familiar with and ignore a major attraction. Maybe I'll choose one direction over another for the seemingly dumbest of reasons. Remember, I'm travelling blind and choosing to be that way, I'm riding my own tour that is less about "conventional" touring and more about uncovering a country and finding a place to live - you ride yours.
My "plan" such as it is, is to follow the route of Don Quixote by reading the book and doing my best to recreate his journey. I'm told, all in, that that's about 2500km. After that, I think it's about time I check in at home (wherever that may be) so will head north, hopefully hitting Germany, Holland and then on to Ireland. By then I hope to have a destination in Spain to return to.
I will say that Spain is wonderful for the bike tourist. Simply fantastic! So varied, so interesting and with fabulous food and coffee. However, it has been harder, much harder than I expected. Somewhere in the back of my mind I had decided that after the heat of México, the rain of Guatemala, the mountains of Colombia that Spain would be easy. It is not. But it's worth it.
Since I now have a bit of time, I've played around with the layout. You can read about how far, high high and how hot I traveled before seeing the stats. This data will now appear at the end of the day, not the start.
Each day will have a direct link to my Strava record for that day. I have no interest in cycling data but there will be a whole load more photos! And a map!
Anyone can get a Strava account free of charge and view the pictures.
Each day will only be made available to accompany this Travelogue so there'll be no jumping ahead!
I think it would be a gross abuse of the CC servers to fill them up with pictures of all the towns that I get to visit and while I could include them on Strava some pictures will need a context (and a location).
I will do some experimentation on the best way to provide this, most likely a link to a Google Photos album.
Since this is new I thought it would be an idea to bridge the old trip and the new and bring any new readers up to speed on myself and my gear.
I had decided to dump my Exped tent in Ecuador and buy a new one in Spain. I dislike the tent greatly and after an attack of ants the footprint and my own groundsheet addition have holes as does one of the internal mesh doors.
The "extra" groundsheet I had been using. Eaten through by killer Colombian ants!
The "regular" groundsheet of the tent. Fecked! By those self same feckin' Colombian ants!
My mesh door. Eaten by those feckin' ants! I consider myself very lucky to have awoken when I did otherwise I was in a spot of bother!
The "regular" groundsheet of the tent. Fecked! By those self same feckin' Colombian ants!
My mesh door. Eaten by those feckin' ants! I consider myself very lucky to have awoken when I did otherwise I was in a spot of bother!
However, in researching flights (and being reluctant to book a flight from Quito while still in Colombia just in case of border issues) I discovered that given the extra purchase of baggage for an economy flight the difference between it and a promotional Business Class fare (with ample included baggage and a no-hassle-with-baggage-over-the-limit policy) was approximately what I expected to pay for a tent. The Exped will live on and I had a very comfortable flight!
I replaced the cassette and chain on Roccado in Quito.
The front wheel has been on since México, the rear changed for a second hand one in Colombia. Cheapy front brakes replaced the Deore ones I added before I left. Excessive sweat and the lack of cable protectors lead to abrasions on the top tube and Roccado now boasts an eccentric colour scheme since Colombia. He's also been welded (Colombia) and is as good as new.
The mighty, mighty Roccado. A quarter of a century old, the runt of the litter, but the greatest of travelling companions.
[Spoiler Alert!] When I was attacked in Ipiales the bike landed on the left (non drive) side and my Trangia set got a bit bent. The two halves no longer fit as well together. Still functional, but not perfect.
Ipiales also saw the zip on my Arkel handlebar bag give up the ghost. It's now held in place with some elastic cord. Asking a few luggage repair places in Quito didn't help. Arkel will replace the zip - for a fee but I need an address for that!
I do not travel light!
Sometime after Medellín my charging system stopped working. The light works fine but the usb charger was dead. Not particularly concerned I didn't pay too much attention as it could be a wiring issue (I have a spare), a connection issue (I have spares) or the usb port itself - I hope not, I've no spare.
Getting Roccado ready for the boxing I realised a slight cost to my decision to run the light cable (from hub to front light) through my rack. Yes, it certainly helped protect the cable but since there's no easy way to disconnect cable from light and the connectors are soldered on the other end of the wire the cable needed to be snipped to remove the rack.
Son use a coaxial cable so I'll need a specialist to hook both up again (like in Charleston) but in the meantime, using a new cable I have my USB charging back.
Due to the loss of my Google account I've lost whatever (little) research I had managed to do. I'll be arriving in Spain with not much more than an Osmand map where the Pueblos Más Bonitos are marked and whatever bike routes, mainly Camino routes, I have been able to download. It's actually quite exciting looking at a blank map and starting to fill it in! Best of all, in Spain, I'll be able to use Cycle Travel my favourite route planner again.
Speaking of electronics, Gizmo has started to act strange. It can take two or three attempts to load a route before I can see it. Since I was in Ecuador I wasn't too worried - Ecuadorian maps are often commented on as being problematic. However, the problems continue in Spain. If I had access to good WiFi I'd do a hard reset but since I don't I'll just use the other one. The wonky one is the unit I bought when in CDMX, which was replaced when I arrived in Colombia due to the damaged back. I repaired the back myself and have continued to use it.
My point and shoot camera has been acting up and seems to be losing clarity. My new phone, bought in Ipiales, seems to have either a poor camera or some kind of defect. It can be slow to focus, sometimes throws up just coloured lines and is particularly poor in dull conditions.
Physically, my back, especially my tailbone, has been acting up a bit. I'm hoping that that's down to a few days downtime, sleeping on concrete in Quito and a general change of routine. It was a problem in my back that nearly put paid to this adventure all that time ago so I'm being particularly careful.
I also have an app for the Vias Verdes of Spain, old railway lines converted to recreational use. I'll try and hit a few of these as well.
And there we have it - an up to date picture of the condition of bike and gear and yours truly.
Oh, mentally, I'm beyond excited to hit the road!
Enjoy!