Random scenery on thecway ip. Reminded me of Yorkshire
Beautiful just beautiful, I'm tearing up a bit now. Such a brave thing you have done., well done Jeremy I know exactly the feelings of grief and also joy of the stuff you did together.
I'm just back from the West coast of Scotland where Carolyn and I spent so many happy times.
The descent
Mr overshoot. Indeed. I had a wee sniffle myself.
A pal gave me a good tip to deal with these moments. Rather than thinking " oh no we will never do this again" or " Im sad she is not here" say out loud " what great adventures we had"
Resets your thinking in a cbt style and flips it back to happy memories. Works for me
How strange, there's a guy coming the other way next week, landing at Santander then spending a month riding along the Camino del Cid from Burgos to Alicante. He's been asking my thoughts on a route from the ferry and I advised going over the road you've ridden today,you must have stayed in Espinoza de los Monteros last night? The tunnel I mentioned runs from Vega de Pas through the mountain but is currently blocked by a roof collapse. You can pick up the Via Verde del Pas tomorrow that takes you nearly to the ferry.
I stayed a bit the other side of espinoza.
To for the via verde tip.
You local?
Not really, I live in Southern Cataluña but organise a cross country bikepacking trip every year. This May we went via the sources of the 3 longest rivers in Iberia so were cutting back to Bilbao through the Merindades. We stayed in Espinosa on the last night having ridden from the source of the Ebro. I have a plan to do a coast to coast along the Santander Mediterranean rail line but it's not 100% complete yet, there's a few missing bridges and the Engaña tunnel is in a dangerous condition. There's so much to explore here, we've been here 7 years and only just begun. I was late to your blog but glad you enjoyed the riding in Spain.
Riding here is good but too many mountains fir an okd fell🤣🙄
What a day TJ. And that looks a lovely place for her.
One day I'm going to be lobbed under a tree, next a stream, and someone will hopefully think of me kindly as they do it.
(And that descent!)
Riding here is good but too many mountains fir an okd fell🤣🙄
Ahh you can always fall back to an e-bike 🙂
There have been times on this trip I wished I brought my ebike 🙄🤣 but not many. Headwinds are a killer. However also I know range anxiety would have also got to me and also the whining noise of ebikes would annoy. Also ebikes are cheating 🤣
Slightly weird hotel last night. One lovely but harassed looking woman appears to be the only staff. Cheap tho at 40euro B&B. Dinner was poor.
Last days riding today. Got a via verde all the way and the weather is fine and even though I am out of the big mountains the scenery is good.
However my body is really creaking now. Good job its only 30 odd miles to Santander with little climbing. Tweaks in my muscles all over and arthritis playing up. Im glad I decided not to go further south.
Mixed feelings though this morning. Im glad to be going home but sad its nearly over. I've basically been on the move since May. With a couple of weeks at home between the Scottish test ride and the main ride and 3 separate weeks staying with folk en route.
My brother has just retired and taken his motorhome to Greece.
It's still lovely and warm there.
Slight detour on your way home?
* checks map*
It’s been great to read this over the last few months, seeing how it’s helped you deal with your loss has given me a lot of hope for dealing with my own grief. Resetting your thinking in the way you describe I’ve found to be very helpful, if very hard to do, at least at first.
Resetting your thinking in the way you describe I’ve found to be very helpful, if very hard to do, at least at first.
It is and it feels odd but for me at least it works. It seems you get a better effect if you say it out loud. The other one I use is when I get flashbacks to Julie's last month. ( ptsd type symptoms) I say " Im proud of what I did" and that has definitely reset my thinking after many repetitions.
That's interesting you describe that as PTSD like, I have same with Sue's last few days and last hour especially, I thought I was being over dramatic to think of them in those terms.
Anyway back to the happy thoughts...with your inspiration I've got the tourer and panniers out of mothballs to start thinking of doing the long tour we had planned before Covid and then MND hit us.
Crewlie
There are a few of us in similar situations. Maybe we should arrange a misery meet up and ride at some point🙄🤣🤔
Great idea, a ‘crying into our beers ride’ 🤣
Well thats that then. The last days riding done. Im camped up just outside Santander.
Of course the randomiser had to throw a few spanners in the works. I kept losing the via verde in towns and the rather than turning off a couple of kilometers from the end I rode it right down to the end where it comes to an abrupt end at a fence. 🙄🤣.
Then followed a very weird google maps route to the campsite going thru the docks, trying to send me down motorways, thru a homeless encampment and over unnecessary hills. Finally made it to the campsite and it's closed for the season. Bugger. Retrace my route a few miles to the other campsite. Thats open and has a bar on site. So much for an easy short dsy today
I am knackered. I can hardly walk as I have tweaked a muscle in my leg. Its about 16 weeks since i last slept in my own bed. Must be well over 3000miles now. Ill be glad to get home.
Pics in a bit
Glad you're nearly there at the ferry.
Enjoy Santander for the day - we found a place selling ace ice-cream near the waterfront, and another cafe in the showy 'glass box' on the waterfront which was not as expensive as it looked - but was great to people and boat watch the last couple of hours to the ferry out of the (40*c!) sun.
Superb trip, well done! It definitely counts as an epic and as many others have said, it’s been interesting to follow the trip. Safe journey home…
Ferry is delayed unill 11pm which is an utter pai but does mean i have tomorrow in Santander
I have really enjoyed your adventure updates, tjagain. Feeling a bit sad that it is over but want to wish you all the best and thank you for the posts and photos. 🙂
Enjoy your day in Santander tomorrow and bon voyage for the ferry trip back to Blighty.
I make that beer o'clock
Hopefully some hakfwaw decenr scran
Go on push the boat out and order yoursel a Chuleton. Can't beat a big lump of cow.
When do you reckon you’ll get back to Edinburgh and at what time? Do you want me to get you some bread and milk?
Wednesday evening Paul. How long does it take to drive from Plymouth? I pick the car up Wednesday morning
Dont worry about bread and milk. Ta for tbe thought tho. I should be back early enough. Most kind of you tho.
You could carry me and tbe kit up the stairs🤣
According to Google 8 hours 9 minutes by car 11 hours 51 minutes by train and 156 hours walking😃
You can carry your own smelly kit up the stairs😈
This thread has been an inspiration on so many levels TJ. Well done and thanks.Your efforts have kept our dreams alive. (even if you didn't stop in Milton Keynes!)
A little bit of advice from a friend who has sailed the Santander ferry many times.....
if the Tina Turner tribute act sits on your lap during "her" performance, don't be flattered. Just run a mile. Think the scene in the bar in the first Crocodile Dundee movie. I think you know where I am coming from???
Ask me how I know 🙂
Safe trip home TJ. Hope our paths will cross again one day. Was a pleasure to have shared a small part of your adventure with you.
Ta
Safe trip home fella. Following your adventures has been an inspiration.
Fantastic fella. Thank you for all the effort posting this stuff
Perhaps the Tina Turner tribute act could give tjs tweaked muscle a massage.Hopefully,not whilst sat on his lap!
Very well done mate by the way.Cheers.
Get yourself a note pad and a handful of pens in Santander tomorrow, write down more memories or your trip while they are fresh.
Then start planning the next trip, and the one after that...
Nothing specific to add, but another one here who's really enjoyed reading about your adventures. Safe travels home!
Am also another one that's gutted your trip is coming to an end TJ, your threads have been great these last few months and have enjoyed 'catching up' with your travels throughout. Safe trip home. Where's next?
Hope the ferry back is not too rough. I really would not want the last memory of such an epic journey being hanging over the side feeding the fish.
Take care on the drive back too.
Where’s next?
Hopefully to fulfil a bucket list thing of riding a bike on the frozen yukon river. Im not riding there tho.
Currently sitting on Santander waterfront
I know someone who can help you out with the stiffness and aching after too much riding. I've found that cycling is pretty bad for posture, flexibility and adaptability if you do too much, as you get older.
