Mixed up side down

Post lately have been a little mixed up due to shotty and inconsistent. Here are some missing photos. Obviously we wet over the Pyrenees before reaching the French coast, these two post are backwards.

Photos top to bottom: one morning I threw my tent stakes and they landed in my yogurt, oops; the Atlantic of Biarritz looking a little like the Pacific of San Diego, good surf!; a little afternoon pool on a beach day break; lunch time amusement trying to spell bike, it worked kind of; Gen modeling the sweater we found on the side of the road, which smells better than all of our clothes. We have decided it will be the sister of the traveling groady (to be gross or dirty) sweater.

Over the Pyrenees

After waking up in a cloud we got a late start on our journey over the daunting Pyrenees. The scenery was georgeuos rolling green hills scattered with sheep, butting up to still leafless trees eased us into our slow climb. The road (N-121a) was a busy road and tunnels had been carved through the mountains to ease the flow of traffic (many large tractor trailers). Being cyclist we were not allowed in the tunnels and had to exit to smaller even more senic roads. We climbed easily, only 870m (ish) which seemed like nothing, especially with the sun shinning down on us.

Mid day and mid climb found us at some beautiful roadside picnic tables. Gen was suprised to see another bike tourer all ready stopped. Our fellow tourer was quick to offer us tea and we were all soon enjoying good talk about our adventures. He, orginally from India, is a bicycle rickshaw driver in London who on his time off enjoys bike tours. He introduced an idea to us called cycle-osophy (spl?). Bottom line it is the concept that time spent on a bike allows one to connect with themselves, nature, and thoughts amoung many things. We all agreed that bike thinking time is some of the best ever. Since our new friend was going our way (the first of our trip) we road along together until we split at the end of the day.
After our easy climb I jokingly said "it is all down hill from here no more mountains for us." and for most to our surprise down we went, for the most part all the rest of the day. For the majority we rolled slowly down following a lively river. Once on the other side of the Pyrenees the grass was actually greener as were the trees. It was probably more due to the lower elevation but spring had really sprung. Trees with full on leaves shaded our path as we twisted and turned with the river. We climbed again at the end of the day, mostly to avoid the hecticness of N-121a.
We were excited to cross a border, it didn't matter we had already crossed the Spanish-French border before, border crossings are fun, and a great photo opportunity. However the small road we had taken seemed to bypass any type of distinction. Down the other side of the last of the Pyrenees and we soon found ourselves in France. We said our goodbyes to our new found cycle friend and headed off in search for a campground. After figuring most were closed we started our luck with asking. It had gone so well in Spain our hopes were up and our spirits high. The big downfall none of us speak much French, luckily with Spain not far away Geaorgia was still able to get by with her Spanish and she snagged us a front yard of a restaurant. We thanked the man greatly. He questioned if we needed anything to drink and we said in a bit we might come get something. We were more then happy to get a beer or coffee at his bar, but seconds later he reappeared with a bottle of wine for free. A classic welcome back to France.

Photos (top to bottom): grouped together with, pedestrians, horse pulled carts, and tractors; water from a lush mountain spring; to Francia we go!; waiting before we rage the tunnel together; in the only tunnel we were allowed to ride in.

Bike Paths and Beaches

We continued north on the bike paths and what fun it has been. Most of the paths are beautiful wide smooth stretches of empty pavement. However there are the secluded or unmaintied sections in which the forest has begun to reclaim its rightful territory. There are also the sections that end up being twenty miles instead of ten due to the twisty nature of some bike paths. We have slowly been heading north but it is hard to motivate with such beautiful weather and beaches.
A couple days ago we were able to enjoy a very touristic viewing of the largest sand dune in Europe. In reality it was a huge pile of sand everyone and their mother was walking on, which was only slightly disheartening. The landscape has pretty much been pine forest, dune, ocean. Em read today that the pine forest was planted to help with erosion. Some sections boast old tall pines bigger then one could reach thier hands around and other sections are completely clear cut and full of a shrubs bursting with yellow blooms. Other exciting aspects of this coast is the lack of large scale development, most likely due to the lack of roads.
We woke up to some poor weather (nothing will be bad compared to the rain of Spain) and took the morning slow. We route planned for France, Gen got some quality charging done, and at ten we tried for a second time to jump in the pool and down the huge twisting water slide. By twelve we had gotten lunch for the day and hadn't left town. The next thing we knew it was one and we were hungry and there was an amazing air plane show of crazy flying stunts going on, so we decided to wait and watch and eat. By three we realized we probably shouldn't go anywhere and at four we were heading back to the campground, after a bit of shopping. By five Gen, Em and I were renthing surfboards and wetsuits. By six thirty were were exhausted as if we had ridden 100 miles but in reality we had ridden less then two. That's life on the beach. Hopefully we'll motivate to bike a bit and in a couple days we will be heading inland again. The Atlantic will just have to wait.

Photos (top to bottom): Lucy and Georgia celebrate 2,000 miles; a stretch of pine free bike path; back into the pines; the really big dune.

No Bull!

Hey, hey. Off we go. Adieus Sapin, bonjour France. We enjoyed some long days a two day total of 162 miles (ish). Because of our long days and bad weather we decided to take a day off in Pamplona, which is made famous for its infamous bull runs. Unfortunately bull running season is in the summer so we missed that unique cultural experience. We did however after much scouting and asking found a real deal Spanish restaurant. Georgia got a crash course in who to ask as we waited for Gen and Em to buy postcards. Here are the basics. No women, young or old, if it must be a women ask an older one. Here's why, a women will most likely send you somewhere they think you would like trying to please you while representing their country. Ask no one young or hip looking, here's why; they most likely will send you somewhere young and hip, which was not what we were looking for. No one looking fancy or carrying many shopping bags, most likely their budget would be to high for us. No couples young or old, they would most likely start arguing over which of their favorite restraunts they each like better, we don't want to start anything. No one with cameras, too comfortable looking shoes, all purpose jackets or confused faces, they are most likely tourists and would know not much either. Also all souvenir shop owners, hotel managers, restaurant owners or any food sellig store are out, who knows who they are in cahoots with. Which leaves us old to middle aged somewhat scruffy looking men. We happened to find one working in a newspaper stand who fit the ticket and he provided us with our prize winning grub.
Imagine low tables small room all squished together. There was no menu and the waiter had to repeat the choices a couple times for us to get them all. But in the end we were all satisfied (even Gen, which isn't easing being vegan). Em had red beans and sausage and pork wrapped in bacon with blue cheese sauce and strawberry ice cream. Georgia had paella with clams, muscles and chicken, ham and cheese scaloppini and an ice cream cone for desert. Gen had a mixed salad, garlic potatoes, mystery green vegetable and no desert. I had the paella as well, pork chops and strawberries with whipped cream.

Next mostly likely if all goes well tomorrow well be checking in from France.

Photos (top to bottom): Gen and her 26th birthday cake a.k.a. an apple given to her with help from Jaun at Route 66 cafe; Em and Gen celebrate 3,000miles outside Riaza, Spain; Em and Gen celebrate 5,000km outside of Agreda, Spain; Lucy in front of a couple major Spainish cities; Hemingway street in Pamplona.

A Helping Hand

> We woke up to another foggy and somewhat rainy day yesterday but knew it was time to move on. We had a very long climb to 1880 meters ahead of us and were unsure the weather would permit us. Around 10am Carlos advised us that the weather may have cleared enough to make it over the pass. We got on our bicycles and began the 13km climb to the top. Carlos decided to ride with us which we enjoyed very much as he is the first one to do so on this trip. Around 1600m we went into the clouds, and it was so foggy we could hardly see 10 feet down the road. The climb was hard but once at the top the feeling of accomplishment was incredible. We stopped to take pictures at the pass and realized it was so foggy we couldn't even see the ski resort we were biking by. Carlos turned around to ride some trails home since he was on a mountain bike. We prepared for a bone chillig downhill. Once to the bottom we decided to stop for lunch and maybe find a campground even though we had only gone 30km. Georgia and Gen met a man in the bar (the owner)who offered us a free place to stay and we decided to take him up on it. Turns out he lived in the USA for 25 years and his daughter lives there now. His daughter who lives here took us to royal palace and gardens which were HUGE. Then when he got off work he took us on a two and a half hour hike into the mountains. We were exhausted but really enjoyed out time hiking and chatting with someone from the area. Later we feasted on "American" hamburgers before retiring to pass out for the night.
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> If anyone is ever in San Ildenfonso make sure to stop in cafe Route 66 and ask for Juan. We really have been appreciating the hospitality of the people of Spain.
> -Emma
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> Photos: our high pass at 1880m or 6,100ish feet; one of many epic fountains at the palace in San ildefonso: in front of the palace.
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Madrid Adventures

route planning

A fun time at the botanical gardens

this might be the right restaurant who knows? searching for Lianas favorite restaurant

a view from above the hot house cacti

the cute mountain town we are staying in

more scenic Spain

Happy Birthday Gen, Gen´s birthday surprise

building the surprise

the Stone House from the outside

the second story bedroom in the Stone House