9 August and adios Spain

Desite a really disappointing last night in Spain it has been a great ride. Rode wonderful roads, saw magical places enjoyed delightful countryside, friendly people, good food and wine and in all a memorable visit. So off down the motorway to get some miles behind me. Soon I find the waterfront and in and out of villages into the mountains and back to the seaside util Donatia San Sebastian. What a most attractive city on the waterfront. Well laid out beautiful buildings and not full of rebuilds, glass towers and the like ( if you build right first time I guess it lasts)..., but instead tree lined streets stone buildings wide avenues, waterfront and a stunning feeling. Had the Garmin waltz getting out of town, I passed the same intersection 3 times, thanks Garmin, the roads have changed the maps have not ! More great beaches as I head toward France. Sadly the shower of tears (rain) that I encountered reflected my parting emotion. I really enjoyed Spain. Its history its culture....... did I mention the wine ? The open roads of France were good to ride apart from the need to sit in a bus shelter a couple of times as the showers came through. In the late afternoon I was into the rolling hills of Bordeaux. The grape vines and wonderful old Chateau. It is a very attractive area. Mile upon mile of vines all bearing their dark red berries looking fantastic. The Town of Saint Emelion is a Unesco protected area. It is as quaint as can be. Old "caves"... Cellars housing the areas wine sales outlets, by the score. All wonderful places all selling some pretty good wine. The limestone caves/cellars really are caves dug out of the limestone although the soil is red and not stones like other wine growing areas, but is built on an old fortification. The oblong large stone "bricks" were there for fortification and are still able to be found, but most have been recycled and most effectively. I suspect many of the old stone roads are original. Thanks Paddy from the Wine Guru who is an Irish man with a "Cave". He sells wine and has outlets in Ireland and the US and Spain, and he is one of lifes characters. Rides a Harley for fun although how that is fun eludes me ! The reality of the differences in prices struck me, Hotels double, meals I get one dish here for what I would have paid for a 3 course meal and wine in Spain. And the dish hardly food in my opinion, a small slice of chicken stuffed with plain stuffing, two rolls of mashed potato without herbs and a "salad" of a half leaf of lettuce and some standard mayonnaise. I was left to this place because the restaurants closed at 9, which was another change because in Spain they did not start serving until 9 pm ! Culture shock at its most real.