It only took only 5 kms before we were well and truly out in the countryside, again on a single lane national trunk route with a good cycling verge.
The conditions were terrific for enjoyable cycling, a warm day, a cooling breeze and a largely excellent riding surface that made for a 22km/hr average cycling speed.
Someone slipped in a 3km climb early on but after that it was only undulations as we quickly motored through open valleys although with little scenic relief.
We stopped for a morning apple and then for some lunch at the 50km /mark with H`s back and backside beginning to play up.
In a not to be repeated quote when I asked Henley how was going, H replied a little too quickly `I`m getting too old for this shit !
Nearing Aguilar de Campoo the Cantabrian Mtn range came into site (some mtns still with snow) providing an impressive and ominous backdrop to the town and our route forward tomorrow.
Shortly after we were passed by either the fuselage of an aircraft or a bloody big plumbers pipe (see pic)
The entrance into AdC itself resembled an LA road network with roads and roundabouts everywhere signifying the importance of this area for distribution of product to and from Santander.
AdC itself is a lovely medieval market town overlooked by a 12th C castle. As luck would have it we arrived smack bang in the middle of their market day making it difficult initially to find a Hotel or the tourist info.
Eventually H grabbed a passerby who to our amazement went out of his way to walk us to a Hotel and use an English friend on the mobile phone to make sure that we were happy with it - many thanks Joe !
It was the 3rd successive day with no coverage of the Tour de France so H set about having a quick snooze while I went out exploring by climbing up to the towns castle for beautiful views of the countryside and our route out.
Now only 100 kms from Santander we head off hopefully through rather than over the Mtn range tomorrow .
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