Braganca to Corias via Sierra Monteshino

Today was forecast rain in the afternoon on our route, so we all agreed an early start. Myself and Steve left the hotel around 8.15 just after breakfast to start our climb into the Montes de Leon, the mountains of Leon. A cool start and no traffic, the road started out winding through small villages across river bridges and climbing up and down valleys that gradually opened out into big sweeping bends.

The roads then changed to long fast roller coasters switching between forests then farm land either side. 

I caught up with Roger and passed him while having fun riding in mountainous section. And stopped for an agreed break at this church on a crossroads. Steve needed to reset his Garmin and I to put on my cold killers jacket. The temperature had dropped down to 9 degrees with an added head-wind chill factor, so it really felt quite cold.

For a while I stood staring at the huge stork upon the top of the smaller chapel. This church seemed to be in the middle of nowhere, almost abandoned.

While stopped, some of the other riders of our tour group went past. We met up with some of them later in a cafe bar. Tour leader Steve bought us all a coffee to warm us up. 

The road opened out cutting through vast expanses and lots of straights to sit back and cruise along taking in the scenery. 



Eventually our route took us back across the border into Spain and high up into the mountains of Monteshino National Park we had ridden over on the way down a few days earlier. Later, they topped out at 1800 metres where the side  wind was quite strong and temperature down to 6 degrees. By now you could feel the rain in the air but this didn't diminish the fun I was having.

By now I had paired with tour leader Steve and after our lunch with Kit and Roger and we had a blast up and down the mountain passes together.  A lot of fun trailing him and seeing if I could smoothly follow his lines and more importantly avoid braking into bends that suggests my gear selection was spot on. At some point we switched position and good to know I can keep the pace.

We had been warned in the briefing the night before about the huge slate quarries seen above and the slate dust on the roads. We passed trucks with huge lumps of slate on the back. Amazing sight to see but you really did have to keep the speed low into the bends because of the fine dust. The rain caught us soon after for the last 50 miles or so. The valley road from Villablino to Cangas de Narcea was the worst with quite heavy rain at times and must hanging in the valley. Pleased though this was only a short part of the days ride and didn't spoil the enjoyment. 

We filled up with fuel and went straight to the underground car park at our Paradore hotel Monasterio Dr Corias.

This hotel was once a monastery and the place is amazing. My room as all are was once a monks room set around a square. I dropped my wet gear in the room and put on my swimming trunks and had half an hour all to myself in the very nice ambient pool.

We had a lot of fun getting Steve to deliver his ride brief for the second time up high in the pulpit overlooking the restaurant as it is now. I really think he looked and sounded the part !

The meal was excellent, I went for the Entrecote, superbly cooked, followed by the cold rice pudding, traditional in Asturias that was quite a bit sweeter than we are used to. A few drinks later in the bar then off to bed. Another enjoyable day with great company. 👍