So fuelled by rest and cakes and biscuits peddled away from our Leon Haven the breakfast was being served from half 7 so was too late for us so we made our way out the town. Today’s plan was to just see how we were feeling and if we made good pace we may push our chances and not only reach our mountain but ride over it including the Cruz de Ferro.
Il be honest at this point and Dad already called me on it I was pushing him to no end first thing not really letting up and upping the Pace even on hills to make dad push himself and keep up. Every time he got next to me I kicked up some more and made him rocket along. Yes I’m a Bastard but within 2 hours we were well over 20 miles and making good pace to Astorga which was 50k from Leon.
We arrived just as the restaurants were opening and after a coffee and some omelette goodness we were on our way knowing it was 20k to where I stopped last year for the night before the climb to the Cruz De Ferro in Rabanel del Camino although a lot of this was now a grind uphill it’s clear to see we are now packing some strong quads as we peddle past people going up hills in 13th gear while they are pedalling squares in first.
Even dads arse seemed to not be bothering him but he did figure out I was pushing him. By half 12 we had reached Rabanel and stopped for a bowl of Spaghetti goodness with a coke for 6 euro. The gradient had actually been ok challenging but more of an elongated ascent. After letting the grub settle we started to climb again this time the heat was kicking in and the tar on the road would take the pattern of your tyres. The climbs now more aggressive but we soon closed in on the summit. And after a long winding grind we reached the Cruz De Ferro this is a place where people leave stone to symbolise the leaving of a burden or sins. Last year I carried my stones and emotions here for sunrise and left some of my demons here this time it was a different experience I had a stone sure but this time it was just to leave a stone not a burden. I did wonder if I would find my stones from August but dismissed it. So in climbed to top and left my stone. We took a few pics and I had a look around and there it was my stone from last August now further away from the centre where I left it so returned it to pride of place. Pleased as punch we peddled on being teased by the downhill sections thinking the summit was done but alas another uphill grind always thinking the downhill goodness was around the next corner or crest and then there it was.
It was epic nothing beats a fast downhill road nothing it makes the whole thing worth while. It’s clear to me on the trip I’m realistically the photographer mainly coz dad has a sony Xperia phone and we can all agree it’s shit. They make good tv’s and games consoles but wow are the phone crap. Moving on tho, so it was my job to stop and take picture of the beautiful surrounds as dad went Into the tuck position and set off bombing down the hill.
I’m the first to admit that my downhill speed isn’t as fast as dads as he can read the hairpins better with his vast knowledge of riding these types of things across Europe on his motorbike and at much faster speeds I’m sure so away in the distance I could see dads green tshirt whizzing past other pilgrims, cyclists and cars for that matter. So I had to play catch up. But after 20 minutes of glorious downhill goodness we arrived at our destination Molinaseca a very pretty river side town where they dam up the river to create a huge swimming pool in summer.
We get in our hotel and I had 60 miles showing on my GPS but the hotel man assures us it’s 103Km so defo a good slog today. I have included as one of the pictures the profile of today’s action we covered 22 to the end of 25 and the next day or two is shown for good measure. The current theory is to have a short day tomorrow and stay at the bottom of the main hill to then take it the following day but we shall see what tomorrow holds.
Pics from today:
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