Today we had a bike day - we thought we'd explore the north coast just above A Coruña. Leaving A Coruña was a real hassle: roadworks abounded and there was SO much traffic and business. So very unlike the rest of the cities we have been in which have been calm and civilized. This is very busy, quite impersonal and the bar-folk and other tourists not as friendly/relaxed....or something.....
Our trip today was a ride of two moods. The city and towns which were clogged with traffic and really quite boring, and the mountains which were fab. Some of the scenery was breath-taking and, as everyone knows who has tried to take photos of magnificent scenery, our pics are a hint of what was there.
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| Eucalypyus trees - probably spelt 'rong |
Needless to say we didn't take any pics of the traffic or boring towns - nor any audio of the hooting etc .......
On our way to the mountains we passed though acres of eucalyptus trees - used, I think I remember, for telephone poles but now I don't know what they'd be used for as very next several forests are concrete poles wired up.
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| Heather |
There must be a correlation between Scotland and North Spain: Galicia and Gallic, the scenery here and the glens there. Here's a pic of heather - really pretty with fields and fields of the stuff.
Notice in this pic the first of the wind turbines of which there are THOUSANDS. Actually we thought they seem serene and beautiful but I know others with say they destroy the countryside.
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| Top of the World - number 1 |
We travelled to the top of the world - up and up, higher ad higher - just like on 'Beyond the Fringe' but, luckily, not sick at the top!
Here is the first of the blocks of wind farm turbines. They go on forever but as soon as the arrive while travelling the are gone having ridden over a hill or top of a pass.
We loved this part of the trip so much we did it twice - going both ways about 12 kms each time. The cloud had evaporated a bit by 5pm (we were there at about 11am first time and facing East) the sun lower in the sky gives a bit more of a sense of space in the picture even thought it was SO HOT then. The heat then suddenly dissipates at about 5.30 where the sun seems to give up trying to bake us all.
Rob had to pose for a pic (of course) and this a bit more of a bike and rider affair than the scenery and beautiful spot. If you look carefully you can see the other turbines in the distance.
I think you can 'double click' on the individual pictures, by the way, and they will blow up to a larger size so you can see more detail.
Lastly a video of the turbines actually turning. Not very noisy and all seem to be working hard in this windy spot. There is also a great video of us riding DOWN the other side but it is quite long and will take an age to upload so...... for those who are interested.... we'll show you when we get back!
Here's the top of the world ...moving. We're off to eat out tonight as we didn't do breakfast nor lunch and then tomorrow is a walking day to see some sights of A Coruña.
We found out that Jolie Brise (the boat Debbie was cook on in 1976-80 Tall Ships races) isn't here on Saturday as she's not doing the race. Wonders of the WWW: Rob being able to find that out from out hotel bedroom while Debbie was brushing her teeth - or something!
Here's the video. Hasta manaña!
Hey, I hope everyone is impressed with the new spelling of A Coruña.... bastante Castellano!
