Spain North to South

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
MarkF
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Joined: 4 Apr 2011, 10:20am

Spain North to South

Post by MarkF »

It's a bit lacking in detail but you'll find out why when I get to Seville.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?doc_id=10054

I am going to add a last page about trains, buses (yes,they'll happily take bikes unboxed, I didn't use but asked many drivers), room costs, food costs, wild camping possibilities etc
bikepacker
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Re: Spain North to South

Post by bikepacker »

You went to Salamanca, my favourite Spanish City.
There is your way. There is my way. But there is no "the way".
scelder
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Joined: 11 Jan 2009, 4:43pm

Re: Spain North to South

Post by scelder »

Very keen to hear more about your trip. I am arriving on the Santander Ferry (arriv 17th Sept) and biking to Cadiz to catch the ferry to Tenneriffe. I am on my own - so if anyone else is about then give me a shout. How was the weather? Did you have trouble with dogs running free? Was accommodation easy to find? And lastly, I am on a touring bike and it would appear that some parts are more suitable for mountain bikes - I am on del la Plata route for most of the route.
Stewart
MarkF
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Re: Spain North to South

Post by MarkF »

scelder wrote:Very keen to hear more about your trip. I am arriving on the Santander Ferry (arriv 17th Sept) and biking to Cadiz to catch the ferry to Tenneriffe. I am on my own - so if anyone else is about then give me a shout. How was the weather? Did you have trouble with dogs running free? Was accommodation easy to find? And lastly, I am on a touring bike and it would appear that some parts are more suitable for mountain bikes - I am on del la Plata route for most of the route.
Stewart


I should put all the info on this weekend, hopefully.

Weather? Should not have started Jun8th, should have started May 8th. Most days were over 30c, into Extramadura 35+ every day.This suited me but not my cousin. Should be nearly Oct when you get down there so will be much cooler. Headwind from SW was a bloody nightmare.

Dogs? Only dogs I saw were silly mouse sized ones that the Spanish love.

Accommodation? Everywhere. Loads of it, if you can't see it, ask, rooms above bars are cheap. If you get caught between towns then there are plenty of roadhouses. Best not to go in ones called "clubs". :wink:

I used a "sporty" hybrid, your bike (on 32's) will be suitable everywhere, even on the RDLP. I did not use this as much as I intended to, I preferred more social interaction.
Sierra Trekking
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Re: Spain North to South

Post by Sierra Trekking »

I did north to south, started on 8th May and on my second day in Spain it was 35 deg C.

I found the cloudy days were the worst as the humidity made life on the road very difficult. I'm in Andalucia now
and the weather is ok for cycling but not long days.

Good luck.
bikerwaser
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Joined: 26 Aug 2012, 9:50am

Re: Spain North to South

Post by bikerwaser »

Hi Mark

i'm planning to do a similar route this coming October but from Santander. i'll use the Via de la PLata and end up in Andalucia where ever there is some there's some work ( i'm looking on the "workaway" website that offers food and shelter for a few hours work a day ).

thanks for the trip info.

if anyone else has any more info i'd appreciate it .

BikerWaser
ernycb
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Re: Spain North to South

Post by ernycb »

Top tip : Include the Gredos/Bejar region south of Avila if you can !!!
MarkF
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Re: Spain North to South

Post by MarkF »

bikerwaser wrote:Hi Mark

i'm planning to do a similar route this coming October but from Santander. i'll use the Via de la PLata and end up in Andalucia where ever there is some there's some work ( i'm looking on the "workaway" website that offers food and shelter for a few hours work a day ).

thanks for the trip info.

if anyone else has any more info i'd appreciate it .


Stretches of the RDP are b.o.r.i.n.g, pics look great on the web but it's monotonous when actually there. The N-630 enables really good progress and is very (surprisingly) quiet.

ernycb wrote:Top tip : Include the Gredos/Bejar region south of Avila if you can !!!

Agree.
ernycb
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Re: Spain North to South

Post by ernycb »

Horses for courses I guess, but my personal preference is a trail/track to any road, any day !

- no cars/fumes/dangers
- close to country side
- many tracks/trail are old routes... churches, vialles, etc, etc.
bikerwaser
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Re: Spain North to South

Post by bikerwaser »

Thanks for the tips about Gredos/Bejar region south of Avila


Hi MarkF

on this trip i'm planning to go a bit slower and really see "real Spain" and include some nice small villages in the mix.

your comment about the VDP bring boring . i can understand if there is just a need to get somewhere but i'm wondering why you thought it boring ?
MarkF
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Re: Spain North to South

Post by MarkF »

As "ernybc" said, horses for courses, it's only IMO. :wink: I'd so looked forward to it but found it monotonous, boring, not much visual delight, the experience has put me off cycling the canal du midi. However, I'd also say the same for the interior on the N-630 but the difference was that I was able to make better progress and visit many more bars. :D Again, it's only IMO, but "real" Spain can be so quiet it can drive you crackers, I've visited many villages where I have not seen a single living creature never mind found a shop or, more importantly, a bar open.
bikerwaser
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Re: Spain North to South

Post by bikerwaser »

HI MarkF
thanks for the reply.
i know what you mean about the Canal du Midi. i did it last Autumn. to start with it felt so idealic and beautiful. it was idealic and beautiful for miles and miles and miles. didn't see anyone for miles either . about 2 thirds of the way through it became unrideable so i took to the road which was so much more interesting.
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b1ke
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Re: Spain North to South

Post by b1ke »

The N-630 enables really good progress and is very (surprisingly) quiet.


+1 for the N630. We cycled Santander to Tarifa last October en route to The Gambia. They've built a motorway south of Zamora that runs alongside it and hence the N630 is largely empty. Perfect for the fully loaded tandem we were on. The Via de la Plate tracks were waterlogged where we joined it.
http://www.farewellburt.wordpress.com - Europe on a Tandem....
http://www.thespokeandwords.wordpress.com - West Africa on a Tandem....
Blevins
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Re: Spain North to South

Post by Blevins »

I arrive in Santander on aug 5 with the intention of heading over the Picos and then to Seville on the Via De Plata.
Are there enough refugios on the VDP route not to need a tent?

Thanks
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b1ke
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Re: Spain North to South

Post by b1ke »

Yes, there are plenty of albergues on the VDP not to need a tent. We wild camped one night in the Picos but that was all. You may find a pension in the mountains though. We averaged around 85 - 100km per day in Spain and stuck with the N630 from Benevente onwards rather than the walking route. We also wild camped about 30km outside Seville but could have probably made it into the city.
http://www.farewellburt.wordpress.com - Europe on a Tandem....
http://www.thespokeandwords.wordpress.com - West Africa on a Tandem....
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