Inhoudsopgave/Table of contents/ La table des matières - Free

through Torres to Puerto
Orihuela,
BIG number 448. There isn’t
much to look at among the
trees but the road leading up to
it is very interesting, great
views to the left (west). Again
this is a brown tarmac road and
hardly any traffic, just a few
motor bikers so bliss for
cycling. On the way back down
the same way I took some
photos of Neguera in the valley
and further down of a village
dominated by a very large
house perched on an outcrop at
Tramacastilla. From there it
was steadily down to Torres
where I stayed the night for
29€ + 10€ (approx £30) for
dinner shared with a young
couple from Amsterdam on a
geology field trip with
Amsterdam University. I had
soup with breadcrumbs,
chicken and chips and tomato
with curdled milk and honey
dessert and a couple of beers.
On arrival before dinner I
repaired my puncture in the
kitchen. Later I sorted out my
bags and filled flasks for
tomorrow. I caught up with the
diary and to bed at 23.30.
Sunday 15th June 2008
Tortosa to Soria
A long way from Tortosa
(F€23.32) heading north for the
direct road over to Gandesa,
great views on the way down
from Pandoles then west to
Alcaňiz and confusion in the
streets at Zaragoza in trying to
get away from the busy main
road. I stopped for a coffee at
Atagon and took a left onto a
quieter road for Tarazona,
leaving it at Vera de Moncayo
to enter the national park of the
Moncayo area. First of all I
passed an old monastery then
took the leafy lane through
bracken to the wooded area at
the car park and on up to the
next climb, El Moncayo BIG
number 447.This was a very
pleasant, tree sheltered route all
the way except for the clamber
over the rocks for the last
BIG Review 2009
kilometre to the sanctuary. At
Moncayo, BIG sticker placed
on plate to the right before the
track up the mountain, as far as
any bike will go, after the
restaurant next to a water tap
and fountain. It was a long trip
to get here from Tortosa. I was
confused in Zaragosa and
asked directions from a cyclist.
All ways out were busy main
road and so confusing. I
followed all signs for Soria. At
the turnoff for Moncayo
(Bulbeunte F€17.01) first came
the old sanctuary then through
the woods to an interpretation
office and car park. From that
point it’s 12 kilometres to the
top. The final 5 kilometres are
on a dusty road of fine stones.
The final point for cars going
up is a small parking area a
kilometre from the top where
the rest of the road is narrow on
a ledge and a surface of large
stones and shale. I walked the
bike up the final part to El
Moncayo.
Some motorists were still
driving to the very top but can’t
do car suspensions any good.
Back down and took the road
for Tarazona which was a
mistake because it took me a
few miles away from the
direction I needed to head for. I
needed to go through Agreda to
save time, followed by 59
kilometres to Soria at 20.00. I
found cheap accommodation at
the quieter north end of town
but still set me back 35€. Later
I went for a meal in the better
part of town and had soup
followed by steak and chips
with wine. Bed at midnight.
Friday 20th June 2008
Ponferrada to Alto de
San Clodio (BIG
number 378) Left->
After a good breakfast
at the hotel – and I
really stocked up for
later! First I had more
breakfast at the café
opposite the castle then
took a stroll along the
45
castle walls, taking a few
photos. Soon I was out on the
road heading for Molinaseca
where the road starts to climb
among short ferns and
castellated walled road sides up
to Acebo, a very nice village of
one cobbled street and a few
shops and a bar / café that sells
local wines and ciders (sidre), I
sampled some on the way
down from the next pass. The
road climbs more and becomes
narrow to Acebo village
perched at the point where the
real road to the Foncebadon
pass road begins (BIG number
384). (photos 6418 to 6420).
Acebo village is on the Camino
de Santiago route and is always
full of walkers, today being no
exception. The village is one
long street of houses huddled
together over a cobbled narrow
road with a central water
channel barely wide enough for
one car to pass through – and if
it dares to the walkers will
frown as they lounge in the
shade of the buildings on the
cobbles. It’s old and rustic,
maybe it s touristy-rustic but its
still a pleasant and peaceful
place and I would like to come
here again and pass over the
whole pass and not have to turn
back the way I came. One day
maybe a bike tour of the
Camino de Santiago –
especially as I have not been to
that final destination,. Also I
could include the final Galician
pass that I’m avoiding because
of the distance north from this
year’s route – BIG number 377
on the north-west tip at Cabo
Ortegal. Back to present day to
Foncebadon and I’m on my