130 km
Most of the bicycle track from Sahagún to León is over quiet roads. There were some small villages on this part. None of the churches was open to collect a stamp for the credential. Though I am not the fastest cyclist, due to the full equipment I have on the bike & trailer, some cyclist’s I had seen before, e.g. A young couple that I had seen on the pass road to Roncesvalles was in one of those villages.
Just before León the cycle track was on a busy road and I did not notice, that the last part of the pedestrian pilgrims track was meant as a bicycle route as well. Leon has a nice old city center and a lot of tourists an pilgrims were there. I asked in an open church for a stamp, but they sent me to the albergue around the corner. I had to queue, because many pilgrims already wanted to book a bed for the night. Among them was one guy from Freiburg near Leipzig. He had to book for a second night, because after a walk of 52 km’s, his feet were wounded.
The cathedral of Leon was beautiful at least from the outside, because in the big towns I think it is risky to leave a packed bike outside for an hour.
In a small park I had my lunch, but later I saw, that there was a nicer place near the convento de San Marcos.
The way out of León started on the busy N120 again. I didn’t want to take the risk of an unpaved footpath, so I used a quiet alternative route via Montejos del Camino via a high plateau to the west and then followed the river Órbigo until I joined the pilgrims track again at Hospital de Orbigo. In that town is an impressive historical bridge, the Puente de Orbigo. On a steep part to the N120 the bicycle chain jumped again from the blade and was squeezed again between suspension frame an blades. after I freed the chain it was possible to cycle, but the chain changed the blade unexpectedly.
I continued to Astorga a real nice town with an huge cathedral. Near the Cathedral the is another church designed by Gaudi.
An English speaking cyclist asked me about my experiences with the extrawheel trailer and he knew the bike shop I town. After I collected my 2nd stamp in the museum of the cathedral I went to the bike shop. In my three words of Spanish I explained, I would like to have the chain replaced. No problem an after 40 minutes I could leave the shop with a working chain.
My target camping for the night was some 30 km’s further – but uphill and against the night wind. This is a nice small camping,owned by a tall, hanseatic German.
Paul
Most of the bicycle track from Sahagún to León is over quiet roads. There were some small villages on this part. None of the churches was open to collect a stamp for the credential. Though I am not the fastest cyclist, due to the full equipment I have on the bike & trailer, some cyclist’s I had seen before, e.g. A young couple that I had seen on the pass road to Roncesvalles was in one of those villages.
Just before León the cycle track was on a busy road and I did not notice, that the last part of the pedestrian pilgrims track was meant as a bicycle route as well. Leon has a nice old city center and a lot of tourists an pilgrims were there. I asked in an open church for a stamp, but they sent me to the albergue around the corner. I had to queue, because many pilgrims already wanted to book a bed for the night. Among them was one guy from Freiburg near Leipzig. He had to book for a second night, because after a walk of 52 km’s, his feet were wounded.
The cathedral of Leon was beautiful at least from the outside, because in the big towns I think it is risky to leave a packed bike outside for an hour.
In a small park I had my lunch, but later I saw, that there was a nicer place near the convento de San Marcos.
The way out of León started on the busy N120 again. I didn’t want to take the risk of an unpaved footpath, so I used a quiet alternative route via Montejos del Camino via a high plateau to the west and then followed the river Órbigo until I joined the pilgrims track again at Hospital de Orbigo. In that town is an impressive historical bridge, the Puente de Orbigo. On a steep part to the N120 the bicycle chain jumped again from the blade and was squeezed again between suspension frame an blades. after I freed the chain it was possible to cycle, but the chain changed the blade unexpectedly.
I continued to Astorga a real nice town with an huge cathedral. Near the Cathedral the is another church designed by Gaudi.
An English speaking cyclist asked me about my experiences with the extrawheel trailer and he knew the bike shop I town. After I collected my 2nd stamp in the museum of the cathedral I went to the bike shop. In my three words of Spanish I explained, I would like to have the chain replaced. No problem an after 40 minutes I could leave the shop with a working chain.
My target camping for the night was some 30 km’s further – but uphill and against the night wind. This is a nice small camping,owned by a tall, hanseatic German.
Paul
