Friday 3rd October 2014 - Carrion de los Condes, Spain

It was last night that I discovered that the laptop was not working and today two PC shops in Aguilar confirmed that the diagnosis was terminal.Les and Ian cycled to meet us at our aire and I gave them the bad news.
On the cycling front, it is looking very good. The terrain is less hilly, so they are able to push on a little faster. We had decided on two possible stops, Osorno la Mayor or Carrion de los Condes. We followed exactly the same route as the boys and kept expecting to pass them. Later we worked out that we passed them as they had stopped for an ice cream in Osorno. It was from there that they texted us to say that they were pushing on to Carrion. They made a fantastic effort today completing 105km in 5 hours of cycling time. This puts them well on schedule and reduces the pressure for the next few days.
Carrion is an interesting village on one of the major pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. This meant that there was more accommodation but much of it was full. Fortunately, the boys found a good hotel near the centre and booked a table for us in their restaurant. And it was a very good meal for only €11 each for three courses and half a bottle of wine. It must be said that we have had excellent value meals ever since we have arrived in Spain.
We then returned to Henrietta parked in an aire on the opposite side of the river from the village.
Photos: Approaching Aguilar de Campoo - the sharp-eyed amongst you may notice the castle middle right; A closer view of the castle; The river at Carrion de los Condes; The square in Carrion.

Thursday 2nd October 2014 - Reinosa, Spain

The boys were still carrying too much weight in their saddle bags as there had not been any opportunity to transfer items to the motorhome. We travelled over to their hotel for 09:00 so that they could lighten their load before today's long haul.
By 09:10 they were on their way. Lights were needed for a while as heavy autumn mist gave poor visibility but the sun soon burnt it off. The first 30km was constant hill and that was followed by 15km of very steep (10%) hill. They arrived, knackered (technical cycling term meaning weary) in Reinosa at 14:30. They had covered 49km with 3 hours 20 minutes of actual cycling time - Les doesn't believe Ian's Garmin figures, he thinks that they were cycling much longer! Les said that it was the toughest day's cycling that he had ever done, and that is saying something!
We had a very interesting morning visiting caves at Santa Maria de Cayon. These are UNESCO listed and were occupied in prehistoric times. The number of visitors is strictly controlled and we had to wait for more than an hour to join a guided tour. It was well worth the wait and we saw two caves with remarkable prehistoric cave art - hand prints, symbols and many animals such as horses, deer and bison.
We were surprised to get the text from Les to say that they had arrived at Reinosa, as we thought that it would take them much longer. We arrived at their unprepossessing hotel in an industrial estate a little later. Ian had found it on the internet with very good reviews and apparently geared up for bikers (motor variety). It turned out to be a gem - very friendly staff, excellent food, comfortable rooms and secure storage for the bikes.
There wasn't anywhere for us to stay in Reinosa so we continued for another 33km to Aguilar de Campoo where we pitched in an aire.
Total cycling kilometres to date 261.
P.S. Les would like to point out to his friend Alan that there were no hills today, only inclines!
Photos: Setting off for the first full day cycling in Spain; No photography was allowed in the caves but here is the entrance to one that was not open to the public; One of the many viaducts of the A67 that Ian and Les past and we drove over;
Ian resisting the temptation to let 'the train take the strain'; Aguilar de Campoo is a lovely town with interesting rock formations on its edge - here are some behind an old chapel.

Wednesday 1st October 2014 - Torrelavega, Spain

Ian got a reasonable night's sleep whilst Les remarked that he had found the softest part of the steel deck. In other words, he slept on the floor and got some sleep. Our cabin was very comfortable!
It was great spending the day catching up with Les and Ian's trip so far and we got the details of the "interesting(!!!) off-road cycling" that Ian mentioned on day 2. Apparently, Ian asked if there was an alternative route that they could take to avoid the busy main road out of Pimperne and the B&B owner described one. Either, the description was incorrect or it was incomplete or there was some incompetence in following it. I will let you decide which applies! Anyway, the track that they followed soon ran out and they ended up following a footpath over fields that involved taking very heavily laden bikes over two styles and a locked gate before they reached another track. Then came Blandford army camp where there was no way through and they had to follow the perimeter fence. All of this added a large extra distance to their journey and meant that they were very late meeting up with Alan, Inga, John and Peg. Both have expressed a desire to avoid any more off-road experiences on the rest of the trip!
When we arrived at Santander, Les and Ian set off for Torrelevaga, a journey that involved considerable climbs, the toughest so far, and they had to use lights, arriving at the hotel in the dark.
Meanwhile, we drove to our very popular aire at the Cabarceno Nature Park. Our pitch had a view over a small lake where hundreds of egrets gathered and roosted in the trees that surrounded it.
And now for the bad news. My laptop has died and I have no method of accessing the photographs on any of our cameras. Hopefully, I will be able to add photos from my phone in later posts.
Photos: The aire at the Cabarceno Nature Park with the lake in the background. Unfortunately, I lost the photographs of the egrets when the laptop failed.

Tuesday 30th September 2014 – Aboard the Pont Aven

Les and Ian would like to recommend their B&B in Hythe. They stayed at The Maples Hotel where Charlotte looked after them very well and the breakfast was excellent.

This was a day of ferries. It started with the ferry from Hythe to Southampton and then continued along Cycle Route 2 to the Hamble Ferry. These boats come in a fetching shade of pink but, unfortunately, this clashes awfully with the purple of Les and Ian's BIBIC shirts. The situation was saved by keeping their hi-vis jackets on, although it must be said that the fluorescent green and yellow weren't a good match either!

Their route took them through the impressive and beautiful Tichfield Haven Nature Reserve and they soon arrived at the Portsmouth Ferry terminal. Their only complaint of the day was that the over zealous road builders had put speed bumps across the full width of the road, forcing cyclists to go over the steep and very uncomfortable humps. And that was on a dedicated cycle route.

Meanwhile we set off from Somerset in Henrietta and, after a very easy drive, arrived at the ferry terminal just half an hour after the boys. It was obvious that Brittany Ferries had done their research as the VIPs, Les & Ian, were let onto the ferry very quickly but the 2^nd class passengers, including us, had to wait another hour and a half, just minutes before the planned departure time. Needless to say, the ferry was half an hour late leaving but I am sure that it will make up the time on route.

We had plenty to catch up on with Les and Ian and this was done during the evening whilst they introduced us to the main purpose of the trip – eating and drinking.

To donate to Les and Ian's charities, please visit www.justgiving.com/teams/lesian

Photos: Ian taking the rays on the pink ferry; The Spinnaker Tower at Portsmouth as the Pont Aven sails past; "Sell, Sell" - Jane on the phone to her broker whilst trying to catch up with the boys' drinking.

Monday 29th September 2014 – Hythe, Hampshire

Apparently the ride this morning started with “some interesting (!!!) off-road cycling around Blandford Camp” - I'm looking forward to hearing the details of that tomorrow! Still they obviously weren't arrested by the military police as they met up with two of their cycling friends from Butleigh at Three Legged Cross.

John and Alan had brought their wives Peg and Inga along and they went off to look at the sights whilst the boys cycled. Luncheon was taken at Brockenhurst, almost literally taken as Les nearly lost his lunch to a hungry New Forest pony! After a diversion to Bucklers Hard, they met up with the ladies at Beaulieu for afternoon tea. I am beginning to think that this blog is being dominated by talk of food and drink!

After fond farewells, Les and Ian set off for the last leg to Hythe where they met up with Ian's brother and sister-in-law, Douglas and Sue, for a meal. That's more eating and drinking! I can't wait to join them tomorrow evening!

86km we cycled today in approx. 4 hrs 45 mins.

Totals so far: 147 km in 8 hrs 30 mins.

To donate to Les and Ian's charities, please visit www.justgiving.com/teams/lesian

Photos: Meeting up with John, Peg, Alan & Inga; The hungry horse; At Bucklers Hard; Afternoon tea at Beaulieu.

Sunday 28th September 2014 - The Adventure Begins

A beautiful English Autumn day saw relatives and friends gathering in Butleigh to wish a 'bon voyage' to the two intrepid cyclists. Les' grandchildren had produced a lovely banner wishing Grampy and Ian good luck and, as the clock struck 11:00, it was time to wave them off as they ascended the hill out of the village. The first of many hills, no doubt.
I have just received an email from Ian who has told me that they had excellent weather and light traffic on the three and three quarter hour journey. They even managed a visit to Shillingstone Railway Project (http://www.shillingstone-railway-project.org.uk/) in North Dorset, a restored railway station and an excellent place for lunch.
They have now arrived in Pimperne, Dorset where they are staying for the night. As I write this, they are enjoying a meal and a well deserved pint of beer (possibly more than one!) in the pub across the road. Talking of which, I think that it is time to drink their health.
61 km completed, just 1,139 km to go!
To donate to Les and Ian's charities, please visit www.justgiving.com/teams/lesian
Photos: The banner made by Les' grandchildren - I should point out that it reads 'Grampy' not 'Grumpy'; Ian and Les posing in their fetching BIBIC teashirts; Gathering in front of the banner; And they're off!

A New Adventure - Charity Cycle Ride from Butleigh, Somerset to Vale de Lobo in Portugal

Now I need to make it clear that Jane and I have not suddenly become fit and keen to put ourselves through hell by cycling to Portugal. We are going to leave that to our good friends Les Stringer and Ian Cooper. We will be in the lap of luxury, purring along in Henrietta and acting as support for the athletes.
The cycle ride is raising money for two very worthwhile charities - BIBIC (helping brain-injured children) and Prostate Cancer UK.
Les and Ian leave Butleigh on Sunday 28th September, cycling down to Portsmouth with friends from the village. We meet them there and take the ferry to Santander where the hard work starts. The planned route will take them down through central Spain to the coast at Huelva and then West along the coast into Portugal and the resort of Vale de Lobo. Here they will be joined by their wives and Ian's daughter, Sophia, for a well deserved break.
Les and Ian have form, some years ago they did the LeJog (Lands End to John O'Groats) and have been thinking about another adventure ever since. After months of planning and training, it all starts tomorrow!
Good luck to them both, may the sun shine gently and the wind be on your backs.
If you would like to help Les and Ian to raise money for the charities, please visit www.justgiving.com/teams/lesian
Photo: Les and Ian on a gentle cycle ride through the Somerset villages.