Arrive Against the Odds Gaurda

All in all a fantastic day but peppered with    a few glitches. Leaving Palencia in darkness this morning at 7.30 we are rugged up and a ground frost is apparent. Good progress out of the city and onward down the National 620 - again we have the road to ourselves and I sence the Captain, like I. is quietly chuffed with our progress as we head for Portugal with a long awaited northerly on our tails. After 9 miles we stop at a early opening restaurant to enjoy a coffee ( tea for the Captain who is partial to his early morning brew up) and a cousant. We are confused as we eat next to an electricity worker getting stuck into a large Brandy at 8.15 - The Captain gives him the benifit of the doubt ' He may have been on the nigh shift?' However we debate whether that makes it acceptable and decide probably not? Onward again and riding a distance apart again The Captain bags a beautiful skinning knife on the side of the road. ' That could have been a disgaurded murder weapon' I announce - ' if it was they cleaned it up well' was the reply. I am more than use now to this matter of fact analysis. 

Another 3 miles down the road and potential disaster - another spoke snaps (no 2 after Bridgewater)- I take a bag on to my one bike ( selfless) and after lots of enquiries with the aid of commuting mountain bikers - cafe owners - agricultural mechanics - passing French Touring Cyclist we finally find a bike shop in a town some 15 k up the road. Then away we go again. We are pleased that dispite all the hassle we have still knocked out 60 miles before 12.30. Five miles from Portugal border another spoke goes - so Bag swap again and we have no other choice but to wabble on to Gaurda praying that the bespoke wheel will hold out ( I have one thing to say on this matter and that's it -over!  sometimes frugality is false economy - eh Captain!) it's all however part of the adventure. We arrive in Gaurda tonight to find out it's the highest city in Portugal at 1000 metres and it felt like it. Crossing the border earlier was Fabulous ( I compared it with coming into Cheltenham from Gloucester but point out that's only my opinion because The Captain thinks Gloucester is great)  The Spanish are a hard faced race and although I understand it's not malicious never the less they can be intimidating. Already I have felt warmth from the Portugese phsicy - helpful, open and above all friendly. Leaving the plains of Northern Spain to be greeted by Olive Tree rich, green,fertile defined landscape was itself an uplifting experience. It's good to be here. beginning  with a romantic lunch sat on the top end of a gorge pass.The Captain is also very pleased to be here but mainly because his new wheel only cost 35 euros. 'It was worth the wait' he pontificates. As we sit discussing our day feeling Cheshire Cat smile happy at our achievements in the face of adversity a call from my eldest son Ben for a catch up throws some confusion on time. Unknown to both of us we find out Portugal are in the same time as England. That means we get an hours lie in tomorrow? 105 miles today and 5500 climbing ft mostly in the last 25 miles. We are playing it by ear tomorrow - lots of options but pushing to ensure we don't have massive day on Sunday for the Lisbon run in - touch base tommorrow x