A Camino with a bike and trailer

I love cycle touring and Spain would be a perfect place for it. This trip, however, is not a bike tour but rather a Camino with my bike and trailer. 

I see other cyclists almost every day, but only once. They are moving much faster than I am, especially if they are staying on the road. The Eurovelo 1 follows the Via de la Plata route primarily on the N-630. I usually end up on this road for a few stretches each day, when the track or trail is too much for either me or my trailer. It’s a wide highway with great shoulders and hardly any traffic. Most of the vehicles are on the freeway that now parallels it. If it’s raining or if I have a big climb I try to stay on it. 

Whenever possible I do the same route as the walking pilgrims. The countryside is so much more beautiful off the big road. I like to mix it up and walk pushing my bike for awhile, jumping back on my bike whenever the track heads downhill. Even when I’m riding my progress is pretty slow. Many days I leave an hour after Gord and reach our destination with just enough time to shower and buy groceries before he’s a few kms from arriving. Today’s 31 kms took me 3 1/2 hours with one shopping stop – and I was on paved surfaces! 
Going slowly allows me to meet all the walkers as I pass them, sometimes choosing to walk with them briefly before the next downhill. I also have lots of time to myself, slowly pedalling through the bird songs and wild flowers on a track or tiny paved road. 

The day ends at a hostel, guesthouse or albergue, usually with other pilgrims to visit with over a beer and a meal. 

I will come back and do some cycle touring in Spain at some point, but right now I couldn’t be happier making my way along my new favourite Camino route.