Climbing Mountains - our last adventure

The last couple of days in Spain had us visiting the Picos de Europa for a spot of mountain climbing. Or, so it seemed. The day was hot, hot, hot. No shade. The mountain track goes up, up, up and up, and sometimes down. With the number of goats about, perching on rocky outcrops, this was truly goat country.

We stayed in wonderful accommodation best described as homely, with magnificent views of the mountains. Potes is the main town. Minus the lake and the commercialism it reminded us of Queenstown, Spanish style. Anna (shorter than me), our hostess talked non-stop, 100 miles an hour, only in Spanish. Thanks to Rosy and Christopher's help with the language we managed to sort out important things like our big hike, the best restaurants in town, the weather forecast and what we'd have for breakfast. We were farewelled with crushing hugs and the Spanish 3 kisses. 

Stopping to enjoy the scenery.

The Picos de Europa, a national park of mountain peaks.

A stop at the historical village of Santanella de mar. We had to try the local cider. Check out the unique way of pouring it. I pushed the pump and Christopher caught the cider on its way out.

Another stop on our tootling drive we found a Gaudi house, so Rosy and I paid a visit. The outside tiles have a sunflower theme. 

In the garden admiring Gaudi's talents with the man himself.

This tootling, cycling, exploring walks, swimming, paddle boarding and climbing mountains is thirsty work. Some people enjoy a beer.

Others a G & T. They know how to make them here. 

Mothers have their uses. Just the right height for a leaning post. Happy to oblige.

Spanish Side Trip

To end this wonderful trip we have 5-days tootling in the area of the Bay of Biscay in Northern Spain with Christopher and Rosy. After flying into Bilbao and checking out the Guggenheim Museum we headed East to the lovely Old Town of San Sebastián.

We are really making the most of the summer days here (as you'll see by the skies and our clothing) before we return to the end of winter.

The dog decorated with fresh flowers outside the Guggenheim Musuem in Bilbao.

It was a hot hike to the top of Mount Urgall, but worth it for the fabulous view over San Sebastián. There's a museum up here showing some of the history of the Mount and the Old Town below, particularly a battle against the French, followed by the English.

The view from Mount Urgall with La Conch beach in the background where we spent most of the afternoon and I even had a go at paddle boarding for the first time. 

Flamenco street busker.

Tapas and sangria. We really are in Spain.

Our apartment had one of those clothesline where you worried you'd drop the clothes down on the street. Thank goodness I didn't have to run down three flights of stairs and retrieve anything.

Tootling Around Cambridgeshire

We've had 5 days staying in Cambridge with Christopher. It's been a great visit wandering around the city and parks, visiting the Bedford River Festival, attending the Newmarket Races (with entertainment from the Beach Boys), tandem jumping, catching up with friends and tootling around English country villages. 

The River Cam

It's so easy getting around town in Cambridge, through parks and greens. Wish we had bikes here. It would be the most common form of transport. We've never seen so many bicycle shops as they have in this town.

Bedford River Festival

David, Christopher and Rosy enjoying a Pimms.

Sunset at the Newmarket Races which has a one mile straight track.

Two-hours non-stop with the Beach boys. Mike Love and Bruce Johnston were up front. John Cowsill was on the drums all the others were newbies to the group. Still a fantastic sound. Even the 'young' group we were with knew a few songs and rocked away.

Enjoying our night out.

Levanham is a sleepy little town on a hill top. It was once a thriving woollen village and has very old quaint houses.

The Big Jump

After 13 months of pondering, thinking and wondering, I finally collected on Christopher's gift for my 60th birthday. 

With a few internal colly wobbles, waited at the airfield for 4 hours for the rain and sky to clear, had my briefing and nearly left to come back another day, I finally donned the jumpsuit ready for action.

So, here are a few pics to show it really happened.

And, I must say after sitting at the open door of the plane, ready for the big leap, it was a wonderfully invigorating experience. 

Tallinn Wanderings

Our last day in the Baltics was spent in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. Along with an informative guided tour the evening before, learning about the history of the city and the country as it is today, we spent much of the time wandering the Old Town.

Impressive Orthodox Church in the Old Town.

Marzipan is made by hand in the old tradition, then hand painted. Tastes so good.

Down at the harbour is an amazing interactive museum set up in old sea plane hangar. This famous (among those who know about such things) submarine, the Lembit, was one of the longest serving submarines in the world.

Even big kids like to play around.

This icebreaker and a variety of other ships (some replicas) from various eras were great to check out too.

Last Pics From The Bikes

Yesterday was our last day on the bikes. It was also the first time we encountered rain in the 10 days since we began. Nothing that dampened our day of cycling around a small island visiting an ethnology museum, a wool factory, local bakery and other 'look/see' places.

This tour has finished in Tallinn where we'll spend the day before moving on to meeting up with Christopher in the UK and having a short jaunt to Spain.

The Texan and the Halva bar. We've been introduced to this delicious Halva snack by one of our cycling buddies. She was feeling rather tall in this photo. 

Feeding in the carded wool which is being spun onto bobbins at the other end. At this factory they mix the wool of black and white sheep together. The machines are very old and the garments that are knitted are traditional style.

Many of the houses by the sea have thatched roofs made from reeds that grow in massive clumps on the shore's edge.

A local legend tells of two brothers living on different islands. They called on a giant to place rocks to connect the islands so they could visit each other. So, David is attempting to help the giant with the help of one of our Austrian cycling buddies. (The 2 brothers are on the shoulders of the giant).

A pretty door at the wool factory.

The Lighthouses on Hiiumaa Island

Before our 62km ride today we started with a ferry crossing to the second biggest island in Estonia. It's an island of lighthouses and we visited three of them.

This one was built in the 17th century and we climbed the 100m to the top.

A memorial to over 700 people who lost their lives when the ferry 'Estonia' sank while sailing from Estonia to Sweden in 1994. There are many stories and theories surrounding this disaster. The official one is not believed by all.

A stop in the forest (as our guide would say) 'to drink the water'.

When we 'stopped to drink the water' we could pick the baby-size wild blueberries.