We started out early and tried to dodge the rain which we did all the way to just outside Portsmouth where we were to catch the ferry to northern Spain. We chatted to five young guys who had bought old Honda C70 or C00, aka Cubs and were planning to ride them 800 miles back to England across northern Spain and France. They were a funny bunch of guys who had tried to make the small bikes look as cool as possible with stickers and even some fake fur. I am sure they were going to have a blast!
We left the ferry terminal and headed past the Naval Dockyard where ferries rub shoulders with hi-tech navy ships....
This is HMS Victory, best known for being Lord Nelson’s flagship that lead the British fleet in the Battle of Trafalgar...
Paul on the back of the ferry as we made our way to Santander in Spain. The journey took 23.5 hours....
We have planned to do the journey south in 4.5 days, stay at my house where my wife Jackie, Pauls wife Sarah and their son Jack will join us for 5 days, then Paul and I will ride back in 5 days. This is our route....
This morning we arrived in northern Spain and we did about 150 miles today to arrive at a very old town called Santo Domingo de la Calzada, in the Rioja region where the famous wine is made.
This picture was taken on quiet back road in farming country....
Northern Spain has quite a few mountains and hills. Some of the views today were spectacular....
A Medieval Castle built on the rocks of a hillside....
The monastery at Oña, built in 1640....
The Leading Ladies in front of Puente de Frias, a 12th century stone bridge....
The same bridge, looking upstream....
Just beyond Frias is a church set against a spectacular over-hanging cliff. Paul is on the slender bridge over the river....
This goat appeared out of a cave in the cliff to stare at us....
Stopping for a coffee at a petrol station we were befriended by a very short guy who had an unusual motorbike. He enjoyed showing it to us and unbelievably it has a tiny 40cc Ducati engine....
We are staying in hotels known as Paradores, which according to Wikipedia were founded by Alfonso XIII of Spain as a means to promote tourism in Spain. A profitable state-run enterprise, the hotels are often in castles, palaces, fortresses, convents, monasteries and other historic buildings. This Parador was built in the 12th century in the middle of this historic town and sits opposite the Cathedral....
There was a funeral taking place in the Cathedral soon after we checked into the Parador....
We ate in the hotel. Respecting the common practice of some bloggers, I took a picture of my food. This was a white asparagus salad....
The town square after dinner....
The two of us in front of the main tower in the town....
Overall a very successful first two days to the trip. Tomorrow we ride further south to near the capital Madrid. It chilly at times today in the mountains and hills, but it should get considerably hotter as we ride further south. Let’s see!
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