DAY 4 SELORES TO REINOSA

In yesterdays blog I failed to include these four guys who directed me to accommodation. We chatted the best we could & they were keen to get on my blog.

At the hotel, Reserva Del Saja, although nothing seemed to work as it should, shower, door lock, WiFi, etc, i had a good nights sleep. Its claim it to be carbon neutral which means no ac, toiletries & dimly lit corridors. However breakfast was quality & generous & in a sun lit room so you could see what you were eating.

The ride continued up a steep sided valley, along the CA280. For local racing cyclists, this is the road to ride & being Saturday it very busy. All wizzing past me on their carbon bikes in their club colours. Though travelling differently & much their senior, I am too competitive to feel comfortable about it. The pseudo “top” of another climb & another great stop,

The Mirador Pena Colsa. Most of the cyclists enjoy a coffee here & head back down. I needed to continue up & the locals looked at me & gestured the length & steepness of the climb, especially in the heat. The Pass was 4,133ft (1260m) about 300 ft short of the height of Ben Nevis. Shortly before the summit I decided to get off & push. A couple stopped offering to load my bike in their camper & ride with them into town. I declined but they kindly filled my empty water bottles.