The King: Honey I’ve lost my sense of smell, I must have Covid! The Queen: No you’ve lost your nose. If you have to be ill anywhere in the world, Spain is a good place to be. Our hosts have been checking in with us, and offering to get a doctor or anything else that we need. One of our hosts is a teacher and ...
Leaving Montemarta It's raining cats dogs and elephants at the moment, and I’m stalling. Gord and Denys headed out about an hour ago and I’m hoping for a little break to start my ride. It’s always easier to start the ride when it’s not raining, even if it pours later. I’m not sure I will get that window but I will delay things for a ...
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 ...
Enrique helping me with my tire. I have travelled on several long trips without a single flat tire, but on this trip I am honing my skills at puncture repair. Perhaps this route is called the Via de la Plata, not for the silver mined or the relatively flat terrain, but the flat tires created by the pesky little thorns along the way. So far I ...
Zafra Spain Gordon’s Total Distance Walking: 150 kms Ruth’s Total Distance Cycling: 167 Number of paintings or sketches: 7 Art teachers sometimes encourage their students to just fill their sketchbooks, insisting that every page is mileage in learning to make art. Each day, on the Via de la Plata, some of my mileage is, therefore off my bike. I brought my little art kit, and ...
Leaving from the Seville Cathedral Day One: Seville to Guillena Day Two: Guillena to Castilblanco de los Arroyos Our first dinner on the Via de la Plata was a gathering of eight or nine pilgrims. Everyone at the table had done at least three Caminos. This is not a route beginners generally choose. It is longer and has some stages with fewer services. It’s wonderful ...
With only four more sleeps before we fly to Spain, I think I might repack just one more time. The last few days I have been adding and subtracting from the packing pile. I know less is always better, but I just might need that extra…(fill in the blank with anything unnecessary). Spain actually might have a store or two if I really need something. After ...
Every season on Valdes is unique and special and winter is no exception. We waited out the storms and snow of December and finally made it over to the island in January. We are always happy to see that our cabin and the surrounding trees are still standing and everything is how it should be. Shah Point from our Cabin Glassy calm waters for paddling. ...
Ruth: As we wait in the airport for our flights to Toronto we are already planning our next trip to the Azores. Gord is plotting roads and trails to circumnavigate São Miguel on foot as I check out the bike options. Of course we are coming back! For one thing we have never been to Corvu and barely explored Terceira and Flores.We used the car ...
The elephant trunk rock near Capelas Ruth: It was raining cats and dogs yesterday, so while I tended to the cats in our cozy bungalow, my slightly crazy but wonderful husband hiked up and over the island to pick up a rental car at the airport 13 kms away. This was a great concession to me. His plan was to have us cycle across the ...