Valle de Mena

My day starts early this time - without breakfast, because I somehow miscalculated and only have three apples left. I found them on the road yesterday. (The journey has already changed me in that I take what nature/the road gives me).

My first hurdle is already waiting for me 10 minutes after starting to ride: my routing app decides that my bike path leads over a small river... 🤨
First I have to climb a small stone staircase with a handrail and further on there is a passage where there are only single stones leading over the river and you have to balance over them. 🫣
Anyone who knows Takeshi's Castle knows what I'm talking about. 😆
I take the bags off the bike in no time and thus cover the 200 metres in about 20 minutes - both bags and bike are carried over there bit by bit. My bike also carries me every day, so today it's my turn. 🤷‍♂️

I then cycle west via Sobrón into a new valley (see map in the picture gallery). I pass rugged rock faces, climb a few metres in altitude and finally reach the impressive dam wall.

After a few kilometres, the valley opens up, there are mountains to the left and right, mountains in the distance - wonderful. 😍

Highlight 1 of this valley is a church. I take photos of the strange façade from the outside and am about to drive on when a Spaniard waves me over and tells me to go inside. Inside, I am almost breathless at how beautifully the window panes shine.

Highlight 2 is Puentedey - one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. Here, the river Nela now flows through a stone bridge on which houses stand. It looks enormous.Read more