Base camp for the Severn to Sahara Expedition

Sunday, 6 September 2009

I've just arrived at Tarifa at the straight of Gibralter this afternoon! Done 1502 miles in 15 days and am pretty knackered! Been a fantasic adventure - Pyrenees were fantastic and feel a really long time ago already. The change from France to Spain was very noticable just by going over the top of the Col du Portalet. I went over at about half 8 in the morning and the sun hadn't got to the northern side of the ridge but I burst into the sunlight on the southern side. The landscape went from greens to yellows and browns almost instantly. Fast descent into Spain and then another pass in 40C+ heat. Was thinking it might just be a hot day but the temperature all afternoon each day in Spain was well into the mid 40s, with the hottest being 47C one afternoon near Cordoba when Iwas crossing a mountain range. Wasn't expecting anything like that until the Sahara. There were some huge climbs in northern Spain and these were made harder by very strong headwinds on the plateaus. Pretty demoralising at times! No campsites so been rough camping and have some amusing stories to tell you when I have time. Slept under olive trees, in hedges and then best of all last night, got invited to a party at an typical Andalucian farm house - loads of Spanish food and sangria. Was riding over the last mountain range today thinking that the bike hasn't caused too much trouble in Spain. Also thinking that everytime I feel like I have got on top of this trip, something else gets chucked in to make life difficult. You guessed it... the bike has broken again. Just three miles from Tarifa. Bit more serious this time - the rear derailiuer has sheared right off. Have shortened the chain and taken the old deraileur off so have three gears currently. Having had a look around town, there is a shop that might have a new deraileur tomorrow. Plan is to get that sorted (simple as that, eh?!) tomorrow morning and then get the afternoon ferry to Tangier and AFRICA!! Staying in Tangier tomorrow eve before setting off to do Morocco justice in 11 days. Of course, plans might change if I can't get the bike sorted. Luckily I'm ahead of schedule...
Will attach a couple of pictures...