Santander - Reionsa - Uphill !

 We leave the Ferry this afternoon and my Bike is tied up to a Brompton   ( those fold up things that city type people commute to their offices with) I am less than happy as I look for scratches on my own treader. Four adolescents appear to claim the Brompton together with 3 other cycles that I wouldn't risk going up the shop with. They declare their intent to ride to San Sabastion on them and I forgive them. What's the road like they ask the Captain ' is it hilly?' 'Flat as a pancake ' replies the Captain. As we exit Santander we giggle reminiscing our own struggle up the same trek last year. 

The air smells different and the walk from the ferry to some 78 degrees is like walking out of an air conditioned shop on a rare sunny day in our Homeland. It felt good. We make progress out of Santander in new WCC kit ( thanks Jenny we love it ) The whole attitude to the cyclist is different - and with our GB adverts on full display we receive encouragement, thumbs up, pleasant pap ups from car horns and a mutual love for The Ciclo.  Stopping for some food after 30 miles (ish) the backdrop is mountainous. The road that followed was apart from the wind a treat. It varied from anything 4 - 12% but was consistent. Riding side by side in the slow lane for the duration ( as neither of us would have been happy about the other suggesting that we had benifitted each other's accents in any way - a man thing)  No big up I promise but the wind was horrendous and I think we had the ass end of last nights sea storm. I knew we were struggling as we were riding like a bust up television - vision but no sound. The Resort we find ourselves at could be riviled by a Scottish Ski Resort and on that basis you will understand its shite but never the less we are here. We have to make a phone call to book in to our what looked like closed Hotel and a lovely Lady serves , looks at our passports gives us the keys to our rooms and the key to the main entrance and then vanishes to leave us in charge until Breakfast ( what if we were arsonists I contemplate  - but we aren't) We have a good fill in the town and the Captain is particularly intrigued why punters should be offered Tapas and not devour them. 'Nob that one'he requests. I oblige and we share 'the nob'  - it tastes good and in principle I am happy with the concept. Touch base tomorrow where hopefully we will be in Palencia wind permitting or on for another shunt if the legs agree 5400 climbing feet and 46 miles today's  feels loads more  xx