"A Year in Spain" My "last gasp" attempt at posting (informative info).

[jumartoo]

Is wikiloc any good for walking or is it just cycle trails?

It's for all types of trails.

These are just some of the options. There's another page or so. There's even motorhoming!

You choose the activity, then select a distance, amount of climb, difficulty, whether linear or circular and click on an area of the map you want to find routes.

 

[jumartoo]

We're now back in Spain. After a mizzly night we decided to drive over to Panticosa. It's been warm and sunny here, until 10 minutes ago and we now have rain.

We had a wander around the town, getting ready for a medieval fair, and we're now researching weather/places to stay/things to do, on a slow drive west.

 

[jumar]

Is wikiloc any good for walking or is it just cycle trails?

Just to add what Judith said, Wiki is a good tool for recording and following walking routes...however it has its limitations and is no substitute for a map and staying in contact with where you are..If it's simple guidance you require then it's fine...be aware that Smartphones are not the best navigational aid due to the GPS they may have installed inside, the screen can be hard to read in bright sunlight, and battery life is also a key issue.
Wiki remains our favourite to get too areas where we can ride/walk, we normally follow the route with great caution as any errors made by the poster can also me duplicated by the follower..this mainly applies to bike routes.

 

[Nigel Crompton]

Am I the only one thinking that Jumar has the most photographed bum on MHF ?

 

[CAB96]

Just to add what Judith said, Wiki is a good tool for recording and following walking routes...however it has its limitations and is no substitute for a map and staying in contact with where you are..If it's simple guidance you require then it's fine...be aware that Smartphones are not the best navigational aid due to the GPS they may have installed inside, the screen can be hard to read in bright sunlight, and battery life is also a key issue.
Wiki remains our favourite to get too areas where we can ride/walk, we normally follow the route with great caution as any errors made by the poster can also me duplicated by the follower..this mainly applies to bike routes.

Thanks for that. I use Outdooractive in the UK in a similar way, but phone is always a secondary navigation tool.

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[jumar]

Am I the only one thinking that Jumar has the most photographed bum on MHF ?

Perhaps so....I am a born leader not a follower...therefore my Bum naturally receives a lot of attention....in 1982 I was a runner up in our house as Rear if the Year....just pipped to the post by jumartoo and rightly so..

 

[jumartoo]

We went to do the Pasarela Panticosa this morning.

Unfortunately, it was closed. I did get a few nice photos looking back to the parking, the town, and the hill, under which we rode a lovely route two years ago.

You're going NO FURTHER!!!

So we didn't and went back to the van to drive down to Biescas where I'd found a ride we could do .....

 

[jumartoo]

Soooo, we drove down to Biescas and an official motorhome parking area (no services). There were quite a few motorhomes here when we arrived, all parked in the sunny part. We put our van between two trees in the shade.

We went for a ride ...

It was a bit epic. It was posted as moderate but it wasn't. We walked some bits, especially some uphill parts, pushing our bikes with the "Walk" help. We got to the Dolmens and the calendar.

We then did a bit more uphill. Then we did a lovely single track downhill.

Still OK. Until our "Moderate" route shot off down a bike park chute, with a huge drop off. We stayed on the main track and eventually got back on course. Another rocky uphill put us onto another nice single track that eventually brought us out on the track to the Ermita .....

We got to the village of Gavin, and from there took the easy option of the road back.

Back at 1 pm, bikes loaded, and lunch out was sought.

We found a great place, busy, with locals, and had the first Spanish meal out on our trip.

The van is still in the shade, so here it's staying until the sun sets. How lucky were we?

 

[Jays2]

That looks like a very nice area to visit, and not too busy?
As for using the phone as a Navigation tool!
I don’t buy detailed maps of areas we walk 1:2500, I use the phone.
saying that we have 2 phones, plus if out for a long time battery back up.
Personally I think that the technology in a phone/iPad/tablet has revolutionised how I walk, cycle ,travel.

 

[jumartoo]

So, we've learnt that the weekends, even in a small, untouristy, village get full. We arrived on Saturday at 1.30 and got one of two available parking spots. There were eight or more parked last night along the road. Most have left now. We're going to have to box clever at weekends now and get somewhere early, or take ourselves off to somewhere remote.

The via verde and a swimming pool are good draws for families.

We went to do an "easy" ride today. It wasn't easy, and I took a, not exactly a fall, cos I didn't fall, but I was stopped by a tree and my ribs. Even my Garmin started to wail (I didn't know it did that) and flashed a message asking if I needed help. Just who, or how, would help, I don't know. Anyway, I've definitely bruised some ribs. How bad, tomorrow will tell.

A few photos.

Griffon Vultures alongside the via Verde.

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[Jays2]

That sounds bad.
what happened?
When I broke a rid, strong painkillers worked, helped me breathe normally.

 

[jumartoo]

That sounds bad.
what happened?
When I broke a rid, strong painkillers worked, helped me breathe normally.

We were riding a lovely, sweeping downhill. I caught a pedal on a rock or earth wall and was sent to the left. I was stopped by a tree, and my ribs. The annoying thing was it was an easy descent, and I WAS being careful. It was just one of those silly mishaps.

I'll be taking some strong painkillers tonight.

 

[bobandjanie]

Hope it's just bruised and not serious Judith, loving your thread and for us today looked the perfect day, but these things happen so quick.
Just after Martin took the skin off his legs, I feel over on a walk took the skin off my arm and hand it was black from my elbow to my knuckles ☹ quite sore but its OK now.

On the same day our friend Bob fell over broke his collarbone, and being a artist is now painting left handed. Bob

 

[jumartoo]

Well not much to report on today. My ribs are painful, but I expected that.

Martin bought some new sandals from Decathlon, near Vitoria, and we're now in a shady spot in a small village west of Miranda de Ebro. Heading to Galicia will probably be sooner now, especially as the weather around here is warming up for the end of the week.

We may be near Foz the next time I post.

 

[jumar]

Hope it's just bruised and not serious Judith, loving your thread and for us today looked the perfect day, but these things happen so quick.
Just after Martin took the skin off his legs, I feel over on a walk took the skin off my arm and hand it was black from my elbow to my knuckles ☹ quite sore but its OK now.

On the same day our friend Bob fell over broke his collarbone, and being a artist is now painting left handed. Bob

Enjoying the thrill and challenges that mountain biking provide sometimes comes with a few negatives...we both have had a fews breaks, scrapes and bruises over the past few years.....we have to accept these.
Yesterday's episode is a minor setback in our schedule planned for this year....Judith will bounce back..,

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[Nigel Crompton]

"I caught a pedal on a rock or earth wall and ....."

My Merida emtb has a very low bottom bracket - it's on it's third set of (cheap) pedals, forever bashing them - and it's short-travel too ....

 

[Jays2]

How do your solar panels manage when you park in the shade?

 

[Engineer999]

We headed out for our ride and picked up our route near the Pizza Restaurant .

We rode for some distance on small roads and turned left to visit a Chapel. We managed to just miss the tractor driver cutting the grass on a corner plot, but the bin lorry had to pull to one side for us Just how/why does this happen to, perhaps, the only people going up there on a particular day?

Anyway, we went up, and then back down, to arrive at the Hamlet of Saint Savin, with its huge church.

We then cycled through lots of fields being cut. Some tractors were being followed by Black, and a few Red, Kites.

We rode alongside the river in the opposite direction to our Garmin's info, but we'd walked it yesterday so we knew it was doable.

We did a bit of a flat ride, and hit a local road closure. Before retracing our route to the last bit of the outward journey.

The tower, I'd photo'd with the snowy mountains in the background, turned out to be on our route. We DID have to walk, and push the bikes uphill (thank goodness for the ebike "walk" mode). Even so it was a bit difficult but ... we made it and we both climbed up the tower (ex prison) to prove it.

From there, back here was easy. Along the Voie Vert to the old station for this village, still with the Grand Hotel next door, and still operating as a hotel (no photo of that, yet, sorry).

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And one of me .... bored waiting for the photo to be taken (or I just look vacant, normally )

Great photos

 

[jumartoo]

How do your solar panels manage when you park in the shade?

We have a free standing one to put out in the sun when we need to charge the batteries if we want shade.

 

[CAB96]

.Judith will bounce back..,

Not literally I hope!

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[daveinspain]

Hope you´re feeling better today Judith and can continue with your adventures by bike.

 

[jumartoo]

Hope you´re feeling better today Judith and can continue with your adventures by bike.

Thank you so much.

I don't think I'll be on my bike for sometime yet though. We're continuing on our summer trip to Galicia, there's no reason not to. Hopefully I'll be able to take some photos of lovely scenery to keep this thread going

 

[jumar]

How do your solar panels manage when you park in the shade?

Driving between locations is a very productive way to charge our single Lithium leisure battery....the DC2DC puts in 30amp....longish cable from folding panel works well also..Whilst stationary

 

[Mikey RV]

"I caught a pedal on a rock or earth wall and ....."

My Merida emtb has a very low bottom bracket - it's on it's third set of (cheap) pedals, forever bashing them - and it's short-travel too ....

Try keeping your pedals level when free wheeling, keeps them from pedal strikes. Most peaple make the mistake of having one up and one down which is when they hit things being the lowest part.

 

[Nigel Crompton]

Thanks Mikey, would never have thought of that ... thing is, being ancient now, I don't get as much air as I used to so my pedals are closer to the floor more ...

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[jumar]

Thanks Mikey, would never have thought of that ... thing is, being ancient now, I don't get as much air as I used to so my pedals are closer to the floor more ...

Increase tyre pressure or fit bigger wheels...
My BB is very low because I ride a Mullet...I get numerous pedal strikes on most if not all rides....very disturbing at first but I'm used to it now....Like Mikey advised put you pedals horizontal....that way you are equally balanced and less likely to pedal strike...

 

[jumartoo]

On rib news, I've improved tremendously today. I think I'll be back on my bike sooner than I expected. I'm not going to rush things though.

We're now parked on an official motorhome area near the Embalse del Ebro. Not close enough for a good view, but next to an Ermita and across the road from a restaurant and church. If we stay another night, and I keep on improving, we might give the restaurant a try tomorrow.

 

[Jays2]

looks Very nice, not too hot, but nice and pleasant.
Grey day at home.

 

[jumartoo]

looks Very nice, not too hot, but nice and pleasant.
Grey day at home.

It was low 20's today, which is perfect for us. It's recently got windy and cloud has descended from the hills and that's dropped the temperature right down. A Brit couple has just been out to walk their dog. Duvet jackets and bobble hats were their attire

 

[Just smiffy]

I’ve got a fleece on indoors and it’s cold and wet outside, 13c on my sensor…. Actually nearly put the heating on

From sunny Cornwall…

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