Tarazona to the Pyrennees....

A postscript to last weeks blog, the wedded couple emerged & were driven away in a flower-decked donkey cart. The bride was disconcerted, hanging on tight over the cobbles. As the evening promenaders gathered in great numbers, a jazz band struck up. It was then we noticed a poster showing we had arrived on the day of the local feria (fiesta).

Having paid the night before, we let ourselves out of the enormous front doors of the Palace into early Sunday morning sunshine. We spotted a cycle path to Tedula, a disused railway line, which was soon busy with Sunday leisure cyclists. Reaching Tedula, we have now completed a circular route of Spain, as we passed this way south from Santander last autumn. We passed over the swollen rio Ebro, heading N. towards Olite. The road became pretty boring, busy, in the light industrial area. We transferred to a smaller road by the river, passing wheatfields & vineyards. A wandering shepherd was very sensibly wearing a high-viz. vest & had his dog on a lead, as the traffic was sparse but travelling at breakneck speed.

We lunched at Villafranca, which had the red metal bull-running barriers in place. We noticed the ubiquitous graffiti was becoming more political with "Falangist" & "ETA" often occuring.

Olite was a wonderful surprise. A contrast to Tarazona, as the old buildings were beautifully preserved, including a medieval castle & attached Parador - a bit touristy as a result. We camped near the town in a large but quiet site.

We are now in our last full day in Spain as we progress N., bypassing busy Pamplona on a road marked on the map as scenic & quiet. Unfortunately we share it with about 25 Quarry Lorries. Somewhere near Pamplona, Susan loses her knickers! Having washed them, they were attached to a pannier to dry. We think we know at which bus stop they became detached, so if anyone is passing that way....?

In a fierce headwind we reach the reservoir Embalse de Itoiz. It has flooded, trees covered to their crowns & a village road totally submerged. What a contrast to Andalucia! We then followed the rio Urrobi up through a wooded valley on a blissfully quiet road. We spot a few deer running for cover in the woods. It rains for a couple of hours, but we are just drying out at 5pm, at 800metres, when we arrive at campsite Urrobi, the most gorgeous Spanish camp we have used. Spacious, grassy & lightly wooded, it is on a bend in the river, & has a bar! The sign at the end of the road says 25k to France........!