09/22/2023 Bikepacking Spain Day 45 : The Rain in Spain does not stay mainly on the plain.

We left the apartment with a clear forecast for the week. Wow! Let’s see what that means in real life… —

We are making bigger mileage these days; today was a hybrid of pavement and dirt. The miles add up so easily on the pavement, but they are usually more fun and scenic on the dirt. —

Sometimes I forget what a trooper Janet is. I’ve been asking about her head injury from a few days ago, but she never mentions it. Same for her elbow cut. She is tough, and healing well. Also, she was riding even stronger today. Watch out you ladies with the QOMs! —

Ok, I had to take a photo of this machine. I have no idea what it does, but I suspect it may have been created by SRAM… Ok, I shouldn’t bad-mouth SRAM for making bikes more complicated. They are really innovative and I’m just a retro-grouch who wants all the bike parts to all fit on every bike. —

A brief bit of rail trail!

One of my favorite things about bikepacking is the adventure of finding a place to spend the night. Tonight we started talking about a hotel because it was cold and raining. Not too much later, the sun peeked out and it got warmer. I tend to loathe hotels. At first they seem like a great idea, but then in your mind you realize that once you are checked in, you are subject to the rules of the place. They tell you where to put the bikes - no matter how far away and inconvenient. Sometimes they smell, sometimes the beds are too soft and I end up sleeping on the floor anyway. And it often uses a lot of time doing check in. It doesn’t have to be like that - we have stayed in plenty of places where they show you the room, you hand them cash standing in front of the room, and you’re done. But the freedom of having your own space - wild in the mountains or in an abandoned building like this - it’s when I’m in my happy place. —

2 minutes of cleaning and it’s nicer (and less smelly) than last nights apartment! —

That farm implement looks like a finger remover 😬

Rush T.