Sept 19 2017 Pico de Veleta

This morning was the day for the assault on Pico de Veleta.   Pico de Veleta is the highest paved road in all of Europe.  The final summit is at 3395 meters. The public road ends at 2764 m and the last 8 kms takes you up a ski service road.   This climb lacks the fame of   Tourmalet, Ventoux or Alpe d'Huez,  but Veleta is longer and tougher than all of them.  In fact the Pico de Veleta at a net climb of 2700 meters has twice the climb of Tourmalet.   Liam has been planning on doing this ride for over 25 years when he first read about this climb in an article in Cycling World, and it had become a bucket list item for him.

 We were up and down at breakfast at 8:00 am all ready to go.  By 8:25 we were rolling out of the hotel and down the streets.  I looked like about 2 kms to reach the edge of town.  In town the route took us up a lot of really steep residential streets however as we were following the suggested bike route we weren’t too excited.  The total climb was  43 kms.  So when the track turned to gravel at about the 8 kms mark we knew we were on the wrong track.  We tried a couple of other directions and finally decided we would head back to the hotel to rework the routes and get them put into our Garmins.  Finally on the road at about 11:30 am about three hours behind schedule.  

At about the 8 kms mark the hills started getting steep and Liam’s bike was not shifting properly.  When he down shifted it threw the chain over the top of the rear cassette.  After a stop to put the chain on is was obvious that the rear derailleur had been bent when it was dropped in the garage that morning.  After a bunch of very dirty work we got the derailleur bent back and on the road. 

Unfortunately we are now about 3.5 hours behind schedule and the heat of the day has set in.  My Garmin is registering around 29 C. Having said that it was actually the perfect day we were just too late getting on the road.  Because of the huge difference in altitude it has to be hot at the base to be reasonable at the top.   We have only climbed less than 20% of the way.  I am sweating so badly I cannot see.  I have to stop constantly to wipe my face and so my eyes are just on fire. 

As we get further along we are getting more and more amazing views of the valley below.  The road is averaging between 6.5 and 8 % grade with not a single flat spot anywhere.   There is just one switchback after another and one amazing view after another. 

We stopped at the 25 kms mark at a little hotel and filled our water bottles and sat in the shade trying to cool off a little.  However as time was not on our side we pedalled on. 

At the 27 kms mark the came across a cluster cafes and there BMW, Porche and Mercedes had a selection of new models all dressed in dazzle camouflage and were testing the new models.  The cars  would come flying past you in a four wheel drift with the tires just whining.  It was quite interesting to see however a little unnerving as you could hear them coming two or three switch backs below you or above you. 

By time we got the ski lodge at the 35 kms mark it was 4:00 pm and I was done.  I was feeling a little light headed as we now at 2764.  My water bottle was empty and my Garmin was dead.  There were a pair of workmen working on a building and I got them to fill our bottles.  I had still made it to the highest paved point in Europe and had a great day cycling.

It was still 8 kms at 8% to the top.  Liam decided to soldier on the last bit and I rode back down to the place where the test cars were.  It took Liam another 4 hours to climb to the top and back down to where the test cars were. By now it was dark and Agnes and Suibhan came up and got us with the car.  However he made it.  I take my hat off to you Liam.  This is an achievement which you have been dreaming of for 25 years and you made it happen.  Congratulations!

 Terry

Sept 18 2017 Granada

After a very nice breakfast buffet in the hotel lobby we were on our way to Granada.   The trip down was quite uneventful and I was able to catch a few little cat naps.  It might seem like a long way to drive down from Obidos Portugal to Granada for what is basicly a one day bike ride up to Pico de Veleta. However Liam has had this on his to do list for over 25 years.  Getting to do stuff which is on your bucket list is a pretty important thing.  Maybe something we should all be working on doing.  A little more doing of things which are important to us.  Actually I feel kind of honored that Liam has chosen me to do this with. 

Upon arriving in Granada we check into our hotel which is the quaintest place I think I have every stayed.  There are only five rooms in the hotel even though it is a quite large building.  The place is filled with fine furniture and interesting little knick-knacks.  Each room has a huge jetted bathtub, a king size bed and a little balcony with a set of café chairs and a table overlooking Granada.  There is a beautiful pool in the back yard surrounded by a very nice garden.  On the roof is a sun deck with loungers and an amazing view of Granada.  Breakfast is served in the main dining room and it looks great.  

I was relaxing on the sundeck upstairs when this other couple came up to enjoy the view.  As they spoke I knew that was a Canadian accent and sure enough they were from Montreal.  So we chatted and they were here for two weeks.  Their children had given them tickets to see the Rolling Stones in Barcelona for his 70’s birthday.   They were busy humming Stones’ tunes and just having a great time.  It was pretty fun to meet them.

Tomorrow is the big day and after a quick breakfast Liam and I hit the slopes.  We had thought we would need mountain bikes to go the last 14 kms but upon talking to the folks in a local bike shop we have been assured that the road bikes will take us to within a few hundred meters of the summit. 

Stay tuned for the big adventure to the highest paved road in Europe.

Terry

Sept 17 2017 Seville Spain

This morning we loaded the car and headed south towards Seville Spain.  It is a two day trip down to Granada Spain where Liam and I are planning our assault on Pico de Veleta.  It is a tough 43 kms of climb averaging 6.2%.  

In the mean time I enjoyed 8 hours of snoozing in the back seat.  Liam and Suibhan taking turns driving and Agnes and taking turns snoozing in the back seat.  Kind of reminds me of that old joke how I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandmother, not screaming like the other passengers.   Seriously Liam has a very nice BMW touring car which is extremely comfortable and cradled into a soft leather seat isn’t too hard to take. 

We took the freeway all the way so apart from a couple of breaks there wasn’t a lot to see.  Taking pictures out of the car window is less than satisfying.  Most of the freeway is toll road so you have to pull in and get a ticket and then pull in to pay.  I understand that residents can get a transponder for the tolls but as Liam lives in Aberdeen he does not have a transponder.  I am not use to tolls so I cannot comment on the price of the tolls other than one section was 25.85 euros which seemed like a lot.

We stopped at about 4:00 pm for lunch at a local Spanish restaurant.  For the very nice price of only 10 euros each we each got a huge roll (more of a small loaf of bread), a bowl of soup (it had noodles in it), a tuna salad, a coke, bottle of water, pork lion slices, fries, a very nice cheese cake desert, and a Café Grande Negro (which was so strong the spoon melted). It was a very interesting experience watching the locals who were all dressed up in their Sunday best and out enjoying a family outing.  I thought that considering that not one of us knew any Spanish and the waiter no English we did pretty well.

We arrived in Seville and got checked into our hotel which is an ultra-modern Hilton.  It is a gorgeous facility and at a very reasonable price.  Liam did great.   We talked about doing a city driving tour but the bikes are on the car and nobody really felt like being in the car after about 8 hours in the car.

Not much for pictures just a couple of castles we passed on the way and the welcome to Spain signs.

Stay tuned for shots of Granada and Pico de Veleta!

Terry

Sept 16 2017 Rest day

After yesterday’s big ride we needed a rest day.   Liam has jam packed the trip with great stuff to see and fun places to visit so a rest day was a very welcome thing indeed. 

Sleeping in was the order of the day and I took this seriously. Very seldom am I the last out of bed however I managed to be the last up this morning.   I woke up at 5:05 AM looked at the time and turned over not to hear anything until 8:45AM.

Liam was up and off into town to get a haircut and everyone else had eaten breakfast by the time I got up.  

 After breakfast I got the bikes out and cleaned the chains on Liam’s bike and the one I am riding.  Liam had this bike overhauled just before I got here so it had new cables on it and they had stretched a little bit and it was not shifting very well.  This bike is a Giant with a triple front crank and a nine speed rear cassette which is a very similar bike to my Giant which I keep in Canada.   My Giant has a lot of miles on it and I have a good knowledge of how to make it shift perfectly.  So after cleaning I put the bike on the stand and a few twists of the adjustment barrel and it was running much better.  A quick sprint up a few of the hills around the neighborhood showed me that in fact it was shifting perfectly. 

Liam got back and the two of us headed off to visit some of the local bike shops.   I did see a helmet for only 9 euros which I was tempted to buy but it was black and I don’t like black helmets as I don’t think they are visible.  There was a very nice pair of bib shorts for 25 Euros but I don’t really need another pair.  However it is always fun to poke around bike shops. 

Back home it was time for an afternoon nap. 

Nothing like being lazy once in a while.

I didn’t take any pictures to day so the pictures are of other days.

Terry   

Sept 15, 2017 Mounte Junto

This morning Liam and I were up early and on the road by 8:05 AM.  This was exceptionally early as we have never gotten away this early before, however today was to be a big day with a lot of climbing.  When we departed the wind was quite stiff and out of the North.  I was a little concerned as the wind seems to pick up in the afternoons.  However as this was our only opportunity to do this ride over to Monte Junto, so we were going wind notwithstanding.

Our route took us down the back roads to the now familiar Obidos castle and aqueduct.   My camera caught Liam riding through the arch where the road crosses the arch.   While the road to Obidos has lots of hills reaching 10-12% grade they are all quite short so the first climb of the day started as we went under the arch.  It is about 4 kms and averages about 9%.  Liam is busy saying that this is nothing just wait. 

At about the 30 kms mark we had already climbed close to 600 meters so we rolled into a super market to  fill up our water bottles and get a snack.  Liam scored some Pastel Natas which were fresh out of the oven and only 0.25 Euros each.  They were great. 

At the 35 kms mark we started the climb to Monte Junto.  The road had a lot of switch backs and twists and my Garmin was reading 10-12%.   After several kilometers Liam said see that wind mill up there?  Sure it was right there about 75 meters straight up on one of the knobs.  Well it is about one third of the way.  Thanks for that!  The Garmin is now reading 14% and the road it so steep I thought I was going to spin out.  The best I can do is about 6.5 km/hr.  The wind by now has increased dramatically and every time you came to a place where there was a break in the trees you got a blast.   After a lot of grinding and huffing and puffing we came to a view point which over looked the country side below.  Jaw dropping does not even come close to describing the view.  We took a few pictures including a couple using the self timer and rode on.  By time we got to the top we were above the trees although there were still plenty of bushes.  The wind was now closing on wind tunnel force.  You had to pretty much hang on to something or get blown over.   There are ruins of a monastery which was built in 1213 at the top and a church which was built in 1800 as well as a modern radar station.  I was saying that you could see Newfoundland from the top but was corrected.  You could easily see everything for a long ways.  Monte Junto is 660 meters high and is easily 300-400 meters higher than anything else.  A few pictures and we were off.

Liam and I cycled down the other side of Monte Junto which was much more open and the wind gusts would grab the bike and almost throw it over.  Wind notwithstanding it was still much easier going down.  On the way we passed a couple of Portuguese style wind mills.  The blue and white wind mills with the cloth sails are so iconic of Portugal.  I was pleased to see a couple as they are now quite rare.   

We had a very nice late lunch in a side walk café in Bombarral.   After lunch we passed a bunch of fields which has these huge squash of melons in them. They were easily 12-18”in diameter and 2-3 feet long.  We then headed down what turned out to be a busy road towards Peniche. It was straight into the wind and by time we had gone about 15kms into the wind we stopped for a coke.  I had, had enough of the wind and so we turned towards home.  It was still about 35 kms and most of it was going to be into the wind. Although once we got off the busy road we were in a more wooded area and the wind was not as bad. 

By time we got home it was 6:05 pm so we had been on the road for ten hours and had covered 125 kms and climbed 1975 meters. The rolling average was 18.5 kms/hr, which was quite surprising considering how much time it took to climb Monte Junto and the time spent riding into the wind at probably no more than 14 kms/hr.   The Garmin gave me a calorie count of 5775 calories.   It was a long hard day on the bike but a very satisfying one.

Suibhan had made a delicious super of curly pasta and a meat sauce for supper which sure went down great.

Terry

Sept 14, 2017 Back to Liam’s

This morning we had a leisurely breakfast and checked out of the luxury hotel in Pinhao.  After loading bikes we headed down the N222 towards Regua.  When we got to the dam across the Douro River we stopped to watch a river cruise ship going through a lock.  It was a very interesting operation as the lock drops the ship approximately 30 meters.  After the water has drained from the lock and the ship lowered the door to the lock lifts vertically rather than having the normal horizontal doors which I have seen on every other lock.   

Driving down the Douro Valley was really amazing as you see the extent of the hill side terracing and grape growing and the wine making industry. 

The drive back south was quite uneventful which is exactly how you want to have a big car ride.  Sitting in the back seat in a warm comfortable seat with the swaying of the car enabled me to have a nice snooze.   I think the only times I woke up was when we went through toll booths.  Portugal has tolls on most of the freeways.   It seems to me like the tolls are quite high, however as I am not use to having tolls on the freeways I am probably not a good judge of this. 

Tomorrow is a big ride day.  Liam has a 100 plus kms route planned which will have close to 2000 meters of climb. 

Terry