Thursday 26th June 2025 Santa Lucia to San Sebastian
Poshest hotel for ages and both knackered, just about manage a few beers while writing the blog, after a shower and washing the kit, mate it does need a good wash, warned my sister Deb to be aware, there is a reason why the flies buzz around us, then bed, what a waste of a good restaurant no worries

Catch up on the family stuff, Steve’s recovery seems to be going in the right direction, so thankful for that, least I do not have to reach back to all them 60’s, 70’s prog rock stuff, so pleased he is on the way to recovery, long way to go yet, Steve and us, keep rocking brother, early doors yet but you will recover mate, looking forward to a sly beer somewhere in East Kent or Belgium for that matter.

Back to the riding, well I should not have moaned about medieval gruel yesterday, as today we had nothing, checked the hotel breakfast not till 07:00, sod that we have a snickers bar (not a satisfy) that still has a bit of an undertone for me! Well, we have a chocolate bar and an apple for breakfast. Off we go on our merry way, where are we going, to be absolutely honest, I have not got a clue, north I would expect, need to check my Garmin thing, just pedaling at the moment hopefully in the right direction. All sorted, still going north, heading towards San Sebastian, we just ride and ride, enjoying the early morning not so cool weather and light traffic. The road is pretty busy, have to keep your wits about us, but good easy riding, nothing serious just keep pedalling baby. All good so difficult to watch out for the animals, sometimes we have a nice hard shoulder to ride on others times its just squeeze into the traffic, wow that a song I could go for when I can relax, just popped into my head, Labelled with love, The Squeeze, back in the old Cross Keys, the distant past.

“Shuffles about in her candle lit hovel
Like some kind of witch with blue fingers and mittens
She smells like a cat and the neighbors she sickens
Black and white TV has long seen a picture
The cross on the wall is a permanent fixture
The postman delivers the final reminders
She sells off her silver and poodles and in china.
Drinks to remember
I, me and myself, winds up the clock and knocks dust from the shelf
Home is a love that I miss very much
The past has been bottled and labelled with love”

Keeps me going with a song in my head, mate we will be flying for many a mile, with the little lost breakfast and the songs rattling around my head, we steamed through the early morning. Stopped for the normal coffee and soft drink at Santa Bárbara, just a little place with nice coffee though. Bingo points out a brown snake and it was alive, not sure for how long though, as it was on the side of the road, hopefully we scared it back into the forest.

Easy riding just eating up the miles, my head full of songs, my legs feeling like they could ride forever what else do we need, just ride and take in the ambiance, rocking and rolling through these pleasant places, they are so good to us, the drivers giving us room when they can, people on the road waving, all with a smile on their faces, so good. Always giving the thumbs up to the big lorry drivers, they so appreciate it when we try to get off the road, must admit it’s a bit leary when you have a massive Mack truck trundling behind you, with the noises from the engine scaring the living daylights out of you. Was like that for the last 15 miles, so difficult, just kept on the inside lane skipping through the traffic, keeping your wits about you, not the best of rides, but with the experience and knowledge we were leading the way, the little motorbike following our little endeavors.

For me I was glad when we pulled over to a little cafe, relax we have done it the traffic thundering past us still, as we enjoy a cold beer and search for a place to stay, result only three miles down the road, let’s have another beer then, only two little cans so nothing to worry about.

Glide down to the little place, all booked in with ease, sitting by the pool with a beer within 5 minutes, get some good news from the family while we enjoy a beer by the pool, so good, but it is Central America, the afternoon storm arrives with its normal benevolent self, just have another beer and think that’s why we start off early!

The storm was a good one though, glad we left at 5:30, still going strong a couple of hours later, as we sort out some food.