#402 Hard to Believe!

I just bought a pair of Vans slip-on sneakers from an internet site in the USA for only €14.12 - delivery to Spain included!

How can that be?

++++++ update ++++++
Because it can't. Should have investigated a bit more before placing order. Google search resulted in many scam complaints :-(

So, canceled PayPal payment and will have to look elsewhere for some new daps.

++++++ update ++++++
Result! Just received a similar pair via the UK,
40€ this time, but that's not so bad :-)

#401 Mérida y Madrid y Arquitectura Moderna

We are driving (a long way) to Mérida in Extramadura. Sally and her friend Christine will then walk north along the Via de la Plata. I'm taking my bike and will ride somewhere . . . . . .

I went for a ride over to Olivenza, stayed in a hotel, rode back a different way, then drove to Trujillo for the night. I called my friend Chus in Madrid and asked what was happening. He said he was having a barbecue with a group of his friends and I should come. So I did :-)

Sunday morning into central Madrid for a short guided bike tour "En Bici por la Arquitectura Moderna en Torno al Madrid Río". Interesting modern landscaping in the new park with some fun metalic bridges and a look at a bit of brutal "a machine for living" influenced apartment blocks.

#400 Feria in Denia

This weekend our high street is full of stalls selling artisan foods and the like.

We bought Gruyère cheese, Membrillo (a solid quince jelly that goes with cheese), a slice of horse ham and a pot of plump olives. (I think we are becoming Spanish).

#399 Someone to Watch Over Me.

I made a compilation of nice jazz tracks sometime ago and replaying it the other evening I have to say this track must be my Number One.

As she scats the last few bars you have to almost have to clap and cheer along with her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga-cBEPtzE0

#398 Benimarfull Two Day

Sally, Tom and I took ourselves off for a bike ride.

We went 67km (on a very hot day) to a stay the night at a nice hostal just outside Muro de Alcoy in Benimarfull.

We hardly saw a car on the first day and the landscape in this part of Spain was dry and rugged and had some steep climbs and descents. Stopping for coffee in Castell de Castells I noticed I couldn't get mobile phone coverage - apparently thieves had just stolen the copper cables to the local tower.  . . !

The temperature hovered around 32 centigrade and we were climbing most of the time so it was a bit of a slog, but the round of beers at the end of the ride made up for it :-) I don't know why the Hosteria Els Banys is classified as a hostal - it seemed like a very nice hotel. Highly recommended!

Then, next day 57km back back via the Vall de Gallinera through Planes and Pego (mostly downhill) to Denia.  Nice trip.

Google Street view of a bit of the road out of Quatretondeta

#397 Felt F1

Sixteen year old, Felt F1 road bike, still going strong!

#396 Honey

Arroz Caldoso - Soupy Paella.



A pot of Honey and a small piece of very fresh Curd Cheese.
Priceless.

#395 Up in the Pyrénées

We left our van in France for the winter and took the train to Ax les Thermes (a mere 28€ for two on TER-SNCF, the local regional French railway company). These trains are very bike friendly with racks to hang your bike, and even better, Free!

Next day 5€ for two up to the French/Spanish frontier at La Tour de Carol, then changed platforms and took the Spanish equivalent down the other side to Ribes de Freser (even cheaper, only 3.70€ for two).

Wednesday we took a mountain train up to Núria (alt. 1960m) and walked back down 7.5km on a narrow, rocky path. I completely forgot that I dislike hiking intensely - so won't be volunteering for any other "walks" in the near future. My poor bones :-(

#394 Montricoux

We've moved to Montricoux which is on the river Aveyron.

We're still in Tarn et Garonne (lots of rivers in France).

My wife likes to be colour co-ordinated.

Our home for the month of August.

#393 French Stuff

The Col de Viandès, at an altitude of only 270 metres, must be the lowest Col ever. In fact, I had to go downhill to go over it!

Apparently, this is one of the first modern electrically operated fuel pumps to be installed in France. The owner gave us a detailed description of its history but I forgot to ask how much a litre of petrol costs back then - around cent sous I suppose?

Ahh! That's just the name of the shop. Our local 8 - 8 doesn't open from 8 to 8. As we are in provincial France it shuts at mid-day for a couple of hours. The French like to get their priorities right: Lunch Before Commerce.

#392 Montpezat de Quercy

August and we are in our Winnebago on a campsite in Montpezat de Quercy, France. Montpezat is in Départment 82, Tarn et Garrone, but mostly we cycle next door in the Lot (46).

Immediately we are doing the rounds of the Fêtes in the local villages. Monday to Cremps for a Repas Champetre, lit "an outside meal" (but in a marquee). We were serenaded by one man and his guitar and served a three course meal with wine.

My Right Ear.

Thursday to Montdumerc. This time a Decouverte Gourmand. Here you bring your own plate and cutlery and then go round the stalls buying your food. We had confit of duck with sauté potatoes for 6€ each, a bottle of local Quercy red wine for 5€ and a piece of walnut pie for 2€. Excellent!

Saturday went to a Blues and Gospel concert in the town square.

Sunday a Vide Grenier, basically a junk market - nothing of interest and, sorry to say, no intersting pics.

Our last Friday in Montpezat and we went to a Marche Gourmand with some of our friends. More duck & fries and wine and cake The youngest two had more cake than wine.

#391 On Continue

Saturday Espalion to Lalbenque 128km
Last day, as I rode through Rodez I stopped for this mirror pic.
























Friday St Privat d'Alier to Espalion 132km.
Pushed off from the hotel and didn't pedal again for the next 5km descent. However the other side went up for 10k but it was nice while it lasted. In fact most of the day was uphill until I went over the Col d'Aubrac and wizzed down the other side, got slowed down by a Gendarmerie van in front, didn't think it prudent to overtake him.

















Thursday 35km
Woke up to even more rain so took several trains and ended up in Puy en Valey. Then rode to St Privat d'Allier.

Wednesday 50km
Cold and wet in Leysin so to Geneva by train, then rode to Seyssel in a thunder storm.











Got to Seyssel ringing wet. Used balls of newspaper to dry my wet cycling shoes. Got the last room in this yellow hotel beside the Rhone.

#390 Last night in Leysin

#389 . . . . . to Leysin in Switzerland

Stage 1 Amsterdam to Overberg 85km
Lots of flat and boring roads out of Amsterdam but as I got closer to Overberg managed to find some nice forest tracks. Stayed with Cora and Rob Barrel. Rob came and stayed at our house many years ago and so this time returned the favour :-)




















Stage 2 Overberg to Orsoy 137km
Rob rode out with me on a day of intermitent showers - what the Irish might call a soft day. Left Rob and crossed into Germany arrived in good time at the hotel Hof Rhineau. The waiter there asked my why I hadn't finished my huge evening meal. I was able to reply, in German, Genug! - Enough!





















Stage 3 Orsoy to Cologne 126km
Took a ferry across the Rhine and immediately got lost. now on first name terms with every sunday morning drunk in Duisberg. Definitely need a sat-nav.



















Stage 4 Cologne to Kaisersesch 140km
Pulled a big thorn out of the back tyre, changed tube and set off down the Rhine bike path. Stopped once for Kafe und Kuchen, strange how little I'm eating.



















Stage 5 Kaisersech to Birkenfeld 122km
Turned right and left the Rhine and went over to follow the Mosel. Nice riversidde path, less congested! My German is sufficient to find a room and order a meal. Prima!



































Stage 6 Birkenfeld to Bitche 108km
Regen, Regen immer Regen. Wet, dryish then torrential rain. Crossed into France - it's Bastille Day. A la barricades, Citoyens! Arrived in Bitche looking like a drowned rat. Actually, life's not a bitche, it's a beach :-)

























Stage 7 Bitche to Marckolsheim 137km
Downhill to Strasbourg then zoomed along beside the Canal Rhone au Rhin. Couldn't find a hotel but came up trumps with this nice B&B and a steakhouse next door.





















Stage 8 Marckholsheim to Basle & Berne to Laupens 107km
To Basle along the flatest, straightest road known to man. Then by train to Bern. Got slightly lost coming out of Bern and noticed a Holiday Inn but taking my German phrase book out I telephoned a hotel in Laupen some 20k further down the road. Result! They understood me, I made the booking and a very nice hotel it turned out to be.



















9 Laupens to Leysin 107km
Last stage and a pleasant ride with an excellent descent into Vervey, then through Montreux to Aigle. Stopped to help a cyclist who couldn't get his back wheel in. "eet iz zee first time in ten years this happened has" he told me. In Aigle caught the mountain train up to Leysin. I could have ridden up - but I didn't. Now four nights R&R in this Swiss house