Cycling Spain - The cycling begins

After a quick stopover in Stockholm and through Frankfurt again, we finally arrived in Valencia (Spain) where we unpacked bikes to make sure all was in order and not broken in transit (Ryanair was great unlike reputation). Did we really pack this much luggage?

We spent a day riding in Valencia before loading up the paniers and heading out on the ‘Via Verdes Ojos Negros’ (old train track now a bike trail) Thursday morning.  Initially we thought it would be a good way to get used to riding bikes again as well as with a load but without any traffic.  The trail however was gravel and in some sections more of a mountain bike track – the touring bikes survived!  

The first 2 days were a bit of a blur for me as I was anxious/petrified of just falling sideways with the weight of the bike or sliding off the rocky edge of the trail.  Tim on the other hand was quite happy navigating and stopping to pick oranges that were in the trees lining the path.

After a comfortable camp in a pine forest (campsite 2) I found my bike legs (and courage) and we headed off to Teruel.  Riding the last 10kms into town on Easter Sunday morning we caught a glimpse of the Easter Parade and had a brief wander through the streets before heading off again on our first day of ‘real actual hills’ – not the Alice Springs kind ie 7% gradient and 5km long…!

By this stage I was already exhausted and only made it halfway up the 1^st hill before we had to stop and camp for the night.  The next day was our biggest so far – about 75kms and the hills were just as big.  After detouring into a quaint little pig-farming town Reillo we set up camp ready to ride into Cuenca the following day.

Comparatively, Cuenca is huge compared to the towns/villages we had previously passed through and after booking a hotel room (1^st shower in 6 days!) we started exploring.

Cuenca is built around a monastery high up in the hills.  After arriving yesterday we spent the afternoon wandering the alleys of the ‘old town’ – walking not riding.  We were so impressed we extended our stay another night and did the suggested walking trails today.  The scenery was amazing.  Along the way we saw plenty of runners, cyclists and rockclimbers on the high cliffs and overhangs.  It is great to see that the locals (not only the tourists) make the most of their town and surrounds.

We are vaguely trying to fit into the Spanish lifestyle of ‘work early, have big lunch + siesta and return later to town for the night life’ however it doesn’t quite fit with the bike riding.  We have however eaten lots of jamon (cured ham), cheese and fresh bread… mmm yum!

**This should be a food photo...but saliva drool damages the camera :)**

Forecast for tomorrow is COLD and RAINING but we will start anyway on the ‘scenic route’ to Toledo = roman ruins, monasteries, castles and windmills + lots of farm land.

Kungsleden Trail – Kiruna – Northern Sweden – Dogsledding and 5 nights camping in the snow!

The tour started off well with temperatures well below zero.  Minus 10-15 deg C and a sunny clear day was promising for good weather all week and a potential Northern Lights sighting.  Despite no instruction on sled-control, we eventually became very in-tune with our dogs’ personalities and how to control the teams and the sleds.  This was just as well as the weather conditions progressively worsened and the sledding became much more technical throughout the week.

Fortunately we all made the crossing of the highest point without too much mishap or sled-tipping.  We still had powdery, soft snow which meant soft landings for the descent had we fallen but more difficult to get through for the dogs on the uphill – we did a lot of helping!

The weather then got progressively worse (higher temps = over zero! + cloud, wind and even rain).  This removed a lot of snow that was covering rocky terrain which seemed to greatly improve our sled-manoeuvring skills.

By the last night out the wind had picked up so much that we stayed in a cabin rather than tents.  This decision was also supported by the efforts of the ‘French Swimming Team’ (they fell through the ice while collecting the nights’ water supply).  We were ready for the final day of sledding through slushy melted ice, river crossings and melting lakes...

We arrived with very cold, wet feet but also very happy that we had made it with all fingers/toes accounted for.

Caged dog = One to piss off animal right activists :) In reality it is transport home for a very happy doggy!

Luckily the sky was clear enough one night for a spectacular display of the N. Lights.

The relative tour

Alice, Tennant Creek, Mount Isa, Longreach, Rockhampton, Brisbane, Gold Coast, PMQ, Canberra, Numurkah, Melbourne.

5000km driving to see family and friends.

The weather was hot, bloody hot but at least in the Pajero we have air-conditioning and don't have to cycle up any of the hills.

We found it fascinating that people could live in most of the places we passed through - no place compares to Paradise Springs. They were either small enough to have a "community feel" but lacked facilities or had the facilities and lacked any community. TRAFFIC...how do people put up with it? A bad day in Alice Springs it takes 8 minutes to ride into work...We spent 8 minutes at traffic lights each trip in any of the cities!

Highlights included:

• Rockhampton - pineapple with every meal!
• Brisbane - family catchup
• Gold Coast - Paddle boarding and body boarding. Swimming lessons for a 4month old nephew.
• PMQ - 'family' stay in typical Alice Springs adopted family fashion. A bonus was a guide trip up inside the Byron Bay lighthouse...life would be great there except the flamin' hippies and the crowds.
• Canberra - buying a canoe (pic below), cycling the lake, 15th floor apartment views and Tim picking on a 2yr old with the garden hose in the face trick.
  
  
• Back-o-Gundagai canoeing on the Murrumbidgee (Bertha the Tub proved a bargain!)
  
• Numurkah - 5 star food 0.5star accommodation (Cant wait to bulldozer the tiny 1970s house!)
• Melbourne - FOOD - Slow cooked lamb, YumCha, Lygon Street

We fly out tonight - Destination Frankfurt!

5hrs to break down bikes and fit them in the cardboard boxes and then pad and strap them in.
15kg = Bike Weight PLUS
Luggage = 15kg each + extras (hand luggage) and water/food
They are going to be heavy to pedal uphill!

Have fun this year and remember "Every day is a Sunday"... for some anyway :)

E & T