Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal - Autumn '15

Not that we didn't absolutely love Norway, but it wasn't really that summery up there. Sure, we did see sunshine, but also snow. Say no more!

So come Autumn and return to the South I had in mind at least a few weeks of sunshine to make up for that lack of a real toasty summer. This kindof worked, but, then there was a change of plan.

You see: we were supposed to travel all the way to the bottom of Spain or Portugal for winter, but only made it as far as Porto (beautiful place that is too) before returning to France to attend to some business. Oh well, but it will hopefully be worth it.

At least, after the Norwegian experience, we know how to make the most of cold, grey weather wink

Wednesday 2 September 2015

Dear Norway, been an amazing 7 weeks, but passing ferry terminal in more rain too much of a sign! Thus we find ourselves in Denmark tonight.

Thursday 3 September 2015

Good morning Denmark! smile

Tuesday 8 September 2015

Sipping beer in Rembrandtplein. Got to the 3rd before remembering to share wink Used to hang here a lot in a past life!

Wednesday 9 September 2015

Being a tourist in lovely sunny Amsterdam, where I once lived & worked. A whole lot better without the work part wink

Wednesday 9 September 2015

Few drinks & a wonderful lunch by the canal in Amsterdam. It is really very nice here on a day like this. Cheers! grin

Thursday 10 September 2015

Pratiwi fattening up dinner?! A wonder so many plump chickens like this survive on sites full of hungry campers! wink

Friday 11 September 2015

Visit to Castle De Haar, Netherlands. Immaculately restored and kept, it's just beautiful.

Friday 11 September 2015

Feeding deer at Castle De Haar. They were loving acorns that we collected from an Oak tree just out of their reach.

Saturday 12 September 2015

We got lost walking in the centre of Maastricht this morning. Which was actually a bonus as it's such a lovely place to wonder around smile

Saturday 12 September 2015

Dropped into a Dutch bakery. Just a sample of the wares we picked up... wink Nom, nom, nom! grin tongue

Monday 14 September 2015

Felt guilty skipping Sweden on our trip so... Swedish lunch somewhere more ubiquitous to make up for it! wink

Tuesday 15 September 2015

Overcast & chilly in Odenwald, but out for nice loop anyway. Rolling hills mean nothing flat here. Great cycling grin

Wednesday 16 September 2015

Just 'dropped in' to friends in Germany & completely spoiled again. Thank you guys, best pork ever! Nom, nom, nom! tongue

Thursday 17 September 2015

OMG! Walking back into a French hypermarket after months away is, as Pratiwi said, "Heaven!" Sooooo muuuuuch goooood foooood. Dribble! tongue wink

Sunday 20 September 2015

Stroll along the coast around Cancale. Past local festivities. Oysters everywhere! Don't worry, we had some later tongue

Sunday 20 September 2015

Post stroll, pre-dinner drinks in last of the afternoon sun. Very nice choice by our gracious host. Cheers! grin tongue

Thursday 24 September 2015

Breakfast by the river Tarn, at Moissac. Nom, nom, nom... best get the bike out! wink Lucky it's a beautiful day! grin

Thursday 24 September 2015

French sunflower fields in Autumn. So sad cry Nice little ride in this area all the same.

Saturday 26 September 2015

Today meant to be all DH from half way so smashed up Mente & Aspet. Imagine my joy finding 2 more cols after that! wink

Saturday 26 September 2015

Need some sugar post ride? French apple pastry thing not sweet enough? Drizzle it with honey grin That's better! wink tongue

Sunday 27 September 2015

Little 'recovery' ride this morning wink Climbed Portillion to Spain then Peyresourde. Love, love, love the Pyrenees!

Tuesday 29 September 2015

Climbed up Port de Balès. 19kms that just get steeper & steeper! It's lovely! wink Descent to Luchon even more so! grin

Thursday 1 October 2015

Hike up to Lac d'Oô. Lovely autumn colours & beautiful views. Pratiwi being brave with the locals too. Mooooo! wink

Thursday 1 October 2015

Driving over Col de Peyresourde. Not as fun as the bike, but yeah, you can still appreciate the view I guess! wink grin

Saturday 3 October 2015

Moving on from Loudenvielle. Shame to leave when the sun is shining like this, but we do have vague plans you know!

Saturday 3 October 2015

View down to Arreau as we drive the Col d'Aspin. The clouds rolled over as we climbed so was a bit nippy up the top!

Friday 9 October 2015

Sunrise walk into Lourdes along the river Gave. Chilly but beautiful. Brrrrrr...

Friday 9 October 2015

Lunch at Auberge Le Bouic on a lovely sunny day in the mountains. Great food here too. Nom, nom, nom! tongue

Friday 9 October 2015

Relaxing in late aftenoon sun above Pierrefitte-Nestalas. Some tricky decisions to be made come morning! wink Hmmmmm grin

Saturday 10 October 2015

Stunning riding above Gavarnie today, on 40km climb to Col de Tentes! Final 11km is HC in it's own right! #Broken wink

Sunday 11 October 2015

Just wondering in the hills above Pierrefitte-Nestalas on an Autumn day. Love the Pyrenees! smile

Monday 12 October 2015

The valley near Gazost (French Pyrenees). Last time I was here, was on the bike & saw a couple of deer. Lovely place.

Tuesday 13 October 2015

Great 3 course lunch in Nay. Cold meats plate, steak, amazing potatoes & crème brûlée for 12.90€ Can't think why we like it here! wink tongue

Thursday 15 October 2015

Hola España! Not a bad spot nor day for a first Spanish encounter. May they all be as sunny & picturesque as this! smile

Thursday 15 October 2015

Beautiful rolling hills inland from San Sebastian. Aside from the main road to get here wonderful riding smile

Thursday 15 October 2015

Sunset above Zarautz. Say no more!

Saturday 17 October 2015

Rode up to Puerto San Glorio today. Wasn't going to but weather came good. Down to short jersey on the climb! #Toasty

Sunday 18 October 2015

After 6 months of living in the snail we have a break this week. Miss it already, but view from the bedroom helps! wink

Sunday 18 October 2015

Lunch at Asador Llorente, Potes. Yum! And most of these dishes are entrées! We all left feeling a little stuffed! tongue

Tuesday 20 October 2015

Chores around the home are never ending! wink All round clean for the snail today. Nice & easy with the terrace here grin

Wednesday 21 October 2015

This was the 'warm up' climb on today's ride: cat 2 up to Cahecho. Went on to Fuente De but got cloudy so no pics sad

Thursday 22 October 2015

Lookout few kays from Puerto San Glorio. I was here before, but today is a chance for those who don't ride to see tongue

Thursday 22 October 2015

The view from Mirador de Pandetrave and again just a little down the road. Shaping up to be a great day! smile

Thursday 22 October 2015

Sights from the road on the way to Cares Gorge. Moooooo! wink

Thursday 22 October 2015

Starting out on walk through Cares Gorge. Bit cold, dark & damp in the opening section despite being close to noon.

Thursday 22 October 2015

Obligatory 'Pratiwi is the red dot' pics walking along a path cut into the cliff face! Awesome & not scary at all! tongue

Thursday 22 October 2015

Continuing on... Getting a little sun in this deep gorge in the afternoon was very welcome! Amazing place!

Thursday 22 October 2015

Having fun in Cares Gorge. Perfect day for a hike! grin

Thursday 22 October 2015

Some of the tunnels (although these are very short) cut into the cliff face in Cares Gorge. Yet more amazement!

Thursday 22 October 2015

Yet more, 'Oh look, we're walking along a cliff' pictures. It's like this a lot of the way and just spectacular!

Thursday 22 October 2015

Most of this has been downhill... until now. One small bump to get over to reach the village at the end of the trail.

Thursday 22 October 2015

Hallooooooooo... Apakah anda ingin bergabung dengan saya sebagai kari kambing? tongue grin wink

Thursday 22 October 2015

Well... they almost got the timing right wink Not bad for a bunch of old folk taking it nice & easy though! grin

Thursday 22 October 2015

Post hike refreshments. Although to be honest, only one of these is actually refreshing. Am I right? wink tongue

Thursday 22 October 2015

More roadside randomness. Approaching Potes on the way home. Beautiful countryside around here! #StateTheObvious wink

Thursday 22 October 2015

What has been our home this week. Not a bad spot I guess wink Thanks to the olds for having us! grin

Thursday 22 October 2015

No lens or perspective trickery here. That's just one bloody big steak! So tasty! Nom, nom, nom... nom... nom! wink tongue

Friday 23 October 2015

Great colours on the Picos de Europa mountains this morning! We're moving on today, but it's a nice send off smile

Friday 23 October 2015

Not much clearance on this gateway. Tricky because of the hill we're turning onto. But it got in, sooooo... all good!

Friday 23 October 2015

Passing the church at Niembro cove & thought it pretty enough for a picture. The joys of random travel smile

Friday 23 October 2015

The rather rocky & wind-swept beach at Vega. Only 1 sole surfer braving the elements here. Oh, & me (not Pratiwi!) tongue

Friday 23 October 2015

Another deserted Spanish beach. This is Playa de la Griega, our lunch (well, very late lunch) stop for the day.

Sunday 25 October 2015

Random trundle around valleys in Northern Spain. Lovely & green. Nice hills too, descent back to coast great fun! grin

Monday 26 October 2015

Prosciutto in a Spanish supermarket. More of a staple than luxury. Which is how it should be to be honest! Yum! tongue

Tuesday 27 October 2015

Cathedral Beach, North Spain. Fabulous 'almost winter' morning exploring. Low tide here is a must. Well planned! wink

Wednesday 28 October 2015

Amazing what there's time for when it rains solid for 3 days! Fun with wine & drawing wink https://youtu.be/7TXEZ4tP06c

Friday 30 October 2015

Sightseeing in Santiago de Compostela. Not much here aside from the cathedral with a rather ornate interior though.

Friday 30 October 2015

When in Spain: tapas lunch in Santiago de Compostela. Followed by ice cream for some reason... even though it's cold!

Friday 30 October 2015

Lunch in a restaurant in Spain. I literally LOL'd when the waitress asked if we were splitting the bill. Like I have a choice any more?! wink

Sunday 1 November 2015

Gotta love a climb where last few kays are 10% pavé! Cattle here impressive too, esp. ones with the odd udders! wink

Tuesday 3 November 2015

Walk on the beach near Facho (Portugal). Bit grey & windy, but there's still fun to be had looking for treasure! wink

Saturday 7 November 2015

Entering Porto Market (Mercado do Bolhão) we found an entertaining band of musicians. Nice way to start our day here.

Saturday 7 November 2015

Mercado do Bolhão in Porto. Lots of seafood & fruit & chillies & colour. Oh... & some Port Wine for the tourists wink

Saturday 7 November 2015

A few random sights from Porto while wondering from the market to cathedral. They like tiled buildings here!

Saturday 7 November 2015

Love these colourful rooftops in Porto. This is the view from right outside the cathedral.

Saturday 7 November 2015

Inside Porto cathedral. Nice light patterns from the stained glass.

Saturday 7 November 2015

Porto's old city & river from Luis Bridge, which is actually rather high & railing low so not for those with vertigo!

Saturday 7 November 2015

Happy times in Porto. What an wonderful, beautiful place. Especially on a day like today. We loved it here! smile :) smile

Saturday 7 November 2015

Lunch in Porto. But Pratiwi loves sangria... soooooo... who am I to say no?! wink Nom, nom, nom tongue

Saturday 7 November 2015

After lunch... time to try the local wares while we sit & watch the world go by. Just a lovely afternoon.

Saturday 7 November 2015

Food & drink done, it's time to enjoy more sites of Porto on the way home. These are mainly by the river & old town.

Saturday 7 November 2015

One of my last memories of Porto: this corner shop smelt divine. Look at all that prosciutto, cheese & Port. Yum!! tongue

Tuesday 10 November 2015

Woke up to this view right outside our front door. So beautiful! Misty hills down the road weren't bad either!

Tuesday 10 November 2015

Short evening walk after parking up for the night. Imagine if this was your local single track? Where's my MTB?!

Tuesday 10 November 2015

Parked by a pocket of woodland tonight. Stars picture just about possible despite light pollution from nearby Tarbes.

Wednesday 11 November 2015

Slept in a woodland clearing last night. Woke & stuck head out of skylight to see wild deer nearby before he bounded off into trees #Magical

Wednesday 11 November 2015

Another day, another spectacular view to wake up to... [sigh]...

Wednesday 11 November 2015

Not been riding much? Try 2xHC climbs (Soulor/Spandelles) when a little out of shape! Beautiful day for some pain! wink

Wednesday 11 November 2015

Out riding today a Kite (bird of prey) flew directly at me, dived to the road literally 10m ahead & scooped up some fresh roadkill! #Amazing

Saturday 14 November 2015

Plateau de Benou is one of our favourite spots. Even better when you wake up here on such a beautiful morning! smile

Saturday 14 November 2015

As we're here: short walk up to the ridge & back. Funny how the cows pick a spot with the best view to relax, huh? wink

Sunday 15 November 2015

Col du Tourmalet today. Can you believe it's almost winter!? Few mins off a PB but came home strong. #CantComplain grin

Sunday 15 November 2015

Remember Tourmalet is 2115m up, amazing weather this week! Snow coming so cyclists: get up there while you can! grin wink

Tuesday 17 November 2015

Tonight's stop: Up at la Croix Blanche just East of Lourdes. Enjoying the tranquillity and a rather nice sunset.

Wednesday 18 November 2015

Early morning views around la Croix Blanche. More great trails & lucky cattle up here smile

Thursday 19 November 2015

More woodland adventures...

Friday 20 November 2015

End of the road today: Pont d'Espagne. Clearly has more popular times but forecast to be snowed in tonight! Brrrrr!

Monday 23 November 2015

Not sure the solar is going to be doing much work today! wink Glad the snail has a nice heating system though. Brrrrrr!