Once upon a time there were motorcycle riders from California, Washington, Canada, Mexico and even Alaska. They cruised around Spain for something like 15 days, on rented motorbikes, only stopping periodically for gas, to pee and when they were hungry. At the end of the riding day they arrived at the nightly chosen destination, Juanjo would unlock a rented vehicle and out would come the luggage.
I’m now feeling Gump like in that, “I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll go home now.”
So what impressed me the most today? Was it the two gas stations that we stopped at? At the first station, a young Spaniard attendant came out in a smart red uniform to pump our gas. We still could pump our own fuel.
When I find a thought while riding, I try to figure out a way to understand its meaning and even purpose in my life. Is there some type of meaning to riding by oneself or in a group?
Inside, the store was well stocked with most anything one would want or need for cooking like, for example; three pig legs now hung on a hook.
The Jamón is the Artisanal Ham Of Spain. These cured Serrano hams are treasured from coast to coast, (and not cheap either) and can be found from the markets of Barcelona to even the bars of Galicia and today, I even found three at a gas station.
And then at the second gas station that we stopped at, there’s freshly picked potatoes, walnuts, garlic and onions available for sale. All of it was Mayberry RFD style, laid out just outside the store door. Inside, the store had a section devoted to the daily fresh Spanish bread.
The Pan de barra is a Spanish-style baguette that’s made with a dough that only includes four ingredients, flour, water, yeast, and salt.
The dough is then shaped into a long, thin loaf, and it is then allowed to rise before it’s slashed on the surface and baked until crispy and nicely browned.
Bill and I each purchased one loaf a piece for $1.35. I also purchased a jar of bonito cured ($2.5 euros) in artesian olive oil.
Once outside everyone (Bill, Steve, Chris and Todd) each grabbed a chunk of bread and most either dipped it into the bonito sauce or poured olive oil, straight from a bottle I procured at the last hotel stay.
The oil came from the Pardor Sos de Catolico. While there Bill opted to have the hotel do his laundry. They charged my friend Bill $300 euros for the pleasure of doing it. You read that right. Bill didn’t ask how much and they didn’t volunteer that it would be more than his hotel stay. Let’s see. Expedite. Check. Any long sleeve counted as a sweatshirt and it’s $20 each. Expedite also means double the price in this part of Spain.
When Bill complained the charges were reduced to $189 euros. About the same price for the most expensive room that we’re staying in on this trip.
One of the secrets to happiness is; for example the start of the feelings of becoming part of a community.
The Camino de Santiago taught me that and riding with friends also is like riding as part of a community.
We’re so close to the seaside that we should’ve waited and enjoyed a nice lunch there. The lunch now at the parador, though highly pricey and fancy leaves me with a feeling of nothing to brag about.
EVENING: The seaside now; well that’s a different experience. It’s 78 degrees the Atlantic waves are easily visible and heard, people and children are scattered about.
And the same group of motorbike riders eventually went home and they all lived happily ever after.
THE End
Trawlercat Chronicles 