Day 3 - La Rioja

Calatrava Bodega in Le Rioja...Look out for Ysios wine

View as you enter..

Just to prove I was there...It is an amazing building

The minimum age of the Ysios wine from here is 3 years. Part of the aging process the wine is stored in Californian oak barrels for 1.5 years in this room.

After we had our tasting we then went and enjoyed the view over the vineyards..AMAZING!

About a 15 bike minute ride south was the Gehry hotel. The purple anodised streak looks amazing.

The Spanish are not afraid to introduce somthign this contemporary next to a 500 year old church. They absolutly understand the power of Architect!..and they´re not afraid. The UK could learn a thing or two

The sweeping bands are essentially a sun screen, attached onto stone clad ´boxes´. You feela  bit cheated when you look behind. The word Facade in action

My map, and my progress so far...Bad photo, but progress is being made

A castle as I exit to region. Its so hot that just to go about 5 miles I had to refill my water twice...Only made it Haro, and only 64km done

 The road up the Herrera Mountain...This was the hardest day of climding so far. It was up a 14% gradient for about 3 hours. I have to admit to pushing the bike, and even then it was hard to do this...Bloody hills!..I was starting to get very tired of the constant up (a little bit down) then up again rhythem...but the view!!

 I´m so greatful for the natural water sources that line this route...Without these, considering the sparse population, I would be in trouble. I´m consuming about 6 liters of water a day. Thats 6 water bottle...

 And finally!!!.....1100 meters up..Higher than Denver! (Thats for you Sis!) I was wondering why I had probñems sleeping the previous night, and why I was panting and having to stop every couple 100meters for water and breath. Due to the rapid breathing, dehydration increases...So glad, as I knew it´d have to be downhill...

...And welcome to the Riola region..Where all that wine we devour come from...

And downhill Galour!!!....and an appriciation of how high I´d climbed to for the previous 2 days. The views are breathtaking and nothing but vineyards...100million bottle per year of Rioja are produced here

 Heaven....The road DOWN!.....

 ...Not before a photo op though...

 ...Ha, I now cycle down to that!...

Day 2 (will add captions later...have to check out of hostel..)

The ton of Valitoria-Gasteiz..I cycled through here and stayed for abotu 3 hours..was very nice!..I remember thinking I should stay longer..

What a unique feature. Escalotors taking you up the street..Amin, I though of you!!...haha Nice bit of paramteric design as well

Me, having had some strange guy rant at me for about 0 mins in Spanish even after me telling me I dont understand you!..To shut him up I got him to take a picture of me...

A height record!, after the most painfull uphill in intense heat!...I read Spain is one of the hilliest countries in Europe!..mmm

Nice Roman church off the side of the road

One of the many ater fountains that saved my life. I refilled my bopttle again after this and aI think I had mild halusinations, as had the strangest sleep that night..mm have to be careful

The damned hill out of Vitoria

Nice view...almost like austria

Map of progress made so far

I managed to find some where to sleep, in an old flour mill!..This was the owner, and she was great.Really looked after me. I bought some great bread from her in the morning, so took this pic of her next to her flour grinder

Her b and b on the side!...

Day 1 - The cycle ride Photos

 If anyone can find out who designed this bridge just down the river path from the Guggenheim, I pint will be waiting (in a month mind!)

 If I say this is the Foster Metro, and am told otherwise, could be embarrasing. Looks cool anyway

 The view after 4 hours of climbing out towards the coast.

 Altube - 638 meters height. I admitted to pushing my bike up the hill the previous 20 minute. With an incline of 9%, my legs have limits. So releived it levelled out. Was out of water too, but a kind lady refilled my bottles in the only house for about an hour.

View of mountain range a few miles downt the road..stunning and worth the climb

 The map here shows the route and K´s travelled in Day 1...

 ...Still a way to go!!..haha

 First night in nice hotel!...

The hotel....

Sorry for the blurry images. I will try and sort that out....

Guggenheim Photos

The setting out of must of been wonderful!

In shadow, but as impressive as ever

My bike in front, just to prove I´m there..ha

Seems an excessive use of structure. This is the inside of the sculptural tower on the other side of the motoway. The project did come in on time and on budget...Go Gehry!

A very ´fresh´me in front of the mueum with my bike. I did´nt manage to change into my spandex cycling gear untill about 10km out of the city. So far the bike has been great..Thanks Kyle!!
I obviously have many more photos...