The day started off in Valencia...there was excitement and nerves at the unknown of what was ahead. It was harder than we originally anticipated. Getting out of the city and past the suburbs was a challenge! New motorways meant that some of the roads we were meant to be on no longer exist. This is when patience and some Spanish comes in handy :-D
Bike set up in Valencia in front of our apartment, and us before the start of our camino!
Not long after Catarroja we found our very first arrow! These became our lifeline, and I was hawk eyes all day trying to find them so we wouldn't take a wrong turn.
We got to ride past some amazing scenery today, but probably for us the most fun was the single track through irrigation channels!
We originally thought the route today was 60km, it ended up being 80km!! Because we were worried we wouldn't get to Xátiva in time to eat we were hurrying all day and didn't really drink enough or eat at all! We arrived in Xátiva sunburnt and very hungry. We managed to get lunch (Just!) at 3:30pm thanks to a lovely restaurant owner who stayed open late just for us. I had to call ahead to book our accommodation, my Spanish is getting much better! I am now proficient in bike workshop Spanish, mobile phone technical information Spanish and for the first time ever I can now make phone calls and actually understand the person on the other end :-D very glad for all those lessons!
Ready to roll for day two! The plan is 70km and I am very worried....today was flat, tomorrow is all climbing! At least Ben has been letting me draft him :-D oh and I have to report, Spanish roadies are super friendly! They all say hello! And mountain biking is super popular!! Ben will report back tomorrow :)
Wow...I have only just started reading your blogs and I am so jealous, Norm and I are definitely doing this next year, that was my promise to myself by the age of 40 (I turn 40 in 2013) that we would tour europe. I love it! Well done guys, you are awesome!
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI am Marc, i am from Bruges-Belgium and I lived in Elche-Spain.
I like to ride the same route with my bike, i think next year.
I read your blog, i like it.
I nhave a question: do you have the track for the GPS (GPX) of your route de Levante?
my email adres is marcb@265.be
i have a site www.265.be
thank you very much
marc
Hi Marc, sorry i missed this comment. We didnt record the route unfortunately, I lost the cord to my Garmin when we arrive and I couldnt find a replacement anywhere!
ReplyDeleteThere are some GPS routes on Wikiloc if you take a look around on the web. The CSJ books are also worthwhile getting.
Good luck!