I have a week off work, it is called sports holiday, an opportunity to do wintersports. I don’t really like skiing so I was looking forward to do some riding, head south and spend a couple of days riding. Unfortunately the wheather on the whole Iberian Peninsula is rather cold and rainy now.
Fortunately, I managed to get out a couple of hours on Saturday riding up to El Escorial to get some nice photos. I’m ridiculously fond of photos of my own bike and something scenic, you might have got that by now.
the bike and the monastryview of both towers - I love the mirror trick
Riding up to El Escorial I passed the lake/water reservoir on road 505, a very pretty spot, even on a cloudy day. The weather was a bit chilly I thought. Even when wearing thermal underwear, fleece top and using heated grips. This is possibly the coldest winter since I moved to Spain so it was nice to stop often and move around a bit.
water and bridges always make an good view for a photo
Almost back home, Puerta de Alcalá. I have been wanting to snap a photo here for a long time, finally got around to doing it… Puerta de Alcalá and lazy cat
When I received the information it was with annoyance I realised that the accommodation was only for members outside Europe. And since Switzerland is so expensive anyway, it was to my own surprise I heard myself suggest to Anneli that we could camp. And to my even greater surprise she agreed that it was the only sensible option.
People who know me know that I don’t do tents. But it is nice to surprise people, and to surprise myself is even nicer – let’s see how it all pans out. A colleague has offered to lend me her tent 🙂
Those who know me well, know that I don’t like the cold and also that I moved to Spain to ride my bike more often.
After nearly 6 years in Spain I find myself feeling cold when it is 2°C and I’m definitely not up for a leisurely ride. When living in Sweden I was riding lots and lots regardless of the weather. I was younger then and less sensitive to the cold. I suspect that my years in Spain have made me weak.
I came across information about a winter rally in Spain, taking place in January. Apparently it is the 3rd largest of its kind in Europe. I got really excited because I have been feeling low lately and I felt that some biking would be the medicine. Well, I was excited until I saw the footage from last year’s rally, the bikes were covered with snow and people were camping. Oh my, that is not for me. I admire those people who can spend the day riding in the cold and then stay in a cold tent. My circulation just isn’t up for it, my blood would simply freeze. Motauros Rally in Tordesillas near Valladolid
Well, after this I was reading an article in a Swedish magazine about the true biker heroes, the by-bike couriers who manage to overcome a Stockholm that is covered with snow and ice and -15°. Amazing, but not for me! Motorcyklarnas sanna hjälte
A friend on FB posted that he was waiting for the ice on the lake to be thick enough to be safe for ice racing… sounds fun, and cold. Not for me. I started contemplating the journeys I have done by bike in the past. I have been cold more often that hot, that is for sure. For example last summer in the Swiss Alps, so so cold!!
Fog, rain and so so cold, trousers and jacket were leaking, heated grips not working. I've had better days on the bike and probably worse too.
Well, this weekend I had planned to take my Lazy Cat out for a coffee trip. I’m not sure I will make it, seems cold. Just like in Sweden the winter is for being sulky about not riding, nurturing old memories and making new plans. I just have fewer friends to do this with, but fortunately winter is shorter.
Now I will start putting up documentation from journeys in the past. Starting with WIMA Rally 2010 Japan!!
Life at its best! For more see the page "WIMA Rally Japan 2010"
