Featured Spanish Trip Finally Set Up....

Been a busy bee these last few evenings, getting a trip to Spain organised. Originally planned doing a route along the Pyrenees but so many hotels are closed early May, so change of plan. Done them enough already, really. I'll go straight through the middle, booked stops in a couple of old towns, Palencia and Daroca, and get to the apartment fairly directly. I'll be leaving the bike there for quite some time, possibly until next year, might get some midwinter riding in when it's total cack in Blighty. Certainly it's going to be handy when we go across in the summer, going for longer now I'm working less. Ferry on May 7th, not flying back until 16th so plenty of chance for a few day trips or overnighters from the flat if I feel so inclined.

 

Right, 12 months mot slapped on the bike, new tyres on. TBH l've been looking for excuses not to go for a while, the black dog caught up with me, but l'm going to be on the ship Wednesday afternoon hopefully. Went the long way round to the test station and l think l'm going to enjoy knocking off some decent miles on this bike

 

Plenty of luggage room, the benefit of not taking the trouble and strife! That said, l do have her bike boots and leather jacket in the panniers. No need for tank bag so no bother seeing the satnav. Decent forecast for tomorrow, might get up to rain Friday morning in Palencia. I expect l'll live...

 

Up on time, her indoors did me a nice breakfast, easy cruise down....ferry delayed! Feckin had to be, never happens when you're running late. And the first time l ever had a security check at Plymouth. Mirror under the bike, patdown. Happily no full cavity search. Anyhow, had a coffee, sun is out, sit and wait

 

A routine plenty know and love-board, strap bike down, stagger up all those steps to the cabin, throw everything on the floor, strip down to undercrackers and lie down staring at the ceiling. Cool off, shorts on, where's the bar?

 

Ferry only half an hour late docking, but disembarking took for ever. I therefore took the motorway route to Palencia. Mind you for the first half this was nothing like the M42 mate of course no pics though. In the hotel at a decent time so going to walk into the old part and see what it's like. Coffee first l reckon....

 

Nice old town Palencia. Like a big Jaca or small Zaragoza, really. Really funny though, l walked into town around 5, deserted. Stood at the cathedral and all the bells cracked off, and lo and behold, people appeared everywhere like bloody mushrooms. Like the Time Machine when all the Eloi are summoned

 

On the ferry there is usually someone from ORCA, a marine preservation organisation. She said this was the best crossing she's had for dolphins-at least 160 sighted. Try taking a feckin photo though...best l could do

 

Always someone doing a sodding survey though