Well, it took only 2000 km and some hills in Spain for my legs to get sore. Cycling in Spain and towards Barcelona and Valencia meant I had to conquer a few more hills than just following canals and rivers. And so I worked hard for the last week of my cycling trip through Europe.
Cycling in Spain
I realised pretty quickly that it is much easier to follow the main roads rather than trying to loop through the mountains and villages around me. The roads in Spain are made for cyclists and I find the car drivers are even more cautious and aware of the cyclists than in France and Germany. And from time to time you come across a fellow cyclist who gives you a short smile and wave (most of them are day trippers though).
I slowed down the traffic a little bit only once, on a narrow and windy road along the coastal cliffs. They just couldn’t overtake due to ongoing traffic. But nobody hassled me and they all followed patiently. Maybe they felt more like giving me a push up the hill?
Cycling Barcelona to Valencia
Let’s say, after all the hills, my legs definitely needed a rest once I reached Barcelona. It was more difficult to find a hotel last minute however (and I couldn’t pre book too far in advance) so I only stayed one night. (My rest day had to wait). In addition, I had trouble storing my bike safely for the night as it seems nobody wanted the responsibility.
That said, I liked Barcelona. I will be back to explore it more very soon (and by car).
La Sagrada Familia
After Barcelona cycling in Spain basically included getting from A to B (or from coastal hotel to coastal hotel). I cycled fast and safely, following the main road. With just over 300 km left, I cut my daily cycling distance to only 70-80km. And given the more hilly routes it was more than enough. It also gave me time to enjoy the ocean and beach in the afternoons.
Otherwise, cycling in Spain meant I was between the coast and the mountains. There were plenty of olive trees, very dry rivers and lots of abandoned old buildings to see.
My favourite stop and town on this trip however was Peñíscola. A very old fishing village with an amazing Templar castle and medieval walls. It reminded me a bit of my trip to Le Mont-Saint-Michel in France. Beautiful and unexpected.
And then, after a two more days of cycling, I arrived at my destination.
Cycling trip summary
As I was counting down the days and kilometres to finish my cycling trip (read about the whole trip here), I must admit, my body was tired. Even my bike sounded a bit worn out towards the end. We both definitely deserve some resting and restoring!
All in all however, I am quite surprised and pleased with how well the trip went. There were no major issues, I had good days and some tough days, but I pushed through it. Day by day. And I enjoyed it!
I just cycled 2600 km, sat 140 hours on the bike and cycled for 30 days (+ a few breaks in between). Another way best to describe this activity is, imagine going for a run, 4-5 hours, every day, for one month.
What an amazing trip. It will stay with me forever!
For now, I am done with cycling as winter is arriving in Europe. The Meraki Beach Hotel is the perfect spot to finish my journey before flying back to Germany. No, I am not cycling back! In fact, I am leaving my bike in Spain as I decided to make it my home for a while.
From here, let’s see what next adventures I will come up with. Although, I might have an idea already….
Valencia
Afterword, 29th Dec 2019: I have been to Valencia three times by now, including the day I finished my bicycle ride. However, although Valencia is gorgeous but not too photogenic, I thought I add some photos of the ‘City of Arts and Sciences’ for you here. It is a great complex! Given that I am now based in Altea, I am sure I will be back to Valencia many times! xx
