Home sweet home

And then ‘suddenly’ we were back home. However long the journey took and however aware we were of it, it was still ‘suddenly’ a different world. Transferring in Paris was chilly, all the rugby supporters were chattering on the terrace of the brasserie where we ate. In NL we were apparently already starting to get Home sweet home

Seville and Cordoba

When we arrived in Seville, we realised that we hadn’t taken a guided tour since Gdansk and that, possibly because of this, we hadn’t learned as much as we could have in places like Bilbao and Porto. So we signed up for another one of those free tours where you show your appreciation afterwards by Seville and Cordoba

The cycle route

Here is an overview of the total route we covered by bicycle.

Andalusia

And then suddenly we were done cycling! We were still toying with the idea of cycling on to Cordoba, but taking the tandem on the train proves even more difficult in Spain than in France, if possible. In the end, we are going to need 3 days to get from Seville to Alicante and the Andalusia

GR route

Actually, we had planned to now tell about the vast plains with cork oaks. And then of the plantations of olive trees. About the desert-like plains that came after that. But yesterday afternoon’s events have pushed all that into the background. What got us into such a mess? That when one hesitated the other was GR route

Flora

Suddenly we were among them: black tree stumps, often still with crown, but dead. Young plants on the ground indicate the fire was some time ago. The surroundings look bare: few tall trees. If there was forest here, it is gone now. A little further on new planting does take place, again eucalyptus, haven’t they Flora

Collaboration

In Porto, we booked our train journey back to NL. On October 15th, we take the train from Barcelona to Rotterdam – so the end of this amazing journey is now really in sight. Almost at the same time, Geertrui, my sister, asked what it’s like to be together for 7 months. she adds: although Collaboration

Buen Camino

The day after the night before – we had a cosy dinner together in town and drank 1 glass of which Tessel immediately got a leather tongue – we are woken up by Kasper coming to return the powerbank. Kasper & co are almost ready to leave at 8 am. We have yet to start Buen Camino

Through Asturias

There are sometimes days when you really like it all and are having a great time, but have no idea what to put about it in your blog. There are also days when you see and experience more than you can put down. We’ve been having the latter the last few days. So you’ll have Through Asturias

Leon

The weather forecast for the weekend was very bad with rain and thunderstorms all day on both Saturday and Sunday. We decided to deviate from the route and cycle to León and get a flat there. The closer we got to León, the more hikers we saw (heading in the same direction). Apparently, the “Caminio” Leon

Skinny dipping

Oscar is our planner. This time he has been studying the upcoming stages for a few days. After 35km we can do some shopping and/or camping after that there is 95km of nothing. We are therefore thinking of 2 stages of 65km, each with about 800 altimeters and a night of wild camping in between. Skinny dipping

The Spanish land

My image of northern Spain consisted of a combination of hills, dry, sunny and hot. To be fair, I knew it could also be quite spooky on the north coast in August, but I didn’t want that and I didn’t imagine much more. Now here, the landscape and weather turn out to be hugely varied. The Spanish land

Heat

It is Thursday 24 August 16:30h, our bike computer indicates it is 43.5 degrees C. Luckily, we decided to “take shelter” at a campsite the day before yesterday, the first real day of cycling in Spain. Secretly, we also like the fact that we have a few more days of real heat. 8 months of Heat

Bilbao / Basque Country

We had planned it this way, knowing the transition from England to Spain would create a cultureshock but only when you experience it, you really feel it. We got off the boat, always a bit confusing where to go with people giving directions that may or may not be coherent with the former, but felt Bilbao / Basque Country

Memory lane

1.5 days with Sheila at The Abbots were wonderfully familiar. A quick visit to St Marie’s together to close it for the night; a takeaway; a nice chat. Monday a couple of hours sweating in the ‘vegetable garden’; stopping by Rosemary and Peter’s on the way to Sainsbury’s to drop off a book for the Memory lane