Cycle touring Switzerland

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Granada, Murcia and Valencia. Along the Costa Blanca

Jun 29, 2015
9 min

Granada, Murcia and Valencia. Along the Costa Blanca

I had studied my map with some interest for several days now looking for possible routes east, but it was all to no avail. Because of the mountainous topography of Murcia, there seemed only to be one road heading that way. Of course it was a motorway and thus a road which I couldn’t use. Every other road at my disposal would end abruptly in a small village in the middle of nowhere and so my only other options were to take a 100 km detour south or north and continue east from

Seville to Granada. A long hard slog through the mountains

Jun 25, 2015
9 min

Seville to Granada. A long hard slog through the mountains

Having said goodbye to the staff and guests, I made my way south east through the city before finding a cycle path that took me through the suburbs and eventually out to the outer extremes of the city. Once again however, it was here where I became stuck as there seemed to be no roads going in the direction where I wanted to go. I remembered that there was actually some kind of path that ran alongside a canal and eventually a river towards the next town and so I made it my ai

Seville. Welcome to the hottest city in Spain

Jun 19, 2015
1 min

Seville. Welcome to the hottest city in Spain

I must be honest and say that I really didn’t want to leave Seville. Being back in a lively city full of an exotic mix of characters, was having an overwhelming impact on my staying on. After so many days camping out in the countryside and living a very meagre and simple lifestyle, it was comfortable, exciting and above all great to make some connections with other people. I think in a way I have the best of both worlds with regards to my way of travelling around; I have the

Back in Spain. Oh Seville you shouldn't have

Evora and my quest to find a room for the night

Country number six. Portugal. Mountains, dogs and reckless drivers.

Salamanca to Portugal. Yet more tyres issues but help is on hand

Jun 9, 2015
7 min

Salamanca to Portugal. Yet more tyres issues but help is on hand

Having spent four days enjoying my time as a backpacker in Salamanca and relinquishing from my bank account more euros than I care to mention, I felt it was time to get back to what I had been doing for the past two months, namely, cycling. Wheeling my bicycle out of the hostel garage, I realised after having already ‘fixed’ the puncture on the back wheel, it was again completely deflated. I decided to simply pump it up as it was a small hole and thus required only a quick bl

The Spanish Heartland. Castilla Y Leon and the high plateau

Jun 2, 2015
7 min

The Spanish Heartland. Castilla Y Leon and the high plateau

Yesterday was a tough one, what with the heat and all. No doubt about it. Opening my eyes today, I prayed for a little cloud, maybe some wind perhaps. Dare I say, I would have been happy with some rain, anything but that stifling heat that sucked the life out of me the last few days. Peering out from my tent though, I saw mist. Not unusual at half six in the morning but a good sign nonetheless. On the outskirts of Burgos, there began a gravel strewn cycle/walking path than ra

Basque Country and entering the Spanish interior. Coastal roads and intense heat.

Jun 1, 2015
7 min

Basque Country and entering the Spanish interior. Coastal roads and intense heat.

Setting off today meant a continuation of the climb I had started when I arrived in San Sebastian. I’m really not sure if this part makes the whole ordeal worth it but it’s always good fun either way. This, including large dual carriageways and the like are really the only times I feel the need to wear my helmet too as the traffic is usually very light on the roads I was now using. The weather, as has been the case for the past three or four days, was both hot and humid and n