I'm off

[Dave Davenport]

Me & mrs d are off to Spain today, via the ferry to Bilbao for our first touring adventure. See you in a couple of weeks.

 

[Brock]

Wonderful! Have fun and tell us all about it when you return.

 

[Shaun]

Have a great time and don't forget to post a few pics of your travels when you get back

 

[beanzontoast]

... and happy anniversary too!

 

[Dave Davenport]

I'm Back!

Highlights:
Traffic free perfectly surfaced roads winding through lovely countryside.
White van man, tooting, waving and encouraging you up the climbs.
Lots of Sun (would be churlish to say too hot at times but we were suffering on a 1100m climb when it was 38c).
Four glasses of wine for two euros.
Lots of friendly cyclists, especially the two who stopped and led us off the main road and into the centre of Bilbao when were heading for a four lane highway.
Best breakfasts ever, with wine!
Fantastic room in a four star hotel, three course dinner (with wine) and breakfast for 116 euros.
The view over the Riocha valley after 2 hours of climbing.
Did I mention the wine?

Not so good:
68 hours on the Pride of Bilbao (are we there yet?)
Getting cut up by a women talking on her mobile whilst negotiating the roundabout 100 yards from the ferryport when we got back, welcome home!

 

[chris42]

well done!
off this island the cycling is soooooo good!
Why not try southern Italy next?

 

[Dave Davenport]

Planning on a short trip to Normandy in October and thinking about Italy next spring as it happens.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

that sounds excellent...you'll enjoy Normandy I'm sure.

 

[NickM]

If you like beer as well as wine, I can recommend the Belgian Ardennes... maybe basing yourself in Bouillon, a lovely place. We'll certainly be returning there sometime.

 

[Dave Davenport]

I do fancy doing a Belgium beer safari some time, being rather fond of the odd trappist ale.

 

[Keith Oates]

The joys of biking, glad you enjoyed it Dave.......................now there are no prizes for guessing what I'm thinking about doing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[NickM]

I do fancy doing a Belgium beer safari some time, being rather fond of the odd trappist ale.

Bouillon has a shop, La Marche de Nathalie, which sells 300 Belgian beers

And Orval is half a day's bike ride away, if you take the scenic route!

...now there are no prizes for guessing what I'm thinking about doing!...

Having a beer?

 

[Dave Davenport]

Some photos from Spain

Missing the sun!

 

[Aperitif]

I like that picture of you in the bikini Dave - the cycling really has worked wonders!