And the fun begins!

~ Monday ~

~ Last day of preparation ~

Non stop all day, packing my bags and loading it all onto the bike. Taking my first fully loaded 10 km trip. Balance is all I thought as I rode the usual route in my usual way ( without helmet ) I realised that it is probably quite easy to just get blown off the road, especially if I'm going down hill or on an uneven road surface, the decision to invest in a helmet was made! After arriving at my sisters where my bike bag was waiting, I my final bits, including a pump, helmet, gas and Velcro for the final touches of my handmade crossbar bag. 

Then the final ( until after the trip ) goodbyes were said with a family dinner and the joy of visiting nan out of hospital, lots of hope and love for her to have a peaceful time. 

The bike went into the bag, bit by bit, then to finish the day I laid all of my things out and set my alarm for 6am... Ah sleep.

~ Tuesday ~

~ Off to Madrid ~

With the bus booked for 8:55 am I left for Dover Docks at 7:00 with the help of my father and his estate car! :D After checking I was in the right place, he set off and I waited for the bus to arrive. And I waited, and I waited... hmmm! There wasn't any one else waiting for the same bus as me and almost half an hour had passed, so the little old lady who I'd been talking to kept an eye on my baggage for me ( kindness everywhere ) I asked in the reception for Eurolines, who happened to not have any knowledge of my ticket... grrrrr! After 5 mins the man had arranged for me to get a taxi to another bus nearby which would take me through to Spain missing one change! Nice! Thank you universe. As I arrived at the bus, which had been held back especially for me, I was given the only available seats at the front, the one with lots of legroom and no there wasn't anyone next to me :D Thanks again universe! I love you! 

~ Wednesday ~

~ Starting point ~

After a 27hr coach journey, I finally arrived in Madrid, spent the first hour  reconstructing my bike and finding a storage location for my bike bag. I then set off, after a few minutes I realised I hadn't put the rear wheel on straight, off I got and straightened it up... Crack!!! Went the quick release bar... Fudging fiddle sticks! Went Liz (me, it was me) I sat on a bench contemplating my current situation... Just arrived, no idea where any thing is, don't speak Spanish, have some food in my bag, supposed to meet couch surfer host 40 mins from now the other side of the city! Lalala...

As I sat down to eat my lunch, I took several deep breaths and came up with a plan:- drop the rest of the baggage in the storage locker, chain up the bike, meet the guy and then make a plan. After eating, I sent a message and set off asking everyone in my way where the nearest bike repair shop is?! I then received a wonderful reply from my host saying he'd come and collect me with the bike and take me to a repair shop... What a lovely person.

~ Thursday ~

~ Truly last minute planning ~

The morning took my full attention in route planning (after a couple of hours on the bike... Of course!) 

Finally created a route Madrid to Portugal, with designated stops at camp site and a few couch requests as well! After all the changes over the last weeks it felt real good to have that in my pocket. 

The last thing for me to organise was a place for my big bike bag!? I asked my couch surfing host if he could help me out, but he will be out of town for my expected return dates and so will his friends :( the next option was storage... I found a company called Blue space who look pretty professional. I then hopped on a train, picked up my bag from the coach station storage locker... I was late ... It charged me for another day :( then I took the bag to the shop. The lady was very helpful she showed me the smallest space, about 6 times the size of he bag all folded up... €90 per month! What! Mmm ok that's nearly double what I paid for the bag! With only an hour until the shops closed I decided the best thing to do was take it to a biciclisteria ( bike shop ) and so that's what I did after a lot of frustrated huffs as this decision means I will also have to leave the bicycle :/ The man in the shop was very happy with the gift and the smile he gave lifted my dull spirit, freeing my mind.

I returned to the house and packed the rest of my things, I sewed on the majority of Velcro to the handmade crossbar bag and attached the last part with needles, it's not finished but it's functioning yay. 

Alarm set for 5... Thank you's, nice to meet you's and good byes to my host and at last, sleep.

~ Friday ~

~ On the road ~

Waking at 5am I quietly dressed and set off for my first day on the road. Still pure darkness outside a chill in the air and empty streets ahead. Here it goes! GPS to hand I followed the route described, after a couple of well lit city streets I was directed into a very dark side lane. Unsure whether to delve into the darkness, I double checked the route and it was right...of course! I went into the darkness, the floor beneath me was an unsteady, sandy dirt track. It seemed to go on forever, I could just make out the track from the glow of the white sand, enabling me to keep going. At points the sand became a little deeper, causing the bike to loose balance and me to use my drifting skills... New to me, by the way! It was a relief to make it to the other side where a long line of street lights lit up the next path for me. I was riding for 1.5 hours in the dark before I sat down on a bench to eat. The sun came up and along with it, light. After eating I continued on my journey. Later, came across more of these sandy streets, which it seems are very common. I rode through miles of farmers land, forests and at one point down the side of a mountain! 

I arrived at the first campsite around 1pm exhausted, set up the tent, ate my lunch, took a well deserved shower and had a nap.

After my nap I rode into the village to buy some supplies from the supermarket. Followed by a nice long stretch and a dip in the pool. Feeling refreshed and loosened up! 

Later that day I was offered a couch by on of the hosts I had previously Messaged. It was a little off my planned path but it actually meant  less KM to travel overall... perfect! After getting the destination saved i prepared my bags, before resting my head for the night.

70km on the bicycle.

~ Saturday ~

~ Street love ~

I started the day with no set route, I had to use my common sense and map reading skills to get to my next destination. As you can imagine I was a little worried, alas, it wasn't that bad!

I left at 7am today as the destination was only 40km I have to mention the quality of Spanish roads, they are very nice to ride on, not a pot hole in sight. They also have signs regularly posted to remind drivers to stay aware of cyclists. 

The ride was a perfect amount for me, I arrived at my destination with a little energy left to enjoy the company of a wonderful host family. After meeting in the local village we headed back to the house where I met mum and brother.we are together and took a nap (siesta) apparently life without it does not exist here! I love that philosophy :) after our nap we went Kayaking... I met cousins and aunts and enjoyed a beautiful landscape with a friendly family. Many of them only spoke Spanish, I tried using my Italian English mix... It wasn't so successful, but we had great fun.

Because of the detour I changed my route again :) now it will take me through the Spanish mountains...

After a lovely meal with the family and goodbyes I headed to bed.

40 km on the bicycle

~ Sunday ~

~ Can't get enough of these mountains ~

After a sunrise breakfast, I loaded up the bike and said a final goodbye to my couch surfing host (love) and I set off for day 3 of the cycle for a cycle challenge. It was a great start with the longest ever downhill... I really thought I may just arrive at my destination after that! But that was not the case after all what goes up must come down and visa versa. Then came the longest ever uphill... I literally went down one side of the mountain then up the side of the next one, what a feeling to reach the top and the view was incredible. Well to be honest every time I stop for water or a wild wee or even just a breath break I look around and feel blessed. Between towns there isn't much going on except the sound of cowbells and crickets or locusts or something like that! Nature, nature everywhere... I love my life. 

I arrived at my destination at 12:00 set up the tent, took a shower, had done food and then got to work on this. I'll surf for more host families later before the regular prepare and sleep. 

40km on the bicycle.