Day2: Fighting against windmills

”After 202 kilometers, 2,050 meters in altitude and eight hours’ riding time I got off my bike in the evening in a small city called Tafalla, south of Pamplona … and my backside is really sore. In Spain they don’t eat until 9:30 pm. Even though it’s warm, nice, all the people are sitting outside and the kids are playing on the main square, I’m plagued by hunger – but before ‘nueve’ there’s unfortunately nothing to eat. Thank goodness I’m already in the Rioja region; there’s good wine here, which for now calms the hunger and my backside.

Today’s route was very exhausting. I’m used to the intensive mountain riding in the Alps. There you just ride until you get to the top … Here you just ride for ages – up one hill, down another, up the next, down another, forever and ever. The highest pass today was just 1200 meters. It’s like doing constant interval training – greetings to Thalgau!

Now I’ve already ridden the whole chain of the Pyrenees, but this is where Spain actually really starts. I sense that it’s still going to be a long trip. I’m really quite lonely on the roads, alone on the road I ride long stretches out of the valley … Unless I have to overtake a herd of sheep, for which I have to get off my bike. I also crossed a part of St. James’ Way. At Puente de la Reina there were three just as lonely pilgrims on foot. Apart from that, not a soul.

My clothes are perfect – again, thank you to GORE BIKE WEAR! This morning I needed the extra gear – at a cool 14 degrees in the morning. During the day I’m glad to have the wind-proof vest. Really! The wind always whips up at about midday – that’s why I’ve become an early riser this year. In the meantime I think that Don Quixote wasn’t actually fighting against the windmills on his horse but that he was riding a bike …

Sigi Grabner – 04/06/09

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