Picos de Europa - in economy class

[Edgar]

the 1st post was right up to the Peaks of Europe about 900 kms or so ...

and now begins the part of the ride in the Picos land ...


The landscape begins to change radically ...
here is all the peaks

This seems to have snow ...
but it's just the contrast of the sun in the day ..




We have to go through a few tunnels like this ... and is very fun because of the echo that is ....
while taking this picture passed by a Porsche, and the driver of the machine, and the jaws opened, and made a great sound and beautiful to hear ...

immediately afterwards also tried to make a great sound with the engine of my XT ...
and even cracked, and was the most beautiful sound that has been done in that tunnel

I went through several tunnels of ... but in particular and it was morning water was dripping from the ceiling ...
was thicker and the rain is cold I felt the skin to cross hi my summer jacket






Arrival at the village of Riaño




It is a very pretty village and motar served to the camp for the 2nd night ...
This was the view I had of my tent




This time I used a campsite ...
I did not want trouble with the authorities in this natural park where it is forbidden to open a can of food

I paid € 11 for one night, and took a bath and had dinner with no problems and all conditions and most importantly without compromising the law to enjoy this natural park ...




Early morning bagged all ... and pushed the bike to the gate and left no destination and no journey ...
was to go in and then soon found himself ...




I was damned to find a sign saying "Picos de Europa"
to prove that after all there had always been

and I ended up finding and even took the photo against the sun ...





The XT seemed to know the way




And why not a picture of the driver of the XT




and a short video of where I took the photo above ...

[youtube]uXaZU8b2QiY[/youtube]



A friend of mine told me that the pitcher had a ravine and a beauty-ass ...
but he could not remember the path or your name ...
but I think I met him and should not be one of the most spectacular that this




is simply spectacular




and parking without compromising the traffic is not easy ...
but it's worth ... because the place where I have the bike passes a river about 40 meters further down ...
the noise and force of water is impressive ... seems a discharge of a dam




The canyon has some good miles in length ...

until we found this waterfall ...
spectacular ... and the photo does not reveal your true beauty ...






Continued through the canyon ...




I used to go and see up close one of the many suspension bridges




found this tourist who claimed to be Portuguese




the XT is always beautiful in every picture






With the history of forward and that is the way I ended Cangas de Onis.
and had never seen a small town with many hotels
not stopped ... I was then to find a gas station ...
filled the tank and found a tourist office ...
the nice lady tourist gave me some good tips and a map of the region ...

So I know the lakes such ... Lake Enol and another that I do not remember the name ...

Before you get exclusive access road to the lake I stopped to see the cathedral and this should be a chapel ...
I saw lots of people and queues ... and not think twice ...
shot a quick picture of it and I'll have me though, this is the most we ...

and here is this chapel ... Cathedral forgot to take the photo ... so
and is a beautiful building and care ...




The way of the lakes was another story
I was in my world




I came across hundreds of cows ...
one on the road ...
other roadside ...
other right in the middle of the road ...
and the other jumps, and even mountain goats seem to like this photo ...




But I arrived at the lakes ...






In the lakes we can see the remains of a mine and a giant scale model of the park "Picos de Europa"








I found a photo with the name of all the peaks ...
and noticed there was a mountain with no name
and was soon baptized, "Peak of travelers XT"




I took to see the cows up close ...




This ... not really




I ended up stepping on a big shit poo ... which was designed by the wheels for the XT




Now comes a bad part.

a place called "Potes" have not seen the crossing to Riaño, and I ended the Fuente Dé

Fuente Dé had nothing to see, and take the cable car ...
but I had no money to ski lifts ... and did 50 km to the doll ...

the problem is that the gasoline had to account for almost reach Cistierna, and now would be difficult to get there with the engine ... because there was nothing in the way ... and that would have alerted ...
lucky there was a small gas station hidden in "Potes" and there I was saved ...


Here is a photo taken the cable car at Fuente Dé





Back on the road and this time on the right track ...
now it was always rising and bowing ...




until I found this little statue






It seemed to be more comfortable than the bank XT




And now it's back home with the dead of night ...

and begins the hard way when I realize I had lost my map
He had left the map in Fuente Dé ... I think he was on top of the bag and pulled out with the bike and he must have fallen in the first meters without having given so

but he was determined to come to Portugal to sleep
happens is what happens to ...
and promptly forgot the lost map, because forward is the way it is ...


(The thing continues)

[Mezo]

That has to be the funniest picture ive seen in a long time.

What the hell is a Kangaroo doing in outback spain?



Love that cheesy smile Edgar.

Mezo.

[Edgar]

and

I apologize for writing very bad English

and maybe some things do not perceive
or lose the sense

What the hell is a Kangaroo doing in outback spain?

I do not know how the animal is called the statue
but it is not a cangoru

It is here (map)

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/20578977




Edgar

[Fred333]

Hi Edgar,
you are doing it right!
Nice trip!
Europe has so much to offer!
More piccies!
:-) Fred

[vander]

Picos is beautyfull I am preparing a trip also. A friend is lending me a DRZ, but he doesn't know I will be riding his new GasGas300 instead


I think you missed the Desfiladero de la Hermida, an incredibly deep gorge with a road at the bottom. Now you need to go again wich is a good thing!

[Edgar]

... ...
I think you missed the Desfiladero de la Hermida, an incredibly deep gorge with a road at the bottom. Now you need to go again wich is a good thing!

I think I did that too road N621 http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desfiladero_de_La_Hermida



this was my course in "Picos de Europa" ...


here's my mistake
is not "Potes" but "Panes"

... ...

Now comes a bad part.

a place called "Potes" have not seen the crossing to Riaño, and I ended the Fuente Dé

Fuente Dé had nothing to see, and take the cable car ...
but I had no money to ski lifts ... and did 50 km to the doll ...

the problem is that the gasoline had to account for almost reach Cistierna, and now would be difficult to get there with the engine ... because there was nothing in the way ... and that would have alerted ...
lucky there was a small gas station hidden in "Potes" and there I was saved ...


Here is a photo taken the cable car at Fuente Dé

... ...

[Mezo]

I do not know how the animal is called the statue but it is not a cangoru

Yes stupid me it has no long tail, it must be a female Deer a Doe.

Mezo.

[Edgar]

3rd and last part of it

Since that was almost always the statue down and curl up Riaño,
Riaño and was only down to Cistierna ...

very easy ... impossible to miss ...

In the City of Cistierna tried to make an itinerary to continue the way ...
and that's when I realize I'd lost the map

Morale was low ... and the first idea I had was:
would not want it anymore I close my eyes and open his eyes again when I am in front of the garage door ...
it did not work ...

I went to the "God will provide" the first roundabout and see a sign saying Mansilla de las Mulas
was on track for another 50 kms

in Mansilla de las Mulas, I met a gentleman who had the patience of a saint ...
explained to me the way to a city that was called Benavente ...
was the best that could happen ...

but worse was to come ... was already dark and I do not know the hours, and no way to control anything at all about the journey ... (I was also stubborn and never thought to buy a map)

Worse was when the fatigue began to win the pleasure of traveling, and around Benavente made the decision to enter a highway A-6 (Madrid - Coruña)
She was not thinking right and I stopped at a pump after 30 km duns AE ...
and asked:
Road to Portugal ...
answer:
hombre... aquí usted va a La Coruña... al norte de España...
Mr. ... on this road you are going to Coruna, north of Spain

I feel like screaming with all my strength ...

I'm a superstitious guy ...
and I believe that I can not leave anything behind ... no trash or debris, as well as my luggage or belongings ...
all part of the furniture of the trip, and all part of the success or not ...

and how I have it in my subconscious, let me handle by chance, just because he had lost the map ...

it was time to stop and think ...
coached a corner and made dinner in no hurry ... filled the tank and I turned round and left the next node where I went ...
Now all was well again and with the two deposit certificates (mine and the XT)
just needed to discover the best way to south ...

I remembered that whenever I navigate by instinct things go right (sometimes)
had meanwhile taken a picture of a map at the pump gasoline and zoom the machine could consult the map ...
had no excuse not to have map ... the problem is that I did not know or could place me on the map ...

Sped towards the moon and a little more to the side ...
a nearly full moon became my reference in those dark plains ...
and had a strong feeling that was in the right direction

It worked ... I found a sign that said Portugal 90 kms

then another a sign that read 30 kms
and
Miranda do Douro - Portugal 9km

and...




I think I was in Portugal, here ...
but now it does not matter ...

and continued until Mogadouro
longer into the night ...

Until a village called Castelo Branco
the XT enter within the last two liters of gasoline
and not run the risk of running out of gas, I stopped at a bus stop about 3 hours and slept until morning, and then I could go find a bomb

had passed by some 80 to 10 Until a village called White Castle XT enter within the last two liters of gasoline
and not run the risk of running out of gas, I stopped at a bus stop about 3 hours and slept until morning, and then I could go find a petrol stations

had passed by some 80 to 10 petrol stations closed ... and could not afford to spend the last 2L not sure that a bomb would go on the road ...
closed ... and could not afford to spend the last 2L not sure that a bomb would go on the road ...






At about 7 am on his way to "de Espada à Cinta Ash" to buy gasoline


a little further south not mistaken by the N º 221 found this sign ...
and not think twice ... there to see it up close




the way was fun and easy ...




The monument was a forgotten Roman bridge in the middle of nowhere ...
with a small, almost dry river ... and had a mill in ruins ...
was beautiful and was well preserved, perhaps to be forgotten ...

I took to oiling the chain, strip the clothes from the rain, which was used to roll in the cold night ...

and put me on his way without turning back and towards the N221


I left her my brand ... indicating that passes by ... 3 stacked stone




Castelo Rodrigo




a ruined castle
but spectacular ...










Worth a visit
enjoyed meetingr Castelo Rodrigo




I made a little detour to see another castle






It is an entire village inside the castle walls and well cared for ...
already beginning to get tired of seeing castles
and went looking for something different




I put the tires on the ground, and look for a river beach




I passed under the huge bridge








I went to the national road N332 Idanha a Velha




this signal should have a good hundred years




Then I went to the N240 and N355 for the order and went through the village of dryness without stopping ...
I ended up stopping off at the old border






The landscape changed completely in the Spanish land ...
looked like a huge desert ...




Until I get to Alcantra, and its huge and beautiful bridge ...
I was admiring it for a good minute, and under a scorching sun ...




I like to see bridges, and imagine how they were built ...
and this was the best I've ever seen ... by its size and its age ...




Now about 70km left to do to Portugal, but would cross some lines without shadows ...




While circulating in some 90km / h
saw some big birds and other small in the middle of the road ...
major took flight long before the motorcycle approaching, but the small birds, appeared to be suicide

It was not birds, but locusts ...
I arrived in Portugal remains of locusts had by all over the place

was an authentic "massacre"








Frontier Portugal




and the last 250kms did not have long history
I take the N118 national

But it still took a last picture of this single road in the world




and was more or less how I was and came to the Picos de Europa

and

thanks for reading my ride with my XT600E

[Dirtybrit]

Great Ride Edgar, and spectacular countryside, well done, jealous!

[philb]

Excellent pictures and narrative Edgar

Like Dirtybrit, I too are jealous of you and your trips around Portugal & Spain.

Superb!!!!!! When is your next trip planned??

Phil