Today was always a big landmark day in the ride. The day we reached the border of Spain and crossed back into France. It’s hard to believe that we have cycled that far. Of course, it should now go without saying that we were up early and ready to go by the time the sun … More Saddlebag of Memories Madrid to Sète Day 14. Girona to Collioure
It doesn’t matter that this is a day off the bikes and we have nothing to do, other than amble around a beautiful city… Our body clocks seem to be thinking differently! I know we’re larks and are always happier being up and active before the sun, but after the last 9 days of cycling, … More Saddlebag of Memories Madrid to Sète. Day 13 Rest Day in Girona.
Today was back to normal on the bikes, and couldn’t have been more different than yesterday’s ride. It was one of those days that put a smile on our faces from beginning to end. We set off from the beautiful town of Vic, cycling out as everyone else was in their way in, so we … More Saddlebag of Memories Madrid to Sète. Day 12 Vic to Girona
Today was one of those days that is best split into 3 parts Before coffee … Glorious Before lunch … Hideous After lunch … Longer and steeper than planned. Let’s start with before coffee. We left the hotel as it opened, just after 8, wheeling our bikes out of the wonderfully secure room they have … More Saddlebag of Memories Madrid to Sète Day 11 . Igualada to Vic
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, today was a truly spectacular day on the bike. As usual, we set off at 8 and quickly cycled out of Lleida, enjoying the quiet roads of an early Saturday morning. Having spent the last 2 days cycling on some busy roads, I’d managed to find … More Saddlebag of Memories Madrid to Sète Day 10 . Lleida to Igualada
We had every intention of having a slower morning today, as we only had an 80km ride planned, so felt we could have a bit of a lie in. We managed it, sleeping until 6.30, which is the latest we’ve slept all week, but even after a leisurely start, we were out of the door … More Saddlebag of Memories Madrid to Sète. Day 9 Caspe to Lleida
We had a lovely day exploring Madrid yesterday, but by the evening we were just itching to get on the bikes and start cycling. We needed the day just to sort a few things out, but once we’d done that, we just wanted to get on the bikes and escape the city. We really aren’t … More Saddlebag of Memories Madrid to Sète. Day 3… Madrid to Pastrana
I can hardly believe it, but after months of planning and a lot of fears that something would happen to throw a spoke through our wheels, we are actually on our way to Madrid. We will have a day to find our feet tomorrow. Then on Saturday, we’ll cycle out of the city, beginning the … More Saddlebag of Memories Madrid to Sète … Day 1 Aix to Madrid
This year, it has felt as if we’ve been living our life on permanent ‘fast-forward’. How on earth are we already in mid-September? It really is quite ridiculous. Yet here we are, and in a week’s time we’ll be on a train, heading to Madrid, before starting our ride back through Spain, to Sete, covering … More Cycling across Spain – 1 week to go
Sometimes, the best-laid plans fall apart, whilst those made on the hoof turn out OK, and that certainly feels as if it has been the case, this year. It’s been a very strange start to 2024, which has unexpectedly seen us criss-crossing the border much more than we had imagined. In fact, apart from long-planned … More Making new plans …..
Vaucluse Dreamer 