Sometimes Plans Change

When I left the campsite this morning, the plan was to use the motorways to skirt Bilbao and Santander and then return to the coast roads and continue along the north coast of Spain. So, how did I end up here then ….

Well, change is good.

I was riding along and was about to return to the coast after Santander when I remembered how good the "Pots and Pans" road was (Ok, Potes and Panes) so I decided to go to Potes for elevenses. I then thought I would just pop (25km each way) to Fuente De into the heart of the Picos de Europas and then my next idea was to see what the N621 heading south from Potes was like. I tell you, it was awesome and so glad I did it. It was obvious by this point that I was by now a long way from the coast so I set the Sat Nav to head for Portugal and to avoid any major roads.

The last photo shows (from Google Earth) how good the N621 is

I didn't make it to Portugal but I have found a very nice site that is quiet, has a river to swim in and most importantly has shade.

My French is passable, my Spanish is poor but my Portuguese is non existent so may be fun for the next few days once I cross the border.

Late additions:

Highlight was entering at tunnel at 30 degrees and watch the temp gauge on the bike drop to 19. I stayed in that tunnel for a long as possible going very slow until a car came up behind. Exiting the tunnel hitting a wall of heat was like going into a sauna.

Lowlight was in Leon. Please Spanish authorities do not put big bins by traffic lights as when they are on red and it is 30 plus degrees, I have to sit there marinating in the stench.