Final details

-Left St.Malo on 18th July arrived in Torrevieja on 31st July

-84 hours cycling

-Total distance of 1095 miles

Day 14 - 31st July- Arrived. Gandia to Torrevieja, over 103 miles and 'home' to a great welcome from family, friends and neighbours. More details to follow!!!!!!

Early start was no problem for me despite having very little sleep due to the heat. It was good to see that the bikes were still where we had chained them, safe from the whiskey drinking locals were still up. We agreed to make a decision about getting to Torrevieja later in the morning, dependent on how we all felt about another 100 mile day. I think we all wanted to get there if we could. After a  good ride to Oliva and then negotiating the hills inland from Denia and Javea it was clear we were all up for the challenge. A couple of stops to eat and top up on liquids were essential as it was very hot again. We pushed on avoiding Benidorm and had a brief stop in Alicante before arriving in Torrevieja at 6.00pm.

Day 13 30th July - Benicasim to Gandia. 104 miles and feeling very good despite the long day in the saddle. Almost 8 hours cycling along some very scenic coastal routes and also through a very busy Valencia city. We did have a stop and big lunch before attempting Valencia which helped but we were thankful to Graham and his Sat Nav for guiding us through. I think he did stop at a few red lights and even managed to negotiate the level crossing between the two trains that passed. Eventually found accommodation in Gandia that was in Grahams price range, 15 euros each. There are many ways of describing the rooms that were a cross between a prison cell and bail hostal but they were clean (well ours was), cheap and available. The other inmates seemed almost as 'normal' as us but we didn't join them in sitting up all night drinking whiskey! Nice meal out on what we saved on accommodation. Almost 1000 miles now completed and less than 110 to go. Just discussing if we are going to 'go for it' tomorow.

Day 12 - 29th July - L'Ampolla to Benicasim and over 70 miles. Easier to follow our route, with the mountains are on our right and the sea on our left we were going the right way. Probably, no deifinately, my worst day in the saddle as my mind started to realise that various bits of my body were sore and tired. A very fast pace today as the team seemed to forget that 'its not a race', especially when we chased a 'local' riding a racing bike along the N320 and eventually passed him. He was not impressed and neither was my body. Sorry to my team mates if I was grumpier than normal but hopefully thats my bad day out of ther way now. 45 miles before our first and only stop. I certainly felt better after our stop and a more sensible pace helped. Early finish at a hotel with a pool. Things are looking up! 885 miles now completed and 'only' about 200 to go.

Day 11 -  28th July - A really god day. 5hrs 45mins cycling, 80 miles nearer our desination and now over 800 miles in total. Not bad after a poor nights sleep due to the high temperatures and lack of air conditioning at out hotel. Glad to leave Tarrega,The tourist board don't really have a lot to work with there! Great mornings cycling over some high and unexpectedly scenic hills to Montblanc. Then our first sight of the Med near Reus and we reached the coast at Cambrils. Stopping for the night at L'Ampolla at a nice hotel (with air-con) opposite the harbour and beaches. Shame we are all too tired to go for a swim! Very hungry and managed to eat two main courses each with a couple of glasses of the local red. Then ice creams and coffee back at the hotel. Air condidtioning wrked well!!

Day10 - 27th July - 75 miles to Tarrega stopping for a nice lunch in Balaguer. Another typical very hot and sultry Spanish day with temperatures again topping 40C on the roads. The heat and boring scenery made today a long slog. Then had a few problems finding any accommodation in Tarrege. So glad now that we had that extra day in the Pyrenees. We should make it to the Mediterranean tomorrow and it might be a little cooler. Over 730 miles now!

DAY 9 - 26th July - VIVA ESPANA! A hard day to Barbastro. Early start to avoid the heat but 19km climb from St Lary to tunnel was hard, especially with panniers and carrying 5 litres of water! Views were great and we celebrated reaching the top by cooling off in the ice cold mountain stream. Through 3km D'Aragnouet-Bielsa Tunnel which was really cold and into Spain. No sign of passport control. Then  a long, really hot slog to Barbastro, 40C again! Cycled 75 miles in 6 hours and climbed over 1750 metres today. Body and bike still okay surprisingly!

DAY 8 - 25th July - Fantastique!! Ahead of schedule so decided to have a 'rest' day and stay another night in St Lary. So how did we spend our rest day? By cycling up the Col D'Aspin, a route used for the Tour de France. A great experience. Only cycled about 30 miles but included a 12km climb rising 750 metres. Fantastic views all the way only matched by the weather. Good practice for tomorrow, but we will have the panniers back on our bikes. Spain tomorrow - Espana here we come!

DAY 7 - 24th July - About 5hrs30mins cycling and nearly 70 miles. Sunny morning leaving Auch and thankfully got cloudier and cooler as we approached the Pyrenees. Great ride to Lannemazan where we had a 4 course lunch then higher to our finish at St-Lary-Souran, a busy, picturesque town and ski resort. Not far from Lourdes today but everything still seems to be aching! Atleast no more punctures. Still really enjoying the trip and making good time.

DAY 6 - 23rd July - Marmande to Auch via Condom (no I'm not joking!) 75 miles of great cycling. Heavy rain at first but then another hot and sunny day. Had lovely lunch in Valence-sur-Baise. Starting to get hilly and should get first sight of Pyrenees tomorrow. P.s. Paul had his 3rd puncture!!!

DAY 5 - 22nd July - Blaye to Marmande - 70 miles. Around Bordeaux and a day of rivers and vineyards. Crossed the Gironde, Dordogne and Garonne and through many of the famous French wine areas. Scenary becoming much more interesting. Paul had another puncture + had to replenish his stock of innertubes! We all sampled some of the local red wine tonight.

DAY 4 - 21st July - Nearly 6 and a half hours cycling and covered 80 miles. Good job the ointment works as I'm becoming far too attached to my saddle! Great route through the Gironde and briefly lost Graham but he managed to find us again. Really hot today, 40oC and drank litres and litres of water. Almost ran out but Nick managed to get us some from a Dutch farmer wearing clogs!!! Staying in Blaye, north of Bordeaux so may have a glass of red later!

DAY 3 - 20th July - Sunny and very hot, 33oC and into headwind all day. Hilly at first and body slow to get going. Then rolling landscape of brownfields, sunflowers and lots of cows, and cycling easier apart from wind. Made way to St Jean d'Angely. Cycled 98 miles today, so another good day.

DAY 2 - 19th July - 2 good days cycling and route is getting more interesting with a few more hills and it didn't rain today! Left Chateaubriant at 9am and crossed Loire river at Ancenis and reached Cholet by mid afternoon. Decided to have a shorter day and stop as very little is open in France on a Sunday and no certainty of food or accomodation ahead. On bikes for 5 hrs and 15 mins and covered 64 miles followed by a large steak and beer!

DAY 1 - 18th July - Left St. Malo in sunshine which lasted until lunchtime, then 3 hours cycling in the rain! Cycled 90 miles today in about 6 and a half hours and feeling okay! Stopping in hotel in Chateaubriant tonight. Hope I feel as good in the morning!!!!

17th July - Nightmare journey to Portsmouth, included 2 hours 'parked' on the M25! Got ferry with 15 mins to spare!

 

Keith Massett - Sponsored cycle ride from St.Malo to Torrevieja!

After many months of hard training I will leave St Malo, northern , on 18th July, heading for Torrevieja, near in . I will be joined by 3 friends on this fantastic opportunity for us to experience the challenges that we will face over 14-15 days. The exact route is yet to be decided but we plan to cover 75-80 miles each day and well over a 1000 miles in total. We will also experience the breath taking scenery and challenges of cycling over the .

I hope you will be able to support our efforts by making a donation to Kirkwood Hospice.

 

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