Spain Day 1

As we arrive from the Ocean depths we survey the vista and are relieved that the start takes us  East as the west of Santander is flanked by some formidable looking lumps of rock. It really feels Spanish  I declare it should do we  we are in Spain the Commander informs me. We leave the ferry to catch yet another very small shuttle taking this across the bay of Santander. Something is already happening in Spain which I thoroughly approve of. The commander is disgusted as he's just been charged .40 cents for a piss. I chuckle to myself as I consider that he may spend more on this tour pissing than eating. It's only fair I exclaim 'Why should people like me be subsidising people like you? The boat fires up and across the bay we go. We leave Santander on the 141 and a dream road by any standards.  A fantastic 287 metre climb out of Santander and We benefit  a prevailing wind up the backside. We make good progress to Santona where we catch yet another shuttle ferry playing extremely mosque type chants through loudspeakers. The commander is more than pleased with this planning and I congratulate him accordingly. However 10 miles later disaster strikes commanders granny gear is hanging off. To his credit he completed some two and a half thousand feet in middle cog. On the outskirts of Bilbao we find a cycle shop and 5 euros job  done (The shop assistant was also particularly appealing)which is great as we will have no downtime tomorrow morning. Pleased with today though we didn't start till 130 and acheived nearly 70 miles 4000 feet of climbing in what was a far more lumpy ride than I expected  - we now sit down to enjoy a few beers in this bustling city at 22 degrees-  have  found accommodation over the road and will update tomorrow where we hope to be in San Sabastian with signs hanging round the neck stressing 'I'm not a  Pilgrim'

Love to All

Commander Parker and P. D. E. Workman 

Ferry Day

Manager/commander Parker and myself resume the journey with a full cooked breakfast mopped up in the usual commander like fashion.  As I suspected snoring was reported at 4 AM this morning through the wall. Last night's accommodation was adequate but as mentioned in yesterday's blog that the decor was far from my taste as The photos confirm . We make our way into Plymouth and a ride up through Yelverton amounts to a further thousand feet of climbing - on to the pit stop at Evans cycles for tyre check, new overshoes for Russ and new brake pads for me. I can't resist my temptation for a haircut of what little hair I have left and get the axe from an old girl who has seen better days but is clearly unaware they are over . We now find ourselves sat down with a pair winos on a park bench and the commander inquires as to whether we should pop to the shop and get a bottle of white lightning so they don't feel ostracised. Two hours to kill  as we wait for the ferry and as suspected lazy day but totally in context in respect of the lumps in front of us. Huge priority for cyclists on the ferry and the commander and I are first on the ferry and first in the bar. The commander as a much greater propensity for eating than drinking and I shall be watching his intake closely on this 21 hour crossing 

The Start

In our wisdom we decided today to cross Dartmoor. Sarah dropped us off at some services in the middle of nowhere and now standard disagreements with Satty begin. although we have lots of maps that are useful in Spain these are absolutely useless in Devon. The commander is less than happy and he is at the point of throwing the satnav over the hedge. Anyway we persist and eventually find ourselves in the beautiful Town of  Monkhamstead where we treat ourselves to our first hot chocolate. The wind is vicious over the moors today and we feel very unlucky due to the fact that although after six months without rain or wind the like should decide to inflict thereselves on us on our first day of riding. 5000 climbing feet over 40 miles was hardly a light warmup for the afternoon. We find ourselves in Tavistock tonight I take the commander straight to the hotel I stayed in some four years ago doing End 2 End only to find out they've gone belly up! We scratch around Tavistock looking for accommodation it seems there is nowhere. Then with the help of a beautiful bed-and-breakfast lady we are directed to what seems the only two rooms left tonight at another bed-and-breakfast. It's a strange place and although cosy one of those houses that is full of  little ornaments and framed pictures covering every part of the walls in fact so many of them if they were removed the space in my bedroom would probably be doubled. The commander is of the opinion that he will be relieved of my snoring tonight - The fact that I just heard him fart next door means his optimism will be short lived. Not a great deal to report really but looking forward to our adventure off now into Tavistock for the obligatory ale and plateful of Pasta. I am also pleased to report that the commander claimed the first puncture. I am sure he is muttering Under the breath it's my fault as I jinxed it mentioning that there seemed to be an inordinate amount of hedge cutting going on. We sail tomorrow on what will be a fairly lazy day but all part of the course. Touch base tomorrow Commander and Spally x

Preparation in Progress

Well folks its touring time again!!!

One year on since Rome and this years journey takes us through the South England over Dartmoor - Plymouth - Ferry Santander - Back into France via Bilbao and towards Biarritz - River Valley to Pau - Lourdes and then over the Tourmalet and one two three more  cols (TBC)back into Spain skirting through Catalonia to meet the Girls in Barcelona.

Russ has had some Job Description issues over the last year. In their P.C. wisdom the Fire Service have now made him Manager Parker during Station time. Its not just Russ it applies to - all Commanders which is probably hugely disappointing for them as the title doesn't punch the same weight. However the saving grace is he can still retain his status of Commander Parker whilst on a shout. On this basis I have made an executive decision - whilst riding and mapping he will still be Commander but in the evening whilst aleing, eating and planning he will be middle management.

The journey we take on this year is not for any altruistic reasoning at all - self fulfilment only and although not as high in mileage aka last year will make us big boys pant a good deal in terms of elevation.

The build up at the moment is not to plan - a week off for me with a nagging cough and for both of us Satty has been playing up. The reinvented Garmin software is causing us many headaches and we well be reverting to old fashioned mapping if they cant sort it for us. On top of that it would be fair to say we are casting bigger shadows than kick off 2013. Not hugely bigger but enough for a bigger pant.

As all men would be aware the leverage that our partners have at this point in the journey is huge - Do this 'Yes Dear' Do that 'Yes Dear' Don't be late home 'No Dear' Etc Etc. Its sadly unavoidable and a consequence of our quest for the next bubble of freedom and adventure. I am at present the perfect New Age Man. The Commander (sorry I meant Manager) slipped up though yesterday in thinking he could spend some time mapping. Everything went wrong - the maps wouldn't load and 4 hours later  the clutch went on the Land Rover  simultaneously. Meaning  - no animals were fed, no 'Yes Dear' jobs were completed. The long suffering and lovely  Lorraine is less than happy and as is the case on the days leading to lift off we both sit silenced like scolded cats in fear of a further whipping.

Preparation continues, priority external speaker and  24 hours of New Tunes from resident touring DJ Adam Prout sorted (cheers Ad and sorry Russ although this year you will love the library!) Bikes being tweaked, Euros sorted and the usual packing dilemmas churning over in the grey matter - whatever on Sunday we sail XX

                                                               Col de Tourmalet (1.6 degrees at 10.00 am today)