Salamanca, NW Spain

Why does everything seem to be a "first"? This is the first blog I´ve ever done, it´s the first entry while on my travels (writing this in the reception of the Hotel Regio, just outside Salamanca - yes, I bottled out of camping here, despite that being the reason for choosing the place - more of that later) ... and this is my first bike journey of any description.

Anyhoo ... the fery was excellent. A fine smooth ship, a true floating hotel. Fab! Lots of interesting, friendly people, not least of whom was Robert Plant & his PA! To tell the truth, I spoke more to her than to him. He was quite taciturn & I can only barely say I met the great Robert Plant. His PA was super friendly (if you are reading this, I didn´t get your name, but thanks again for the use of your Mac & I hope you find this blog thingy of interest  ... get Mr Plant to donate ... maybe? hmmm?). Here is a photo of Steve Montgomery & Thomas Hernandez, furniture & drug wheeler dealers, restorers, entrepreneurs. Hello & good luck to Andrew on his cycling trip around Spain & S France.

I left Santander with a few other bikers, ALL of them on bigger, better bikes than mine, the inevitable BMW tourers of course - the money people must spend on these fabulous, colour-cordinated machines! I felt like the poor relation. Up into the mountains outside Santander and it got colder & colder. I had to stop after just 40 mins to wrap up. A guy on a Harley pulled in and we had a coffee together, swapped potted life stories and rode off together for about 20 mins until he peeled off to his new life in western Spain. Just ace, riding along, taking a lane each for a while, as we rolled South. His name is Sean Mathews and he´s a photographer. Sean, if you read this, I hope you´re fine in your home in Spain & I´ll facebook this for you, cheers!

Too much to write now but must give a bit to the birds ... how about Montague's Harrier, in the sunshine, flying alongside the bike in an adjacent field - now THAT´S birding! Other birdies; Marsh Harrier, loads of Black Kites, Vulture & Eagle spp (hard to ID from a bike!), Crested Lark, Corn Bunting. Couldn´t resist taking a photo of the bike in a sunny lay/by just after the Mont. Harrier encounter. I love this bike, it is my steed and we travel together. Unlike a car, the bike literally carries me where I want to go. I feel I should feed & water it with care(and just look at all that luggage I make the poor beast carry, it's inhumane!)

After this lot, the heavens opened. Thunder, lightning, rain & hail! - twice it forced me to stop for over half an hour (turned one stop into lunch which added a full hour to the run to Salamanca). Arrived here quite late, tired, a bit damp and couldn´t face putting up a bloody tent! Got a room (haggled but no joy! - only 40 euros though and this internet acces free anyway, so not bad).

Tomorrow, having a quick & early look at Salamanca, alledgedly the Cambridge of Spain due to it having the first University in the country eons of years ago (I´ll get the boring dates etc tomorrow!) then off to Monfrague National Park, a jewel in the Extramaduran crown and mouthwatering birds in stunning settings ... I hope!