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

[jumartoo]

I agree with your views.
Interesting what you say about death, never thought about it
I find interesting the views from different countries about distinct matters.

We were invited to a Spanish friends funeral. We scurried around looking for black clothes to wear (we only had a day to do this). All the other mourners at the funeral just went as they were. Even Ramon (husband) and Carolina (daughter) went wearing jeans and teeshirts/shirts.

It was an eye opener for us, and the more we see of this way of mourning loved ones, the more we feel it's a good way.

We've got our funeral plan the same way.

Anyway .... less of this doom and gloom.

It's been a lovely day today.

Photos on the next post.

 

[jumartoo]

This morning Martin said he thought the Wikiloc route I'd found for us maybe wasn't suitable. Too much unidentified (on Google Maps) paths. So, I found another route. Graded "Easy" and good for families.

It started off well, and we rode a track we'd done before on a past visit. It then went down through a forest on a narrow track. OK, we thought, a bit of single track is doable.

We rode (or rather I walked) more narrow, on the edge, through forests, along drop off, paths than I've done for ages (and definitely not since I cracked/bruised my ribs). When we thought we'd done all the tricky bits, the route said we were descending again through another forest. By this time we'd had enough, so we stayed on the major track which we'd seen (Google Maps came up trumps) went back down to the village where we were parked.

So, all in all a successful ride (we returned unscathed). But in no way was it easy, or good for families (unless they are MTB champions)

I'm smiling on here, honest!

A bit I walked, with blue air all around,

The hillside was steeper than it looks. The path was almost invisible.

 

[jumartoo]

We loaded the bikes and drove 25 km to our present spot. A picnic area next to a small church on the road from Guardo to Cervera de Pisuerga.

I've found a ride to do tomorrow. It's a gravel bike route, so it can't be difficult, can it? Then I've found a lovely parking area at Salinas de Pisuerga.

Now ...

 

[jumartoo]

And my best laid plans have come to zilch. It's rained, heavily.

So, now doing laundry at Aguilar de Campoo

 

[RobbyMClark]

Guess where we are heading for tonight ??

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[scousebird]

Guess where we are heading for tonight ??

?

 

[jumartoo]

Guess where we are heading for tonight ??

Hmm. Don't know? Here? It's dry here atm.

We're going to Reinosa when the washing's finished, via a fuel station for LPG.

We're fancying this motorhome area along the reservoir. Near the Roman Camp of El Cincho.

 

[jumartoo]

We were up near the reservoir earlier on the trip, but I'd just damaged my ribs and didn't leave the motorhome. Martin went riding, without me. I'm hoping we get some reasonable weather to get out together this time

 

[RobbyMClark]

And my best laid plans have come to zilch. It's rained, heavily.

So, now doing laundry at Aguilar de Campoo

Hope I'm in the right spot ???

 

[jumartoo]

Hope I'm in the right spot ???
View attachment 809310

Where???

Wherever you are there's sufficient sun to cast a shadow.

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[RobbyMClark]

Aguilar de Campoo

Judith

 

[jumartoo]

I'm a touch disappointed with our present spot. The parking is good and we have a mix of nationalities. The nearest is an ACE something or other from www.freedomrv.co.uk Of course I had to have a nosy, and the big vehicles are cheap, relative to a similar aged one like ours. I couldn't travel in something so big, no matter the price to buy or run.

We're more than happy with our old van, but it IS getting a face-lift, when we can spare some time to do without it.

The disappointment is that I can't find any substantial Roman camp/ruins. I'll keep looking

 

[jumartoo]

Aguilar de Campoo
View attachment 809316

Judith

Aguilar de Campoo is a nice, unspoilt town. We have acquaintances from our orienteering lives that live there. They didn't give us their address though

 

[jumartoo]

A few, rather dull photos from this evening. I'm hoping for better tomorrow. I've found a bike ride with a questionable section

We've spoken to the ACE owner. He told us of a good place to go between here and Burgos and, for some reason, I'd already put it in my favourites on P4N. It might be Sunday's stop because it appears to have lots of good riding.

How small are we!

 

[jumartoo]

The German van next to us left early, so we've moved into their vacated spot.

I now have this view from my bed. Shame about the rainspotted window.

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[RobbyMClark]

Did rain a bit last night, didn't it !!

 

[jumartoo]

Did rain a bit last night, didn't it !!

I think you might have had more than us. It wasn't too bad here.

 

[RobbyMClark]

Going to hang on here for a few hrs as a big load of rain due there about Noon so will try and follow it up.
The reservoir looks like it needs a drop or too more.

 

[jumartoo]

We set off, well dressed for the grey weather conditions, on a bike ride with a few ??? sections. It was a lovely start, on flat tracks, past a bird hide and pond, then it climbed from the bright skies up into the clouds. The highest point was cool and misty, and the first part of the descent was, to put it bluntly, bloody horrible, but then the track became much better and descended all the way to another reservoir (this one with lots of water). We watched some ponies, and cattle being rounded up (one grey cow/bull escaped), and some ponies seem to be marooned on an island.

This part of the ride was absolutely lovely and then the ??? bit was encountered. The hunters were out, and we kept encountering some of them, they were very friendly to us, but warned us to be careful!!!

We had 30 minutes of rotten terrain (brambly and muddy) to negotiate, before we picked up a track that got us back on our route.

All in all, it had 95 percent good riding.

On our return we had a Funster neighbour. The motorhome, but no people, but Martin spotted two figures walking along the road so cycled to check them out.

RobbyMClark eventually found us. We've had a few hours of chat with a glass or two of red.

Lovely to meet another Funster couple.

 

[RobbyMClark]

It was lovely to meet you in person, thought we would have passed each other by again, as you where out on your ride when we arrived.
The wine and cheese and the conversation was wonderful.
This place has suddenly filled up thought we were in for a quiet night

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[gus-lopez]

do you see many strays as you are travelling through the countryside?

We get enough at home.

Is it really an issue?

It isn't as bad as it was but is still not good. I've had dozens here. When first here we took in 3 . That doesn't include Alf who we have now & he arrived may 2009 complete with collar,pañuelo & shaved sides, roughly 8 months old. Dumped here.

went wearing jeans and teeshirts/shirts.

you left out "whilst texting on their mobile"

We've been to either 6 or 7 funerals but due to being away in spring /summer have missed at least another 4 or 5.Only ever been to one wedding though?

 

[jumar]

It was lovely to meet you in person, thought we would have passed each other by again, as you where out on your ride when we arrived.
The wine and cheese and the conversation was wonderful.
This place has suddenly filled up thought we were in for a quiet night

As you know we departed for the other side of the lake...23km drive....well I must say it's totally different....somewhat incredible to be honest...we are parked up on a wonderful piece of open grassland with pines, benches, and BBQ....it's adjacent to the beach
Had a shortish walk along the shoreline and found even more incredible places to parkup...we are staying here tonight a few Dutch vans for company....What a wonderful world we live in, greatly spoilt for a few total crackpots...

 

[jumartoo]

We said "adios" to Mr and Mrs RobbyMClark this morning and we were gifted two (large) cans of the beer we'd recommended and two large spring onions.

Ready, steady, cook anyone??

We're now parked just across the water from last night, although it was 20+km to come around the water. I'd found some rides to do, but it was a bit grey when we arrived so we donned rain jackets and set off for a warm, sunny walk. Jackets off!

We passed some fantastic parking spots along the route of our walk, and we considered moving, but we then decided we were OK right here.

It's not too bad.

The "beach" and Martin walking on water (well sometime it might be true).

There's an old bridge that we walked to.

And looking across to last night's village. The road bridge can be seen in the foreground. It was my view, from the other side, from my bed.

The high point of yesterday's ride was way in the distance, but my little camera could see the structures.

We then walked past a dry lake, to some gravel pits near the campsite.

It's beautiful there and we considered moving, but ... we're OK where we are.

Campsite on the left.

There was rain somewhere to the east when we walked back, but it's not found us yet.

Another pleasant day

 

[jumartoo]

We appear to be in Little Nederland. A group of cyclists arrived to partake of lunch provided by a support van. Since then more NL vans have arrived.

This area seems popular with "Cloggies" (I say that with affection. We have Cloggy relatives).

Awaiting further developments

 

[RobbyMClark]

Judith Martin - drink the beer and bin the onions.
We followed you out after watching the remaining messing around from the German wooshbang.!
The hose they had attached to the drinking tap he used to flush/polish the cassette- she then started to top the onboard water with the same hide into a watering can and the end of the hose deep inside the can the 1st can full got a steri tab in, and the walked backwards and forwards with several more rather than move the van to the waterpoint!!!.
They then moved the van to drain the grey
Thensat there on his phone after it had finished.
I then told him to P1ss or get off the porry!!!

The drive over here ot Noja was a test of nerves and our love for each other. Where you turned right to go round the lake we went left, slight up hill then down a 10k decent- long time since I've smelt brakes that hot with someone else driving.

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[jumartoo]

Judith Martin - drink the beer and bin the onions.
We followed you out after watching the remaining messing around from the German wooshbang.!
The hose they had attached to the drinking tap he used to flush/polish the cassette- she then started to top the onboard water with the same hide into a watering can and the end of the hose deep inside the can the 1st can full got a steri tab in, and the walked backwards and forwards with several more rather than move the van to the waterpoint!!!.
They then moved the van to drain the grey
Thensat there on his phone after it had finished.
I then told him to P1ss or get off the porry!!!

The drive over here ot Noja was a test of nerves and our love for each other. Where you turned right to go round the lake we went left, slight up hill then down a 10k decent- long time since I've smelt brakes that hot with someone else driving.

I hope you've got a nice, relaxing spot on the site.

 

[jumartoo]

I had an nice ride downloaded, but the weather this morning didn't look good. Instead we left to head to the place recommended by the ACE driver, and which I'd previously put in my favourites.

We needed to shop. We stopped at the only shop on the route. Some Irish (motor)bikers were parked up there, and I surprised one of them with a Good Morning!

The shop was almost back in the 70's. No Avena (porridge oats) or bread for toast, but you could buy shoe polish in a small round can!

I got enough for us to come into this tiny village in the middle of nowhere. No shop here, but there is a bar, closed today!

They do have an Oil Museum (not open on Mondays) and, next to it, a purpose built motorhome parking area, with leccy. The service point is about 50 metres away on the other side of the road, next to a weighbridge.

We arrived just ahead of some Belgians in a Concorde Liner. The 10 km of narrow road must have been a slight worry, but the ACE has been in and out, so we had no problems.

Oh, and we have a pretty good internet signal here.

(I already have some rides for us to do).

Today, though, we went for a walk. There are some Civil War remnants and also a pretty good Dolmen (found in the 1980's). A shady picnic area under walnuts, also sported a swing. Guess who had to have a go?

We're here tonight, and hopefully tomorrow night as well, after one of my researched rides, and a meal in the local bar. And maybe we'll get a visit into the oil museum as well.

BTW, we're a mixed bunch here again. Us, Spanish, French, Dutch, Belgian (so far).

 

[jumartoo]

according to Google Maps, the bar here opens tomorrow, but not the kitchen (that opens on Friday). It's a good job we won't go hungry after my village shop this morning.

 

[jumartoo]

Weather is looking good though. So we might get a ride even if we don't get fed.

 

[jumartoo]

I sponsor a puppy/dog monthly from the local private rescue centre in Totana. Tam (Northernraider) had two of his dogs from Silvia.

This is my this month's baby. He/she (they haven't said) doesn't even have a name .

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