Spanish Tour Part 2 - Bilbao to Picos de Europa

Disembarked in Bilbao

Riding off the ferry, we needed to dismount and de-glove to pass immigration checks. Daft as they are with thanks to stupid Brexit, they were painless.

The delay broke up the bike groups, which reduced the crowding usually seen when different groups all get mixed up and compete for first dibs on the popular routes. Bonus, we weren't planning to follow the popular route and had our own all mapped out.

It was warm and we wanted to get going. Sadly, Google Maps decided we should go with the popular route, so by roundabout number 3, I had stopped twice to reinforce my saved waypoints. A truck driver tried to usher us on our way along the popular route too. He was visibly indignant when we refused to follow his gesture to go west and started off south.

On our way

The transition to riding on the right was seamless. We've lived and worked "abroad" enough and if anything, it's easier on the bike than in a car.

The way out of Bilboa quickly gains some height before passing into the wide valley beyond. Mountains stretch far off into the distance with sharp escarpments looking up toward the northern sky. In good weather, and on overall great little roads with plenty of switchbacks and flowing curves, this inaugral route really set the tone for our tour. Lovely to ride and to witness the passing views.

Waypoint 1

We reached Monumento Natural de Ojo Guareña inside of 90 minutes. That's not bad with navigation stops and no traffic. Seriously, there was so little traffic!

Although only a waypoint, it'd be daft not to pop down an see something of what all the fuss is about. So, we shouldered our helmet bags, and popped down. I'm glad we did. It's a cave system used as a town. We didn't have time to go in, and the cave environment would have been welcome as the morning's heat built up in my armpits. It's interesting enough though, and there's this really jazzy automated public toilet you simply mustn't miss, which is free. The stupid little box offered back home costs a few cents, so I see the value.

Probably the most amazing U-turn, ever

Waypoint 2 was a junction in Requejo after a well-curved route along the northern banks of the Emblaise del Ebro (reservoir). It took a little longer to get there than I'd budgetted.

As we neared the lake, we couldn't but notice and have a chat about the significance of the Pirámide de los Italianos. This is a purpose-built distraction from the left turn we should have taken off the N-623 onto the CL-630 built by a squirrel seller. (That's a reference to the movie, Rat Race).

In any case, we missed the left turn, wondered past the pyramid, and hummed along oblivious before being directed to take a left turn. This struck me as odd when the lake had been visible on our left, and wasn't visible now. Also, we were now heading right, and…who's to argue with Google Maps, huh? So, we started our U-turn, which turned out to be an amazing &emdash; if unauthodox 35 Km route up, around, and down a wiggly mountain track, or three. We sure reached some hight.

Here we are being incredibly happy with the view back over the valley.

Anyway, Google Maps was delighted to deliver us back to the N-623 just before our correction to turn left onto the CL-630, and our sporty navigations around the lake.

To be continued...