Day 18 Bilbao to Larres (Spain)

Day 18:  Bilbao to Larres

We are now in Spain!

Brittany Ferries woke us at 5:30 British time (6:30 local time) for a 7:45 am  disembarkation into Spain. Had a momentary delay at the Customs point when "the man" went into his office to check our passports and left the rest of the queue behind us waiting, ....how to win friends. The MG had been separated from the 12/50's and we were on deck 6 and everyone else was on deck 5, but fortunately they were waiting for us just outside customs control.

The tour group together for breakfast stop just outside Bilbao

Now off into the wilds of northern Spain. We climbed and climbed and climbed ......out of Bilbao.  Going through several tunnels and paying about 10 Euros in total across several tolls.  Fortunately they where quite friendly and patient.  The roads are magnificent - we guess this is EU or German money at work!

 

Tour group on road to Larres - beautiful roads with little traffic

Alan and Noeline on road to Larres

Silhouette of 12/50 exiting one of several tunnels on the road to Larres

In fact "WOW" what must they spend on their roads!! There are however a lot that are incomplete.....and new bridges going nowhere...

Circuited around Pamplona and stopped for fuel and a snack in Liedena. Actually met Tim Burton's grand daughter (well known Bentley man in UK) here who was touring Spain on her motorcycle.  We circuited the magnificent R. de Yesa, a huge lake fed by melting snow water which had the green tinge which reminded us of New Zealand. The countryside is very stark with flat valleys and striking mountains typical of a land shaped by glacial action. 

During our drive we were passed by a number of people who we had met on the ferry including quite a few motorcyclists, two of which passed us with their Vespa’s wound up as far as they could possibly go. 

Found our way to Larres where we are staying at a delightful Hotel (El Charron) overlooking a valley with the Pyrenees mountains in the distance. Larres is approximately 960 metres above sea level according to our GPS. 

There is a village behind us which some of the party has visited and includes a modern art gallery inside the restored castle.  The owners / barmaid don’t understand anything we say but we managed to communicate white / red wine/ beer/ tea (for some) and get by. 

At dinner the waiter, Ian from Romania, spoke smatterings of English and German on top of Spanish, Russian, French and probably a few others, so between us all we managed to order dinner drinks, dinner and breakfast as he won’t be around in the morning and the chef/owner and his wife only speak Spanish. 

Parked at El Charron in Larres

The charm of the rural setting... just before dinner the local herd of sheep came down in to the field in front of the hotel with the delightful sound of their bells ringing.