Two to Gibraltar Part 4

Thursday, 05 June 2008
Arrigorriaga/Bilbao - Madrid
Starting Mileage: 7949
Daily Total: 258
Finishing Mileage: 8207

Started with a little detour. New roads did not match our satnavs. John took the lead and led us through Parque Natural del Area del Gorbea. A beautiful area, packed with tourists and tourist coaches tail gaiting us until we hit the open roads again. So back on to the A-68, A-1 and finally the N-1 to Madrid.

Today we had wall to wall rain all the way.

At a pit stop I bought a bag. This would contain all my clothing and be kept under the seat during the day while riding. At destination I can remove bag to take to hotel and then keep my helmet and gloves beneath the seat. A tip from John.

Somehow during the ride I managed to lose my waterproof leggings should have worn but they are a bit of a faff to put on in the rain. The chrome decorative cover and three screws of exhaust muffler managed to work loose and dropped along the way. Worst things happen at sea though.

We arrived at Madrid and has my son had told me the drivers are crazy here. No prisoners and pedestrian crossings in the most unexpected places. After a couple of tours around the streets we managed to find the entrance to the Etap Hotel. Fortunately the hotel had secure parking.

No this really is Madrid, not Liverpool!!!

Next door to our hotel is an Ibis Hotel, though located on the next street. No I’m not babbling just the Madrid layout. So off we trotted for evening repast. The daily menu was the worst we to come across during the entire trip. Me - Ham with green beans, ok who stole the ham? John – had the menu pasta. Spaghetti with some kind of white sauce, allegedly asparagus!! Don’t know if the chef had a day off but it was terrible!

No cereals at breakfast!!

Friday, 06 June 2008
Madrid - Granada
Starting Mileage: 8207
Daily Total: 277
Finishing Mileage: 8484

Our first Sunny day! Reached Cordoba and I felt the heat really oppressive. I changed to a lighter jacket with open collar and cuffs to attract as much ventilation as possible. An Ibu - Profen helped.

Passing through La Mancha, there are traditional windmills everywhere, on the roadside, on the skyline all in tribute to the fictional hero Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha and his servant Sancho Panza created by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. There are also many modern day versions of the windmill, generating electricity, for the modern day Don Quixotes.

Dinner at local Ibis hotel was a hundred percent improvement on the previous night. Gazpacho soup, not unlike tomato juice, braised veal with potatoes in their skins.

Awoke at 2 am pain in both thumbs and in my side (leftovers from tumble). Good old Ibu Profen!
In the Etap, Granada no glasses in the bathroom, no waste bin and the TV control box did not work. All were soon rectified by reception. Again, no cereals with breakfast.