Heading North-ish

$$$ the moment/experience, not the room itself

A number of people have asked how we manage to travel for such a long period of time. We are on long service leave. In Australia, once you have worked 7 years within the same job you are able to take 10 weeks holiday on full pay. We are lucky, both being teachers in the government system, as this system allows us to travel on half-pay for twice as long. Therefore, we can actually travel for 20 weeks with 10 weeks pay.

A very important part of our travel is trying to keep costs down. Lunch/breakfast at a supermarket, coffee from the Trangia and AeroPress, are all ways to reduce costs considerably. Another method is to try and find accommodation within the areas we wish to be, however, at a reduced price. This may include camping, a room in a shared accommodation, being a few blocks back from the main attraction, or within a building that is quite old or in the middle of renovations. As long as the place looks safe and there is secure storage for the bikes, we are happy.

Money is spent on the moments/experiences, not necessarily the rooms themselves.

Heading North

The last 400Km of our bicycle tour will hug the coast on the eastern side of Spain. From Valencia to Barcelona, we are now riding with a very much appreciated tail wind. Shining sun and breezes still slightly cool, elevate our cycling spirits. Dedicated and extremely safe roads build confidence in the infrastructure provided.

Thankyou Spain. The last stretch is turning out to be very pleasant indeed.

Farmers roads are the best

Our chosen cycle paths are quite varied throughout the day. We do have an original plan however, that does often change depending on circumstance. The Euro-Velos, International Cycle Routes, Green Ways, Farmers back paddocks and backroads are quite the norm; whatever works. GPS is so handy to just keep an eye on where you wish to be, or simply keeping parallel to the suggested route. Often one street back has no cars, or pedestrians. Farmers’ roads are almost clear of cars and are often much more interesting to look at.

Houses

Our travels within Spain have allowed us to take in and experience quite a variety of socio-economic areas. One aspect that stands out more than others is within the extreme difference in opportunities offered for the residents. Be them financially struggling or prosperous, retired immigrants or workers; housing varies considerably. The more housing stayed the same, the more it changed.

What am I on about?

Fields with an occasional house falling down, half-built five story unit blocks left to rust obviously many years old, streets of individual or two-room dwellings, extravagant mansions, new suburbs with row after row of seemingly empty high rises and everything in between. So many different ways to live.