Well, it took only 2,000 kilometres and a few hills in Spain for my legs to finally get sore. Cycling in Spain towards Barcelona and Valencia meant I had to conquer a few more hills than I had become used to while following canals and rivers through Europe.
And so, during the last week of my cycling trip through Europe, I had to work hard once again. But I was close to my final destination.
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Cycling in Spain
I realised pretty quickly that cycling in Spain was much easier when I followed the main roads, rather than trying to loop through the mountains and villages around me.
The roads in Spain felt made for cyclists, and I found that car drivers were even more cautious and aware of cyclists than in France and Germany. From time to time, I also came across a fellow cyclist who gave me a quick smile and wave, although most of them seemed to be day trippers.
I only slowed down the traffic once, on a narrow and winding road along the coastal cliffs. The cars simply couldn’t overtake because of the oncoming traffic. But nobody hassled me. They all followed patiently. Maybe they felt more like giving me a push up the hill?
Cycling in Spain was pretty good, though.
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Cycling Barcelona to Valencia
Let’s just say that after all those hills, my legs definitely needed a rest by the time I reached Barcelona. Finding a hotel at the last minute was more difficult than expected, though. As I couldn’t book too far in advance during my cycling trip, I only stayed for one night. My rest day would have to wait.
On top of that, I had trouble finding somewhere to safely store my bicycle overnight, as it seemed nobody wanted to take responsibility for it. Sometimes, cycling in Spain has its challenges.
That said, I liked Barcelona. I will definitely be back to explore the city properly very soon. And next time, by car for sure!
After Barcelona, cycling in Spain basically became a matter of getting from A to B. Or, more accurately, from one coastal hotel to the next. I cycled fast and safely, mostly following the main roads. With just over 300 kilometres left until Valencia, I reduced my daily cycling distance to around 70–80 kilometres. Given the hillier routes, that was more than enough.
It also meant I had plenty of time to enjoy the sea and relax on the beach in the afternoons. Not a bad way to finish my cycling trip through Europe!
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.
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Cycling trip summary
As I was counting down the days and kilometres to the end of my cycling trip, I must admit that my body was tired. Even my bike sounded a bit worn out towards the end. My bike and I definitely deserved some rest and restoration!
All in all, however, I am quite surprised and pleased with how well the trip went. Cycling in Spain was different from cycling in France and Germany, but it still felt very safe. There were no major issues. I had good days and some tough days, but I pushed through them.
Day by day. And I enjoyed it!
In total, I cycled 2,600 kilometres, spent 140 hours on the bike and cycled for 30 days, with a few breaks in between. Another way to describe it would be this: imagine going for a run for four to five hours every day, for one month.
What an amazing trip. It will stay with me forever.
The end.
To go back to the beginning of my cycling trip, read here: Cycling the Main River – off to Spain on my 2600km journey!
For now, I am done with cycling. Winter is arriving in Europe, and the Meraki Beach Hotel is the perfect place to finish my cycling journey before flying back to Germany. And no, I am definitely not cycling back!
In fact, I am leaving my bicycle in Spain, as I have decided to make it my home for a while. From here, let’s see what adventures I come up with next.
Although…I might already have an idea.
Valencia
Afterword, 29th Dec 2019: I have been to Valencia three times by now, including the day I finished my bicycle ride. Although Valencia is gorgeous, I don’t find it the easiest city to photograph. So I thought I would add some photos of the City of Arts and Sciences for you here instead.
It is a great complex! Given that I am now based in Altea, I am sure I will be back to Valencia many more times. Although that got cut short when the pandemic arrived in Spain and I had to escape!! Read here: Back to Germany amid Coronavirus – my escape.
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