Rather than starting a new thread or adding to the many threads that about spending winters in Spain and that this thread hasn't been updated in over three years, I'll resurrect this one as an update to my Spanish travels.
Since I last updated this thread a few things have changed one is my intention now is to spend six months in Spain November to April, I'd like to spend eight months October through to May but for because of my car insurance and other insurances that I have six is the allowable max.
The other is because I'm now traveling earlier than before I can now avail of the ferry direct to Spain this has made the traveling cheaper and shorter time wise which is always a bonus.
In 2019 I made the trip from Cork to Santander and what should of been a forty eight hour journey turned into a seventy two hour journey due to bad weather off the Irish coast which delayed and slowed the sailing meaning I had an unexpected overnight stay in Spain but having said that It still cut the cost of the traveling in half, cut out driving through England and France and just made the whole trip down easier on the mind and body not that the other way wasn't enjoyable in itself as a journey.
This Friday I'm catching the eleven o'clock sailing from Rosslare to Bilbao which is even better for me as it's closer to home and all going to plan I'll arrive in Bilbao on Sunday morning at eight am and 973 km later I'll arrive In Lubrin in the late afternoon.
I've decided this year to go back to the same area as before but am not staying with the same rental/family as before, two reasons for this one is covid even though I'm vaccinated and I believe they are as well and Lubrin has had a very low exposure to covid I don't want to take a chance by surrounding myself with to many close contacts especially unvaccinated school going kids etc etc.
The other reason is just to see if I can do this sort of thing on my own, which would then presumably lead me to explore other parts of Europe where I've dreamt of bringing my bikes to.
The last three times I was here I stayed in
Cortijo Grande on an all inclusive deal for €200 a week which included a cooked evening meal.
This year I'm staying in
Casita Jardin in the village of Lubrin itself at a base rent of €375pm + utilities.
Utilities which will include Gas, Electricity, WiFi, Water, Wood and Rubbish collection should depending on usage come in around the €170 mark
After that there would only be my food, petrol and social spending which should be somewhere in and around €300 a month
So I will probably end up spending about €850 a month all in or €900 if I treat myself to an hour an a half of deep tissue massage
Cycling wise, this will be the first time that I'm arriving to Spain with a huge level of fitness or as Garmin has informed me "Peaking"
So I'm really looking forward to the next six months and what the roads are going to throw at me
I've a few goals that I'd like to tick off this time if possible
1. Cycle 40Km in under an hour, currently just under 1:04 so should be easy enough
2. Cycle 160Km and complete that in under 5 hours, this will not be easy given the terrain(200Mtr of climbing avg every 10Km)
3. Improve on my times up and down
Velefique and include Calar Alto as well
4. And the biggie, have a go at
Pico de Veleta (oh boy, that's gonna hurt
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If anybody here on AAM is interested in spending a week or two out here cycling, drop us a line and I'll give you all the info you'll need regarding accommodation, bike hire and transport etc etc.
It's not the easiest place to get to in terms of aeroplanes, Malaga and Alicante airports are the closest during the winter season so car hire would be recommended or if you're just nosy and would like to see what I get up to on Strava contact me on PM for details.