July19 Rio de la Ponga - Cloudbusting

 

After yesterdays calamity the equipe was shellshocked and concerned for our wounded hombre. There was a sombre mood that was mirrored by the weather. Low clouds, drizzle and a pall of introspection.

We are here to explore new country and to find our limits of endurance. The gradients, the terrain, the distances are well within our capabilities. We have all trained to get here knowing that at some stage our strength may not be enough.  When that happens, out comes the camera, take a photo, fiddle with the shoe straps, take off or put on arm warmers. Take a break. Which we have all done, either for the glory of the location and to capture a scene, or through a puncture or just to chuck a sad.

What happened for BB was a freak accident. Off camber, downhill, mossy and on the last descent of the day after many pleasureable moments on the ride. It was catastrophic for BB being thrust into the Spanish medical system, with a first rate ambulance response.

We have rallied around him to keep him comfortable, the drugs prescribed are helping but they aren't sufficient for his pain management. Supplements are being made with medical oversight and awareness of possible combinations are highlighted. He is keeping a brave sad face and we are looking out for him.

Today the weather forecast (notoriously unreliable) is accurate, light rain possible thunderstorms, light winds, maybe some Krakens in the afternoon.

 Its a light drizzle and OGF and myself have a need for a recovery ride to iron out the wrinkles. SM and LM are getting their rest day in early and watching out for BB


We click in and start by rolling through the town centre, across the new roman bridge and immediately left into farmland!

Ride stats etc here on strava

 Blessedly car free rural roads, quiet and sedate, it sets the tone for the next hour. We gently turn pedals uphill for twenty kilometres, when ever I feel that I am starting to push I click the right hand left for an easier gear. And all in the small chainring. My heart rate rarely gets above 120bpm. Im amazed at how this is going. Its drizzly, grey, dank bit the roads are dry and the temperature is perfect. Its a bit humid though, Im regretting the undershirt with my jersey. Today Im in Euskaltel Orange and I reckon the Asturian car drivers are given me extra respect.

Spanish car drivers are very patient in the country areas.

At 20 km from Cangas we find the turn and after 1% gradients it comes as a shock to see 8, 9 and 10% show on the alimeter

 So we climb south away from from the N-route and up into the hills. Our mapping told us to expect to climb to 1000m ASL and we have started this section at 250m. The clouds are moving upwards ahead of us as we turn pedals. As we do so we get warm but incredibly sweated up, the dewpoint is so low we down know if its condensation or sweat or drizzle.

 The landscape doesnt care, it just invites with twisting roads and a horizon so near you could touch it.

A tunnel appears at the 25km mark. We are at 500m ASL.  For the next 3horizontal kilometres the gradient does not go below 10%.  And its easily manageable, its mostly mental appreciation for the effort required, dont smash yourself, dont grind, use your gears, stand up, have a whinge, sit down, change down, stand up, change up, flip the computer screen, take a photo, remove the helmet and cap, watch the everchanging view, not the roadkill (snake for the first time, hedgehog for the third, frog for the umpteenth, dodge the cowpats, the deer scat, the horseshit.

As I ride I often think of ride titles, ften from songs, for Strava - todays was Cloudbusting by Kate Bush

Turn pedals, its a recovery ride

I didnt know the flash was on

 I am drenched in sweat, so is OGF apparently. But we are enjoying this quiet side road so much that even a photo of the upcoming bends is appealing though its over ten percent.

 Clearly this was one of my whinging moments.

Then we crest the hill at about 955m. Rainjackets on and the most timorous descent ever.  This is a quiet road, there is little traffic to clean the road of leaf litter, mud, shit, gravel. We descend like wisps not wanting to disturb the careful ecosystem of mould and moss and mildew that has gathered in each corner in the shady forest. The cloud has decided to turn into rain. I cant see through the corners. We drop 350m very quickly into the town of San Juan de Belenu. Xocolat calliente and an omelette in a bun x2.

EIGHTEEN KILOMETRES DOWNHILL UNTIL WE HIT THE N-ROUTE. 18! Then another 13 back to town. This is my definition of cycling heaven.
The AS 261 is an absolute delight. Despite the wet weather we dont want go any faster, we are following a river, but its not a valley, its a gorge. None of these photos can describe the feeling of being in this place. Towering cliffs either side, rushing stream on the left then the right. We hit the brakes just to absorb the experience.

Do-er up-er

Miles of this

We made the road back into Cangas, buzzed. Discussed the day with our winged bird and his compadres
Then TV to watch the Croiz de Fer and Alp d'Huez TDF stage.
Out to dinner for pizza and an Oruju (firewater).

Because tonight we celebrate SuperModel and his award!!

Night night my sweets